Training Log for a 2:30ish Boston Marathon 2018

Sorry to hear about the injury, Smoove , and sickness, Reed. Things have been coming along decently (but not spectacularly) here. This will probably my last check-in before Boston. Hoping for some cooperative weather and race day magic for 2:18:59 to happen.

March 5-11: 89 miles (2x2 road miles at 10:12, 10:06 on 5:55 mile float, Half Marathon race March 10 1:10:04- pretty crummy performance...went out way too fast and got reeled in and left to dry the last 4-5 miles. Confident it is not indicative of my fitness)

March 12-18: 117 miles (15 with middle 8 Alternating Mile Hill Loops 5:07/5:39 [5:54 total average, 5:23 middle 8 average], 18 mile long run [5:58 average])

March 19-25: 82 miles (10 miles with middle 6 at 5:12 [5:49 total average]...Cold, rainy, and hilly 18 mile long run with 2x4 miles at MP [5:22/5:33] on 6:00 mile float [6:03 total average])

March 26- April 1: 90 miles (16 miles with 3x2 miles on hilly loop [10:31/10:33/10:31] on 5:50 mile floats [5:56 total average], 17 mile long run with middle 13.1 at a stupid hilly local Half Marathon race with 2x4 miles at MP [5:16/5:24] with the rest comfortable...1:11:35 for the win. This half had significantly more elevation gain in 13.1 miles than Boston does in 26.2, so I'm happy with how easy 1:11 felt)

All that's really left now is to fret over the weather and start the taper.

KYtrailrunner wrote:

All that's really left now is to fret over the weather and start the taper.

You're ready, but others could do a hard workout between now and Thursday. Lots of time to recover.

Are you the only one left with a chance at sub 2:30?

Is your goal 2:39?

To save space CureJM I'll only quote the parts of your post I'm commenting on.

Lots of interesting and random things in those 3 cycles. I'll comment in order of the dates.

2011 - solid 8x800 and 16flat 5ks. also 4x1 in 5:00? that's way better than what I'd expect from a 16:00 5ker. Interesting choice to run a 50k 2 weeks out...I was super nervous doing mine 8 weeks out!

2016 - Looks like you've lost your speed! 4:55? and a 35min 10k? Were those all out? same comments for the 17min 5k and 36min 10k? If those weren't all out...it's confusing to label them as races in your log. Just say tempo!

2018 - 6x1 in 5:15 is super solid, as is 4x2mi 10:50. Those workouts for me would indicate 2:30-2:31 fitness or better if solo. the 54min 10 miler is great, and 3 minutes faster than when you ran 2:38! Lastly, another solid 3x3mi.

Overall your mileage is obviously low and inconsistent but you still whip out some solid performances, so it's working well-enough! Running 2:38 off of like 50 mpw back in 2011 was impressive, and if yo're not physically far off that, you've definitely got low 2:30s in the bag.

Not sure what your precise goal pace is but if the weather is good I'd shoot for 5:50s to start. If you go 76:30 through halfway you could probably still run 2:31 if you have the gas left, but probably will lose any shot at 2:30.

Reader of this thread wrote:

Are you the only one left with a chance at sub 2:30?

Shame. I guess 2:29 was a stretch for most of us initially...and injury/sickness has ruined it all. Except for the random stud trying to OTQ lol.

Anyway, asking for advice for a final long run ended up being dumb because I never recovered enough to do it. It's been 2 weeks as of tomorrow night that I've been sick. Got it diagnosed last Saturday (after 7 days of illness) as a sinus infection and got some antibiotics. Done with those now but the best run I've done so far was 7.3 miles easy yesterday. Energy has been back for a while but I haven't been able to breathe fully while running, or at all really. Still occasional coughing too.

Today I'll attempt the mona fartlek (20min easy workout) as my first harder run in 2 weeks. I'm obviously not planning on being very aggressive in Boston any more...Assuming I'm back to 100% I think I'll target 5:50/mi from the gun, which is my exact PR pace. I don't think I'll fade to worse than 2:35 unless the weather sucks, and after the month I've had I'll take that.

Already thinking way too much about post-Boston plans. I want to get used to the pain of 5k/10k workouts and racing before CIM this December, so I'm planning on doing shorter races and shorter/harder workouts this summer.

I might even race a mile on the track in early June, I think my 4:56.8 1600m from high school is due for some smashing.

Been mostly lurking in this thread. Another runner in my running club is looking to run sub 3 at Boston, so I will be following Boston and probably take a sick day to watch the race. Good luck to everyone, even though it seems training has been rough for many. But a nice tailwind and moderate temps could lead to some surprises....

Marathon training seems like quite the fickle beast. I was hoping to run a late spring marathon debut in the 2:30-2:35, but I think that I ramped up intensity too quickly and had too many pains and had to take it easy for the last couple weeks. I might take a stab at Grandma's, as I just want to get in a decently deep marathon and get a feel for the marathon before training for a faster a time in the fall. Might have to keep the faster runs to a minimum, though, maybe only 1 or 2 a week.

Help me out brother, what's your name? I want someone to root for and follow along via the phone ap.

Good luck, it would be great to see you break 2:19!!!!

Bib 47...I'll take all the good vibes I can get!

KYtrailrunner wrote:

Bib 47...I'll take all the good vibes I can get!

How do you get a bib that low? Qualifying time?

Name is Zachy Beavin from Lexington ky. Dudes a Baller.....Ran 2:21 at the FAST (not so sure accurate distance Indy Marathon)

I wish you all good luck.

You can do it!

Above all, enjoy Boston.

patti

Question for RunMedic wrote:

Is your goal 2:39?

By VDOT standards, based on my 1:16:10 half, I'm technically on pace for it, but we all know how that goes. My plan is a 1:21 first half, hopefully resulting in a 2:42-2:44

KYtrailrunner wrote:

Bib 47...I'll take all the good vibes I can get!

Sorry, I just saw this. Thanks a ton for posting your race number! Now I've got someone to root for! Best of luck, hoping you have decent weather and are feeling great in 8 days. All the best!

I just saw the post with your name. Good luck Zach, you surely have the right stuff to qualify and I'd bet you'll do it. Can't wait for next Monday. I live in Michigan but even I don't work that day...Boston Marathon on tv day!!!

last bit of hardish running in the barn today.

did a 10mi race at marathon effort (not pace, just effort). Course was mostly flat but with some short, steepish hills to get up onto overpasses and bridges. I think 180' climbing , or 18'/mi compared to ~23'/mi in Boston. Basically settled into about 5:54-5:57s pretty consistently. Didn't do lap splits so I couldn't force the pace, just let it roll. Picked it up a bit the last couple miles to help pull in some teammates trying to actually race. 58:53 or 5:53/mi, not bad I'd say considering my prolonged sickness. I'd definitely want to feel a little more relaxed at mile 10 at this pace in Boston, but with the adrenaline and crowd support, and hopefully cooler weather (this race was a bit warm...no excuse though) I think I can manage that. In my PR I split 10mi in pretty close to the same split and was able to negative split by a lot.

as for my week, I ran 53 miles, and actually ran all 7 days. Not bad, not too far off what I'd normally do 2 weeks out (65ish).

Not gonna put down a goal for Boston yet, gotta see about that forecast!

Please post your name or number so I have someone else to follow;) Yes, I'm new here and don't know if the handles are real last names or just handles. Just looking for another runner to root for. Thanks

bib 203, name is Reed Breuer. the "secret" is out

Good luck gentlemen. Sorry I couldn't make it to the start line with you. Only the strong survived.