Disappointed at NYC Marathon--Should I go back-to-back?

It is very kind of you to supply all of these comments and reflections. I am sure I have more to learn.

Right now, the weather is what scares me, as I know that if I feel that something is wrong during the race, I can either slow down or drop out.

Thanks for wishing me well. Yes, running is supposed to be fun. I truly love running, and I think I was meant to be a marathoner...I just came to it later in life. The weather may be questionable, but the one thing I know for sure is this: I am in the best shape of my entire life.

Ok, I'll chime in here since I had a similiar experience to you in NYC a few years ago, some on the forum might even remember it.

I tried to break 3 hours in NYC and blew up with leg cramps starting around mile 16 (1:28/1:41)= 3:09

I woke up the next morning very disappointed and decided even though I was registered to run the Philly Half in 2 weeks that I was just going to do the full instead.

My new goal was just to qualify for Boston with a sub 3:05 and things were going fine running with the pace group until about mile 22 when I cramped up and shuffled home to a 3:08.

A few things- 1) You can't fully recover in 2 weeks from a marathon and it takes its toll late in the race. 2) It sounds like you were doing a bunch of miles at MP in between, I wouldn't have done that (maybe 3-4 on one run but that's it). 3) You are really playing with fire injury wise, hope this works out for you.

If I were you I'd go out VERY conservatively and try to negative split if you are feeling up to it. Also, its going to be very windy this weekend, if I were you I'd use this as a training run and try an assault on 3 hours at Rehobath Beach but that's me. I wish you all the best and hope you have a positive experience out there this weekend!!

Thanks, Reg Fields. I am glad you decided to chime in.

Sorry about your NYC experience. It seems I was not the only one who has had problems there.

Indeed, I will go out conservatively and attempt to negative split, as you have advised--but only if I am feeling good in the second half. I am thinking 1:30-1:31 for the first 13.1. If I am not feeling good after doing that, then I know it is not my day.

If you are the praying type, then please pray for less wind.

outsiderunner wrote:

I would love to run with you, but I have no way of getting to Philly. I would need a hotel room, meals, and all (or many) of the other things I did not like about New York. The bigger races do not seem to suit me.

Thanks again for your kind words and all the best to you in going for sub-3. The weather looks challenging.

Just going to say that Philly is nothing like New York. The start and finish line are essentially at the same spot. It can be exhausting in NYC just getting to the start line. As for hotels, people always cancel at the last minute. If you were serious about Philly I'd try to call the Sheraton downtown, right by the start and finish line. They have a runners block of rooms at a reasonable price but only if you call them as opposed to book online.

IMO you'd have a much better shot at trying to run with a pack in Philly than going it alone on a windy day at a small marathon.

Wait until Spring or next Fall, son. You'll thank me for it later.

outsiderunner wrote:

Indeed, I will go out conservatively and attempt to negative split, as you have advised--but only if I am feeling good in the second half. I am thinking 1:30-1:31 for the first 13.1. If I am not feeling good after doing that, then I know it is not my day.

Negative thoughts are already in your head. You aren't going sub-3. You should bail, as everyone here has suggested, and try in the spring.

Some negative thoughts have entered my mind. I have to be realistic about the weather I might encounter. I cannot think of a more negative thought than running 20-milers in winter. The spring marathon is good for some, but not for me. Winter mileage = injury.

outsiderunner wrote:

Some negative thoughts have entered my mind. I have to be realistic about the weather I might encounter. I cannot think of a more negative thought than running 20-milers in winter. The spring marathon is good for some, but not for me. Winter mileage = injury.

It's interesting to me that you're worried about injuries when it comes to running in to the winter but not when it comes to running two marathons back-to-back.

Really don't understand this. The monthly average high temperature where you live doesn't even get below freezing and the average annual snowfall is about a foot and a half. How bad can winter running be there?!

outsiderunner wrote:

Some negative thoughts have entered my mind. I have to be realistic about the weather I might encounter. I cannot think of a more negative thought than running 20-milers in winter. The spring marathon is good for some, but not for me. Winter mileage = injury.

You're really fixating on the weather. It seems to me like you're creating an excuse, outside your control, for missing your goal before the race even starts. That's not a great headspace to be in.

