Sub 2h30 Spring Marathon - The Quest for Amateur Glory is back!

mwh wrote:

We're still lurking. Keep up the inspiring work!

Since the topic of first mile urination came up a lot, I wonder what's the prevailing coping strategy:

1, go to porta potty

2. piss your pants (in a major goal race, I'd be tempted. I've done far grosser things.)

3. piss out the side of your shorts (exposing yourself somewhat and probably pissing on other runners in a crowded field);

4. hold it (and hope it just goes away with dehydration or mental tricks, etc.)

1. This is what I went with at Boston and Grandma's

2. This is what I *tried* to do at Boston and Grandma's

3. Pissing while running is damn near impossible for me

4. This has never worked for me

I think it's best to just use the port o john. I had to pee on the line once and just held it. When the gun went off adrenaline carried me through and I didn't even feel it again until halfway. Stopped at mi 17 and didn't have any issues getting rolling again.

Question for Amateur - I recently was also diagnosed with a medial tibial plateau stress fracture. How’s your recovery coming? How has the timeline aligned with the initial 4 week goal?

I had really bad pain almost 2 weeks ago, haven’t run since, and just got the mri diagnosis. It hurt like hell walking all of last week, but the last couple days, I’ve only felt it twinge after walking for awhile, and otherwise doesn’t hurt. On the pool game for sure now. I’m trying to gauge how long until gradually reincorporating running. My thought was starting very light, conservative walk-jogging in 2 or 3 weeks (4 to 5 weeks from stopping running), and building up to a full 30 min run over 2 more weeks. Not sure if that’s too aggressive, but would love to hear your recent experience, and some of the sensations you’ve felt along the way.

I’ve been enjoying the thread guys - keep it rolling.

I used to be a medical assistant at a podiatry office and saw all kinds of injuries and their respective recovery phases. This looks like a sensible plan, MT, but one thing will tell you if this is an aggressive plan more than anything else: your body. If you listen to your body and sit out when things don't feel right and, conversely, see what you can do when you feel good, I'm sure that will be the key to a good recovery process.

Only thing I'd recommend changing is waiting until walking is 0% an issue for you and you no longer feel any twinges. That's in a perfect world, though, and I know if I was in the same place I'd get too antsy just walking for so long

Awesome, thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I was thinking of not proceeding to the next phase until totally pain free walking for 10 days. The last few days have been totally pain free - if no pain until then, it will have been 3 weeks since running. At that point, I’d move onto the very gradual progressive walk/jog phase (first one being some like 1’ run/5’ walk times six). I’d then ideally do that every other day, monitoring for delayed pain symptoms, and progressively adjust the ratios if pain free. And yeah, definitely always taking a step back with any pain. Thanks again for the response!

Tyler_Runs_Lifts wrote:

mwh wrote:

We're still lurking. Keep up the inspiring work!

Since the topic of first mile urination came up a lot, I wonder what's the prevailing coping strategy:

1, go to porta potty

2. piss your pants (in a major goal race, I'd be tempted. I've done far grosser things.)

3. piss out the side of your shorts (exposing yourself somewhat and probably pissing on other runners in a crowded field);

4. hold it (and hope it just goes away with dehydration or mental tricks, etc.)

1. This is what I went with at Boston and Grandma's

2. This is what I *tried* to do at Boston and Grandma's

3. Pissing while running is damn near impossible for me

4. This has never worked for me

I 100% peed myself at the start line at Boston this year. Had hydrated a bunch and wasn't leaving the corral at that point. Didn't get everything out but enough that I wasn't too uncomfortable during the race.

Anybody got any spring races left? Who's running Grandmas?

I'll be running Grandma's. I'm 2 weeks out today, and the taper feels like it's right on time. I've been pretty exhausted over the last few weeks, although I am feeling a little better now that the mileage is coming down a bit. Here are the last few weeks of my training:

5/20-26

M-10 easy

Tu-10.5 easy

We-11.5 with 5 x 1600/400 jog. Started around LT pace and cut down. 5:24, 5:21, 5:16, 5:18, 5:11. Avg 5:18

Th-8.5 in am, 4.5 in pm

Fr-23 with the last 15 at 6:05 pace.

