Grant Fisher's Buildup to this Sunday's (3/15) NYC Half Marathon

Fan Out West -> wrote:

Compiling a few pre-existing threads into this one. More-or-less an "official" pre-race thread on Grant's training.

Grant first posted on Strava a 20-mile long run he did a couple weeks back, eliciting the following responses:

Link:www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?th...

Then, All Access, through sponsor AmazFit, posted Grant's 4x2 mile morning threshold workout from around March 1st a couple days back, resulting in the following new thread:

Link:www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?th...

Now (3/10), the Coffee Club boiz posted a special-edition interview with Grant, again with the help/insistence of AmazFit, again recorded around March 1st, likely right after the threshold workout took place:

Video:www.youtube.com/watch?v=UguCkXswq_w

So, from these social media posts, here are the highlights of Grant's training & future plans as of around March 1st:

-- Contracted pneumonia before/at Millrose Games -- doctor's visit afterwards revealed fluid in his lungs.

-- Actually planned to race a 5000 two weeks after Millrose 2-mile, either the BU Valentine Invite on 2/13 or the ASICS Sound Invite on the 2/14. Damn!! Missed opportunity, especially in light of what he wants to do this summer . . . keep reading!

-- Although Grant didn't get specific re: how many days he had to take off, most likely he was not able to run much that following week -- meaning serious training likely resumed around the Feb 8th, giving Grant only a 4-week training block to get fit then tapering the 5th week before the race. Grant mentioned a few times an 8-week-to-3-month training block for any race he runs would be ideal.

-- Upped his mileage during these 4 weeks to 105-115 miles/wk. Replaced 1500/5000 track- threshold sessions with 4x2 mile & 6-mile road sessions -- essentially adding 2 miles/day to his normal 100 miles/wk track training to reach 110 miles/wk ave.

-- Now using the AmazFit armband heart rate monitor rather than a chest monitor which he called "invasive." Still does lactate blood testing between reps, but can now monitor his in-rep effort in real time to speed up or slow down as needed.

-- Has been doing these threshold sessions down the hill from Flagstaff in Camp Verde, ele. 3100', thus allowing for faster sessions more approximating the hm race pace.

-- Admitted to not having any significant workouts to key off of to let him know how well he will do in NYC. Only knows his key training efforts are for 5000/10,000 track races, thus admitting he is going into this Sunday's race "blind."

-- Plan is to hang with the leaders for 12 miles then, hopefully, has something in the tank to kick FTW.

-- Likely will wear AlphaFly 3s. Likely will only consume gels during the race, not water. Note: take-a-way from this comment on race strategy is not to expect a record of any kind as Grant will only be trying to stay with the leaders until near the end, never pushing the pace at any point.

-- Regarding the rest of this year: plans to take down time the rest of March, begin his summer track season build-up -- which he has several times stated is essentially fall base training -- in April extending through May, then open his track season in June. No specific meet stated.

-- He wants to get in peak time-trial fitness (essentially winter fitness) "early" in the summer season, then sharpen for "championship" racing later on, alluding to the DL Final then the Ultimate Championships.

-- He is already slated to race the Pre 2-mile on July 4th. (Have to think of this race as his Millrose redux race.) Any race in June would be a tune-up, most likely a 1500/mile.

-- Wants to race a few DLs he hasn't raced before.

-- Big Reveal: wants to set a new US 5000 record, likely referring to going faster than his own 12:44 indoor time as well as Nico's 12:45 outdoor record. Nothing more specific. However, since Grant wants to get in peak time-trialing shape in early outdoors, this attempt would likely come in a DL race following Pre sometime in July.

-- Made no mention of running USAs in August or racing a 10,000 this year -- although has hasn't said he wouldn't.

-- Finally, for those fans who want to see Grant move up to the marathon, better not hold your breath. Grant stated, no matter how well he runs in NYC on Sunday, he has no plans to run another road race this year, thus shutting down at the end of the summer track season. In an interview earlier this year or late last, Grant commented that his earliest opportunity to race a full marathon would likely not be until the end of 2027 following the conclusion of that outdoor season.

So, there's the mind of Grant Fisher, two weeks out from his half-marathon/road debut.

Fan Out West -> wrote:

Compiling a few pre-existing threads into this one. More-or-less an "official" pre-race thread on Grant's training.

Grant first posted on Strava a 20-mile long run he did a couple weeks back, eliciting the following responses:

Link:www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?th...

Then, All Access, through sponsor AmazFit, posted Grant's 4x2 mile morning threshold workout from around March 1st a couple days back, resulting in the following new thread:

Link:www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?th...

