Running With Jack

Last night I decided not to run with my running group, as I always see to get sucked into a speed workout. Instead I headed out for an easy 9K//5.6M run. Well it was supposed to be an easy run, I ended up running at a 5:33/K (8:56/M) pace, which is around my intended marathon pace for Sunday (at least downhill).

Last night was a humid 30C/86F, I was dripping buckets of sweat by the time I finished my little run. Today the temperature is supposed to reach 33C/91F and we are expecting thunder showers by the early evening. Luckily, the latest weather report for marathon day Sunday is 24C/75F, much more bearable, especially in the forest where I will be running.

Marathon Strategy

The plan for Sunday is to try to beat my personal record of 4:34:14. Despite the 3 major hill climbs along the route, I think I have a good chance at doing it this time around. After the initial kilometer or two, I am going to try to maintain a 5:30/K (8:51/M) pace on all the flat and downhill sections, and about a 7:00/K (11:16/M) pace on the hill climbs. This should get me to the finish in 4:00:00-4:15:00 if I don’t hit the wall too badly.

I don’t plan on taking any walk breaks on the hills as I did with my ultra’s. I am hoping that they are not severe enough to require this.

When I can maintain a fairly consistent pace throughout the event I should be able to reach my goal without any problem. I need to be especially conscious that I don’t start out too fast or try to climb the hills too fast. I know from experience that both of these will do me in and leave me shuffling the last 10K to the finish line. I also need to make sure I am drinking and eating properly.

If I figure out that it is not my day on race day, then Plan B is to enjoy the beautiful forest that I will be running through, and encourage any other runners that I meet on the way! Oh, and to keep moving!!