Sa-7 easy

Su-10 easy

Total: 85

5/27-6/2

M-11 easy

Tu- 10 with 6 x 1200/400 jog. Felt kinda meh. Tried going 8k-10k pace. 3:47, 3:56, 3:57, 3:57, 3:56, 3:45. Avg 3:53

We- 10 easy

Th- 10 in am, 6 in pm

Fr-10 easy

Sa- 17.5 with 15 at MP. Avg 5:41 pace.

Su- 8 easy

Total: 83

6/3/-6/9

M-9 easy

Tu- 20 x 400 alternating :90s and :75s. Felt ok, but 5:00 pace felt quicker than I'd like. 27:32 at 8k

We- 11 easy

Th- 11 easy

Fr- 10 easy

Sa- 23.5 with 5ish easy, 5:44, 5:36, 5:41, 5:34, 5:44, 5 easy, 5:44, 5:42, 5:40, 5:47, 5:52, 3ish easy

Su- off

Total: 74

I think that I'm about as fit as I was last fall leading to a 2:31, but I raced poorly suggesting that I could go faster if I just stay a little more disciplined for the first 16 miles. It's going to be close either way... I'm starting to get a little anxious about the weather. The cool crisp mornings of early spring lead to some really solid long runs, but in the last few weeks the humidity has been killer and I've really been feeling it in the longer workouts.

Just had a nice chill week leading into the taper.

M-9.5 easy

Tu-11 easy

We-10 with 6 x 1600/400 jog. Felt pretty decent. With Jay and Khan. 5:22, 5:19, 5:18, 5:17, 5:16, 5:10. Avg 5:17.

Th-8.5 easy

Fr-8 easy with 6 x :45 sec strides around 4:40 pace

Sa-13 easy

Su-0

Total: 60

All I've got this week is a two mile at pace tomorrow with some strides and a few easy 6 milers.

immunorunner wrote:

Just had a nice chill week leading into the taper.

M-9.5 easy

Tu-11 easy

We-10 with 6 x 1600/400 jog. Felt pretty decent. With Jay and Khan. 5:22, 5:19, 5:18, 5:17, 5:16, 5:10. Avg 5:17.

Th-8.5 easy

Fr-8 easy with 6 x :45 sec strides around 4:40 pace

Sa-13 easy

Su-0

Total: 60

All I've got this week is a two mile at pace tomorrow with some strides and a few easy 6 milers.

Good luck out there sir. Get after it!

Here's an update for y'all. After Boston I took a week off and just went back to easy running. 20 to 30 miles a week and just didn't have too much motivation. Jumped into a road 10k to see what I could do and ran 32:32. Considering I averaged 25 miles since Feb 22nd I'll absolutely take it.

Last two weeks I've been running consistently again. Here is the last week.

M: 6 miles

T: 8.11 miles, 5-4-3-2-1

W: AM: 4 miles PM: 6.25 miles

TH: 6.75 miles

F: 8 miles

S: 8 miles

S: 14 miles, 6:21 pace, last 5 miles (5:55, 5:51, 5:52, 5:51, 5:28)

Total: 61 miles

I'm going to focus right this month on just time on my feet. My downfall all these years have been pushing the pace on all of my runs. My next marathon is my own city's marathon, Columbus in October. I have someone coaching me coming into this one. If I stay healthy I think I can get run 2:20 mid.

Good stuff both of you. 32:32 is no joke! I haven't run that fast since college. Immunorunner, do you have a bib number we can track? Either way, hope to hear how it goes.

My training has resumed as well, after about 5-6 weeks of 20-30mpw. Ran 70 miles 2 weeks ago and 85 last week. I've put together a pretty aggressive training plan in terms of mileage over the next 20 weeks or so leading into my next marathon. Right now, no workouts, just mileage and strides. Feeling good though! Have a 5-mile race on July 4th so will be interesting to see how that goes.

Grandma's went really well yesterday, and I am happy to report that I made it under 2:30! Nearly ideal conditions and a deep field lead me to a 2:06 PR with a 2:29:48.

