Road Racing & Training Thread - Week Ending 5/22/2022

RunnerSam: I don't think tracking is available unless I carried a device. I'm providing my wife with a map showing estimated arrival times at various points. Weather forecasts is low 60s start, then into the 70s. Sun. Only 44 this morning, wish that was the forecast for Sunday!

HHW: I'm not qualified to advise you, but your proposed "off" kilometers would be maybe 3 seconds slower per km than the "on" kilometers? What competition do you expect? Maybe better to just race? Or at your caliber, is it likely you'll be front-running solo? In that case, if you're comfortable with that structure, it might be interesting to try.

I'd be more inclined to have a pace range in mind, like 3:08-3:12/km (or whatever), and run by feel within that range.

As you note, it's not the best, from a physiology standpoint - there is a cost to upshifting and downshifting. My guess is that you'll get late into the race and discover that you can't pick it up again after the 1K off. I know that the later I get into a marathon, the harder it is for me to change speed in either direction - I basically get locked into a pace.

However, if you'll be running mostly solo, there might be some mental benefits from approaching it this way.

Allen - Just thought I would pop in and bid you a "go get 'em" for your marathon on Sunday. Have a great race, my friend.

Things have been kind of sluggish for me. My upper leg/hip area is still tricky. So, I am keeping it to four days per week. I believe I got 39 miles last week on four runs. Took Monday and Tuesday off so far this week. Went 15.25 at 7:03 overall yesterday in the hills, wanting to take advantage of the unseasonably cool weather. The leg survived, but it was cranky this morning...but a little better once it got warmed up.

OR: Thanks for the update and well wishes. I've been wondering how you've been. Sunday's weather forecast doesn't look too bad -- 58° at start, warming to low 70s, light winds, sunny, 75% humidity. Still, that's quite warm as it's been a cool spring, and I'm not acclimated at all. Will need to be cautious!

I try not to dwell on it, but it's somewhat dispiriting to recall that just three years ago, I was eyeing sub-3. Now, sub-4. Aargh. Last night was my last run -- 4 miles, and all were over 10 minutes. Ha!

Some achilles discomfort, and a few days ago I strained my left hamstring at work. Always something! I won't mention the excruciating knee pain -- ibuprofen will deal with that : )

HHW: Hope all systems are GO for you. Enjoy your marathon. How's the weather forecast?

About as good as I could hope for. 58 and not humid at start time.

Good luck!

I didn't post about my week for this thread because it was a down week for me. I just wanted to get on here and say good luck to all those doing events this week-end. I look forward to reading some race reports in the next thread.

G/L HHW and Allen!

Yes - good luck!

TL, DW, and all: Thanks! Forecast is still looking decent. 58° at start, 68° at finish, 5-9 mph wind, mostly sunny, 58% humidity. Early wake-up tomorrow -- need to be on the road by 4:15. Zzzzzz...

It will be interesting to see what happens after such low-mileage training. And only four long runs (18, 21, 23, 18).

Good luck to HHW!