Now (3/10), the Coffee Club boiz posted a special-edition interview with Grant, again with the help/insistence of AmazFit, again recorded around March 1st, likely right after the threshold workout took place:

Video:www.youtube.com/watch?v=UguCkXswq_w

So, from these social media posts, here are the highlights of Grant's training & future plans as of around March 1st:

-- Contracted pneumonia before/at Millrose Games -- doctor's visit afterwards revealed fluid in his lungs.

-- Actually planned to race a 5000 two weeks after Millrose 2-mile, either the BU Valentine Invite on 2/13 or the ASICS Sound Invite on the 2/14. Damn!! Missed opportunity, especially in light of what he wants to do this summer . . . keep reading!

-- Although Grant didn't get specific re: how many days he had to take off, most likely he was not able to run much that following week -- meaning serious training likely resumed around the Feb 8th, giving Grant only a 4-week training block to get fit then tapering the 5th week before the race. Grant mentioned a few times an 8-week-to-3-month training block for any race he runs would be ideal.

-- Upped his mileage during these 4 weeks to 105-115 miles/wk. Replaced 1500/5000 track- threshold sessions with 4x2 mile & 6-mile road sessions -- essentially adding 2 miles/day to his normal 100 miles/wk track training to reach 110 miles/wk ave.

-- Now using the AmazFit armband heart rate monitor rather than a chest monitor which he called "invasive." Still does lactate blood testing between reps, but can now monitor his in-rep effort in real time to speed up or slow down as needed.

-- Has been doing these threshold sessions down the hill from Flagstaff in Camp Verde, ele. 3100', thus allowing for faster sessions more approximating the hm race pace.

-- Admitted to not having any significant workouts to key off of to let him know how well he will do in NYC. Only knows his key training efforts are for 5000/10,000 track races, thus admitting he is going into this Sunday's race "blind."

-- Plan is to hang with the leaders for 12 miles then, hopefully, has something in the tank to kick FTW.

-- Likely will wear AlphaFly 3s. Likely will only consume gels during the race, not water. Note: take-a-way from this comment on race strategy is not to expect a record of any kind as Grant will only be trying to stay with the leaders until near the end, never pushing the pace at any point.

-- Regarding the rest of this year: plans to take down time the rest of March, begin his summer track season build-up -- which he has several times stated is essentially fall base training -- in April extending through May, then open his track season in June. No specific meet stated.

-- He wants to get in peak time-trial fitness (essentially winter fitness) "early" in the summer season, then sharpen for "championship" racing later on, alluding to the DL Final then the Ultimate Championships.

-- He is already slated to race the Pre 2-mile on July 4th. (Have to think of this race as his Millrose redux race.) Any race in June would be a tune-up, most likely a 1500/mile.

-- Wants to race a few DLs he hasn't raced before.

-- Big Reveal: wants to set a new US 5000 record, likely referring to going faster than his own 12:44 indoor time as well as Nico's 12:45 outdoor record. Nothing more specific. However, since Grant wants to get in peak time-trialing shape in early outdoors, this attempt would likely come in a DL race following Pre sometime in July.

-- Made no mention of running USAs in August or racing a 10,000 this year -- although has hasn't said he wouldn't.

-- Finally, for those fans who want to see Grant move up to the marathon, better not hold your breath. Grant stated, no matter how well he runs in NYC on Sunday, he has no plans to run another road race this year, thus shutting down at the end of the summer track season. In an interview earlier this year or late last, Grant commented that his earliest opportunity to race a full marathon would likely not be until the end of 2027 following the conclusion of that outdoor season.

So, there's the mind of Grant Fisher, two weeks out from his half-marathon/road debut.

Fan Out West -> wrote:

Compiling a few pre-existing threads into this one. More-or-less an "official" pre-race thread on Grant's training.

Grant first posted on Strava a 20-mile long run he did a couple weeks back, eliciting the following responses:

Link:www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?th...

Then, All Access, through sponsor AmazFit, posted Grant's 4x2 mile morning threshold workout from around March 1st a couple days back, resulting in the following new thread:

Link:www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?th...

Now (3/10), the Coffee Club boiz posted a special-edition interview with Grant, again with the help/insistence of AmazFit, again recorded around March 1st, likely right after the threshold workout took place:

Video:www.youtube.com/watch?v=UguCkXswq_w

So, from these social media posts, here are the highlights of Grant's training & future plans as of around March 1st:

-- Contracted pneumonia before/at Millrose Games -- doctor's visit afterwards revealed fluid in his lungs.