I'd also echo some of the other observations on here. You seem to want to eschew the constructive criticism (some of which seems very thoughtful) and accept only the positive reinforcement.

confuzed wrote:

You're really fixating on the weather. It seems to me like you're creating an excuse, outside your control, for missing your goal before the race even starts. That's not a great headspace to be in.

Yup - I've seen this before. There's a distinction between a) being realistic about the weather and b) preloading on excuses. The latter never works out well, and also (in my experience) is associated with someone who's burned out and trying to force something in hopes of a miracle.

In order to race well, you need to come into the race believing that you can race well. That's different from hitting a specific time - sometimes the weather gods are cruel, and you have to adjust your time expectations. But you still need to believe that you can run well.

If your sole purpose for running this race is to hit your goal, and you don't believe you can hit your goal, then why are you running this race?

Er... wrote:

Really don't understand this. The monthly average high temperature where you live doesn't even get below freezing and the average annual snowfall is about a foot and a half. How bad can winter running be there?!

outsiderunner wrote:

Some negative thoughts have entered my mind. I have to be realistic about the weather I might encounter. I cannot think of a more negative thought than running 20-milers in winter. The spring marathon is good for some, but not for me. Winter mileage = injury.

I live in the mountains, not in the DC suburbs...big difference in terrain and weather. Winter has been bad enough for me to be injured twice. Both injuries occurred in the same conditions (nearly identical), as I have said...one in January (temp of 19, with a windchill of 5) and one in February (temp of 19 and a windchill of 4)...just checked my log.

To answer your question: yes, I believe I can run well. In regard to the weather: all runners hope for good weather.

I do not feel burned out at all.

Troll Hunter wrote:

Ggggggg wrote:

If this guy turns out to be a troll I am going to be upset and impresed.

Times and race backstory are real, don't know if post-NYC premise and Potomac plan are. If he is, he did a good job covering his tracks.

If he's for real and he makes it through this with a PR, he's atypical in my opinion.

How do you know his time and backstory are real? Proof?

Anyways, good luck outsiderunner!

outsiderunner wrote:

Er... wrote:

Really don't understand this. The monthly average high temperature where you live doesn't even get below freezing and the average annual snowfall is about a foot and a half. How bad can winter running be there?!

I live in the mountains, not in the DC suburbs...big difference in terrain and weather. Winter has been bad enough for me to be injured twice. Both injuries occurred in the same conditions (nearly identical), as I have said...one in January (temp of 19, with a windchill of 5) and one in February (temp of 19 and a windchill of 4)...just checked my log.

Hey partner, I've got some advice. Don't run in weather like that.

Nice troll job though. Nice number of pages. 8/10.

You can easily find the name of someone 47 years old from VA running 3:04 at NYC with the identical 13.1 split OP posted. As to the backstory, who knows, but why would it be made up? Too elaborate. I'm calling this guy real.

ricc wrote:

Troll Hunter wrote:

Times and race backstory are real, don't know if post-NYC premise and Potomac plan are. If he is, he did a good job covering his tracks.

If he's for real and he makes it through this with a PR, he's atypical in my opinion.

How do you know his time and backstory are real? Proof?

Anyways, good luck outsiderunner!

He's real. Been posting on these boards for a while. Good luck with the run, kid!

Troll Hunter #2 wrote:

You can easily find the name of someone 47 years old from VA running 3:04 at NYC with the identical 13.1 split OP posted. As to the backstory, who knows, but why would it be made up? Too elaborate. I'm calling this guy real.

ricc wrote:

How do you know his time and backstory are real? Proof?

Anyways, good luck outsiderunner!

When you're a pro troll hunter you know how to use a computer. I'm not the type broadcast people's bidness, but a person with his backstory exists, just don't know about the front story or if it's this person. Like I said, if it is a troll it's a pro level troll.

ricc wrote:

Troll Hunter wrote:

Times and race backstory are real, don't know if post-NYC premise and Potomac plan are. If he is, he did a good job covering his tracks.

If he's for real and he makes it through this with a PR, he's atypical in my opinion.

How do you know his time and backstory are real? Proof?

Anyways, good luck outsiderunner!