The Pfalz Forest Marathon on September 10th
I had a nice day of rest yesterday, no training. This morning my legs feel fully recovered, but in good tapering form I am going to take today off too. Tomorrow I want to run for 1½ hours or so at marathon pace, whatever that is these days. I guess I’ll see when I get out there.
The homepage for the Pfalz Forest Marathon that I am running in Pirmasens (Germany) on September 10th has revised the elevation profile for the race. It is slightly more aggressive as what they previously had posted. I wonder a little bit about it’s accuracy, because if you look closely at the kilometers at the bottom it shows that the race is almost 44 kilometers long, which means either it is a longer race (doubtful) or inaccurate (probably).
Note: Elevation (left) is in meters, mileage (bottom) in kilometers.
In any case it doesn’t affect my strategy one way or another. As always I have multiple goals depending on how I feel during the race:
Race of my life goal: Finish under 4:15:00.
Good day: Set a new PR (old PR = 4:34:23).
Bad day: Finish the race.
My old PR was set on a flat, asphalt road race, so breaking my record will require a great deal of effort on this comparatively hilly, unpaved course. In any case I’ll give it my best effort. Nine days to go!
Comments
How about 4:00? You know, "just to finish a marathon" might be gone from your vocabulary right about now, and you need a thrid goal:)
Posted by: olga | September 1, 2006 1:49 PM
Uh, that's one hell of a climb from km 30 on. Are you sure you want to do this to yourself?
Posted by: Thomas | September 1, 2006 2:47 PM
I love the sound of this marathon. I'm with Olga, you are so well trained, there is no doubt you'll finish!
Posted by: backofpack | September 1, 2006 4:08 PM
that's a hilly race you'll be running. i'm looking forward to your race report already.
Posted by: deene | September 1, 2006 6:56 PM
Rest up and I think you'll do really well!
Posted by: Sarah | September 1, 2006 7:12 PM
is this marathon a trail run?
good luck and i can't wait to read all about it:-)
Posted by: steph | September 2, 2006 12:19 AM
I suggest only thinking positive!!
You ARE going to set a PR!!!
Posted by: LoraRuns | September 2, 2006 12:00 PM
I like your 3 goals jack! I have to borrow those! (sorry i've been awol for a while...)
Posted by: jeanne | September 2, 2006 2:30 PM