It was about 55 and sunny with a moderate crosswind the whole way. I got out controlled off the back of a huge pack in 5:40 for the first mile. I sped up a little but was dropped by about the fifth mile which I reached in 28:06. I felt great and my heart rate was nearly 20 bpm lower than it was at the same point in Chicago, so I maintained the pace even though it was a little quick. I had gels at miles 6 and 12, and so far had only had maybe 2 or 3 cups of water. I came through the half in about 1:14:00 feeling better than I ever have at that point. By now the pack up ahead had about 300 meters on me but it was starting to splinter. I picked up the pace to mid-low 5:30s to catch some stragglers and took some Gatorade at mile 15 and my last gel at 18. At mile 19 I really started moving and hit a 5:31...I winced a little knowing that this one was going to bite me later. I managed to catch 23 guys during this stretch and was passed by none and got to mile 20 in 1:52:39. I was starting to really tire and ran 5:46 to mile 21. This was my first mile over 2:30 pace and I was really hurting at this point. Lemon drop hill was terrible. I slowed to 6:02 pace slogging up what felt like Everest at the time and was passed by the lead woman and 2 guys. Coming down the back of the hill I managed a couple of 5:55s before I hit a 6:07 coming into Duluth. The crowds were great and I tried to visualize the finish and buckle down. Mile 25 was a 5:42 and I got really excited, but with the slow splits over the last few miles I was starting to worry a little. I had been trying to calculate how close I would be since mile 23 and I knew that it was going to be close. The last mile seemed like it went on forever and had dozens of turns but there were probably only a few. I was passed by a few more guys here and ran 6:10, just trying to survive at this point. With the finish line in sight I kicked as hard as I could (5:36 pace for the last 0.2) and it was over!

I've never been so sore in my entire life.

the curse of this thread is over! hooray!

congrats immunorunner. must be a good feeling to run low 5:30s after halfway. even if it bit you in the butt a little later.

Awesome!!! Congrats on the run.

I had to pee at Columbus in 2018 in the 1st mile b/c I didn't go before! #imstupid

That cost me 65 seconds. I ran 1:39:02 on chip time and 1:40:05 on gun time (not bad, as I started up front). I would have run 1:37:57 in perfect conditions that day.

The year before I ran 1:45 but it was 75'F at 7:30 am. Ugh.

My goal is 3:20 in the full or better for my first one this fall and I'll be smarter about restroom breaks this time.

Columbus is fast, from what I know.

Half is easy but the 2nd part is a bit harder after Mile 17 and some hils by Campus.

immunorunner, this is awesome. Congratulations for this achievement, and what a description!! Almost felt like kicking home with you for the last mile. You made it!!

I am happy to start a new thread in a week or two for spring races.

I will try again and have already selected my race: Valencia Marathon on December 1st it will be. Fast race and a good group of runners around 2h30. Plus I have more time to prepare a good and longer programme of 16-18 weeks.

first attempt (fall 2018) - Failed in Amsterdam: 2h30'41 (was on pace until last 2 miles... so close)

second attempt (spring 2019) - Failed in Boston: 2h33'31 (started out too fast, 17:05 for 5 km and 1h13:30 for the Half - died during newton hills. Was probably capable of a 2h28/2h29 on a flat evenly paced race).

third attempt (fall 2019) - Valencia. This time I'll target 2h25 and I will do whatever it takes to fullfil my goal (I'll probably fail the 2h25 but I expect to be rewarded with a sub 2h30 in the process). Am ready to cover more mileage than i ever did before.

soon a new chapter to start...

Congrats -- been following this thread looking for training ideas/inspiration for a sub-2:40 this fall! Really excellent run! By the looks of it it looked to get a little warmer in the 2nd half of the race too.

Immunorunner -- I've been lurking here, just getting inspiration for my own pathetic efforts, but had to chime in. Congratulations! Wow, what a nail-biter! I can't imagine what you were feeling as you did the mental calculations during the last few miles. Well, actually I can, as I went through a similar experience years ago, except 10 minutes slower. What I didn't get to experience is the joy of crushing the goal (I missed by 30 seconds). Well done. Great race report!

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Today is the first day that I haven't felt terribly sore so far. I think I'll take the rest of the week off and build up slowly over most of July. It was nice to taste a small sip of that amateur glory, but the quest continues. I'll be racing NY this fall and I'm already getting excited.