After 19 years of running, I had decided that now was the time to tackle my first serious marathon. This is to be my third, at 18 years of age I struggled through Seattle in 3:31 and last summer I ran the Uberthons Oregon Marathon as a pacer for my wife in 4:30. After a couple of years of consistently strong halfs, three under 1:16, I figured it was time to make my mark in the full. Not only that, but with the goal of smashing the BQ qualifying time of 3:05 for my age with my sights set on 2:40 (average pace per mile just a few ticks under 6:10). After considering several different races, I thought Eugene was the best in part due to its competition level, date (May 10th), and great course.
That was a few months ago. With about 30 days until the race, reality has stepped in. I prefer to race practically every weekend, from 5k’s up to halfs, even doubling up in a weekend when it is possible. That requires a certain level of dedication to training, and a desire to continuously run at the limit while making sure to maintain an optimal overall health level. Getting ready for a serious attempt at the marathon distance is adding a completely new level of commitment. I am not hitting the benchmarks I was hoping to, both in terms of general health, and fitness level.
At the very beginning of the Champoeg 30K
The easiest general health benchmark to reach will be getting adequate rest. In terms of running, I just need two more long runs within the next couple of weeks before beginning to taper. Easy enough. The other has to do with sleep, which is a little tougher. I get up at 4:45 am four days a week for work, and it makes sleeping in on the weekends more difficult due to routine. However, it is not as easy as just deciding to go to sleep earlier, as I have a hard time stopping everything and going to bed, especially on the weekends. This leads to an average of about 6 or less hours of sleep a night. That is not too bad, but for an optimal performance, that number needs to be a bit higher in the week leading up to race day.
Competing with a garbage bag protecting the splint on my arm.
The other general health concern is weight. With a diet that involves much more protein than it used to, I have managed to tip the scales at almost 145 pounds, almost 8 pounds more than when I ran Seattle. This translates to more energy reserves and most importantly, a lower risk of bonking, which is my main worry at this distance. Unfortunately, a period of stress has affected my appetite and resulted in weight loss, so I will need to spend the next few weeks reversing that. Making a point of eating on every break at work, consuming portions of meat at dinner, and daily protein shakes will help.
I was hoping to hit a couple of running benchmarks in the months leading up to May, giving me an accurate representation of my fitness level. Unfortunately 2015 has had other plans for me. A running injury, bronchitis, and a broken hand have all caused me to put off workouts and modify my training schedule. At this point in time, my longest runs are two 18 milers. One was the 30K at Champoeg park, where I failed to meet my time goal of under two hours, missing it by 5 minutes. Not a huge gap, but with the marathon being a full 8 miles longer, that discrepancy will add up. The other was a casual training run with a friend at a slower pace than I generally experience, but the last 4 miles were by myself and allowed me to stretch out a little more. I still need to get in a 20 miler to make sure I can fuel and keep my hamstrings from tightening up in a run close to marathon duration.
Finishing up the Champoeg 30K
Am I disheartened? Yes. Am I going to give up? Absolutely not. The passion that has kept me in this hobby has carried me through many a tough time and across more than a handful of finish lines in a location I would not have deemed possible. Training means a lot, but so does heart and a belief in what is possible. Even if my goal is now closer to 2:46 (6:20 pace), that is still a mark I believe I can be proud of, and allow me to place respectably amongst those who may have much more experience than I at this distance. It is definitely a far cry from the 2:18 Olympic ‘B’ standard that I daydream that I could obtain.
To live so close to the runners Mecca of Eugene, and be able to experience finishing at Hayward Field, is a unique experience that many will never get. It will mean a little more when I do so again at the 26.2 mile distance, regardless of whether or not I reach my goal. Being a runner has never been a measure of a particular time benchmark, but by the amount of passion and determination contained within each athlete. One of the great things about running is that you can keep your goals, year after year, and try again for as long as you are willing.