-- Actually planned to race a 5000 two weeks after Millrose 2-mile, either the BU Valentine Invite on 2/13 or the ASICS Sound Invite on the 2/14. Damn!! Missed opportunity, especially in light of what he wants to do this summer . . . keep reading!

-- Although Grant didn't get specific re: how many days he had to take off, most likely he was not able to run much that following week -- meaning serious training likely resumed around the Feb 8th, giving Grant only a 4-week training block to get fit then tapering the 5th week before the race. Grant mentioned a few times an 8-week-to-3-month training block for any race he runs would be ideal.

-- Upped his mileage during these 4 weeks to 105-115 miles/wk. Replaced 1500/5000 track- threshold sessions with 4x2 mile & 6-mile road sessions -- essentially adding 2 miles/day to his normal 100 miles/wk track training to reach 110 miles/wk ave.

-- Now using the AmazFit armband heart rate monitor rather than a chest monitor which he called "invasive." Still does lactate blood testing between reps, but can now monitor his in-rep effort in real time to speed up or slow down as needed.

-- Has been doing these threshold sessions down the hill from Flagstaff in Camp Verde, ele. 3100', thus allowing for faster sessions more approximating the hm race pace.

-- Admitted to not having any significant workouts to key off of to let him know how well he will do in NYC. Only knows his key training efforts are for 5000/10,000 track races, thus admitting he is going into this Sunday's race "blind."

-- Plan is to hang with the leaders for 12 miles then, hopefully, has something in the tank to kick FTW.

-- Likely will wear AlphaFly 3s. Likely will only consume gels during the race, not water. Note: take-a-way from this comment on race strategy is not to expect a record of any kind as Grant will only be trying to stay with the leaders until near the end, never pushing the pace at any point.

-- Regarding the rest of this year: plans to take down time the rest of March, begin his summer track season build-up -- which he has several times stated is essentially fall base training -- in April extending through May, then open his track season in June. No specific meet stated.

-- He wants to get in peak time-trial fitness (essentially winter fitness) "early" in the summer season, then sharpen for "championship" racing later on, alluding to the DL Final then the Ultimate Championships.

-- He is already slated to race the Pre 2-mile on July 4th. (Have to think of this race as his Millrose redux race.) Any race in June would be a tune-up, most likely a 1500/mile.

-- Wants to race a few DLs he hasn't raced before.

-- Big Reveal: wants to set a new US 5000 record, likely referring to going faster than his own 12:44 indoor time as well as Nico's 12:45 outdoor record. Nothing more specific. However, since Grant wants to get in peak time-trialing shape in early outdoors, this attempt would likely come in a DL race following Pre sometime in July.

-- Made no mention of running USAs in August or racing a 10,000 this year -- although has hasn't said he wouldn't.

-- Finally, for those fans who want to see Grant move up to the marathon, better not hold your breath. Grant stated, no matter how well he runs in NYC on Sunday, he has no plans to run another road race this year, thus shutting down at the end of the summer track season. In an interview earlier this year or late last, Grant commented that his earliest opportunity to race a full marathon would likely not be until the end of 2027 following the conclusion of that outdoor season.

So, there's the mind of Grant Fisher, two weeks out from his half-marathon/road debut.

Fan Out West -> wrote:

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

It sure sounds like this race and a 2027 redux (?) might be part of the evaluation of which event he picks in 2028. Running a marathon at the Olympics on home soil is hugely appealing.

Thx to everyone for the kind words regarding this thread.

Happy to put everything in one place for easier understanding of what's going on and likely will happen.

Though Grant is intrigued by the possibility of a 10,000/marathon double in LA, my impression is that it is only a thought and nothing near reality.

This notion is especially underscored by his total commitment to track this summer -- especially the 5000 record attempt -- plus no plans to race the roads again for the rest of the year.

Here is one scenario which might happen:

Grant races another half-marathon this time next year -- as his qualifier for the Oly Marathon Trials in 2028. Thus, the Oly Marathon Trials would be his first marathon. Whether or not it goes great and he makes the marathon team, he then doubles back at the Oly Track Trials a couple months later. If he makes it again in a track races (or two), Grant then must decide if he wants to do the track/marathon double, just run the marathon, or just race on the track in LA.

In any case, one thing Grant did mention in the Coffee Club podcast -- not highlighted above -- was his assertion that this higher-mileage/lower intensity training felt better to him than his traditional 100-mile weeks w/higher-intensity track training. He doesn't feel as beat up running 4x2-mile tempo road sessions as he has felt running repeat mile track sessions. Which might mean he has a better affinity for road racing than track racing.

In any case, excited for the NYC Half on Sunday as I am for the NCAA meet.