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Too Much Information?

Posted by RJ A on Jul 7, 2008 7:28:02 AM

 

Above is what I seem to have been spending most of my time doing the last couple of weeks. Seriously, it seems like I have been shoving anything within arms reach into my gob. Celebration period officially over.

 

Well this post could very well fall into that catagory of to much information. It's funny because I don't really understand why I find it therapeutic to re-hash my decision making and goal setting process on this blog. I guess seeing it in print and having one like minded person give me the thumbs up makes me somehow feel better about things. But seriously how much of this drivel do people actually want to read?

 

But never wanting to disappoint my massive readership I did as planned and reviewed my goal pyramid for 2008 as pictured here? It needs some work but I am fairly proud of where I am here at the halfway point of 2008.

 

 

In a nut shell I can recap it like this

 

Now Goals

I have done a decent job here especially with the Keystone but while I have a great functional strength routine I have not been getting the job done in the gym since the weather got nice. And Nutrition is a constant struggle for me.

 

Short Term Goals

I pretty much nailed all of these

 

2008 Race Goals

Well the two Half Iron thing might fall be trumped by my Keystone, Austin is still a remote possibility but not looking very likely.

 

I did the sub 5:30 thing, woot woot.

 

Which leaves really just the sub 1:40 Half Mary.

 

Long Term And Lifetime Goals

Still mostly there, Boston, New York but IM has lost some allure to me. It is that trump card Keystone that keeps getting in the way of that type of committment for me. But none of those are pressing decisions at this point so I will adjust those as necessary in Jan of 2009.

 

But now when you look at that what do you see? I clearly see that 1:40 staring me very hard right in the face. I really don't know if I can do it, but I am going to try. To that end I did a 5 mile tempo run on Tuesday afternoon in 85 deg weather. The 5 mile tempo averaged 7:47 with some heartrates flirting with 180 towards the end. Which in my mind is somewhat due to the heat but somewhat due to trying to push the pace and running a bit above true tempo pace.

 

So here I am, I think it's time to suffer a little bit. I need to hit the track and put some of this large base I have to work. I need to work on some speed, specifically running speed. I am going to  follow the FIRST plan more religiously from this point through the Fox Cities Half and hopefully I can make some progress. So that is where I am at. You will find me on the trails running more, at the highschool track more, on my bike on the cross training days, and one day a week doing an open water swim.

 

Like I said and I am not trying to be coy about this, sub 1:40 is a big nut for me. It may not seem like much to many of you but it is for me for some reason.  

 

Races I am signing up for this week. I would like to find one more triathlon to do with my brother in law and perhaps a 5k or two to work on speed. But those will be day of signup's.

 

Oshkosh Olympic Triathlon - Aug 10th

Fox Cites Half Marathon - Sept 21st

 

There you go, you offically have Too Much Information. Have a great week.

268 Views


Jul 7, 2008 2:10 PM Guest Yumke  says:

Woo hoo, 1:40 is definitely a great time to aim at. I know you've tried before with an injury. You can do it! I'm sure track work, LTs and pace runs will get you on the way toward this achievable goal!

Jul 7, 2008 5:21 PM Guest Teacherwoman  says:

That is quite the pyramid! Nice!

Jul 8, 2008 5:29 AM Guest Lisa  says:

Thank you for the TMI. Personally, I was prepared to hear completely different things.

 

Thanks again for the bike info. I'm headed to a local bike shop, staffed by triathletes and bike enthusiasts today. If all goes well, I'll be a new bike owner this week.

Jul 8, 2008 6:26 AM Guest Nitmos  says:

Cool goals and awesome pyramid.  That makes them seem even that much more impressive.  I'm going to have to get one of those pyramid thingys and throw out my scrap paper in my desk drawer.

 

Didn't you run Chicago in like 3:40 or something??  Maybe I'm confusing you with someone else...

 

1:40 is a good goal.  Hit the speed work and the FIRST plan is a good place to start.  I tell you what has worked for me:  800's.  Lots of 'em.  Add one more 800 every 2 weeks.  I do this workout once a week and it had paid immediate dividends.  Good luck.

Jul 8, 2008 7:33 PM Guest IronMin  says:

You've nailed so many of your goals - congratulations!  It is so smart of you to lay the year out this way.  I think sometimes I spend so much time looking at the big goal (IM) that I downplay or forget about the huge accomplishments made along the way - and they are just as worthy of celebration. 

 

I think the sub 1:40 half is totally attainable - you will probably be spending some time on the track, but given your strong performance in the half ironman I bet you are closer than you think.  I look forward to reading about how you tackle it.  After IM I would like to work more on speed vs. long endurance next year.

Jul 9, 2008 5:43 AM RJ A RJ A    says in response to Nitmos:

Nope I will take full credit for the 3:39 and change Chicago Marathon. Still a 1:40 half translates into a 3:30 full which is really the kind of running shape I want to be in before I decide to make a run at a BQ maybe as soon as next year. I am trying to figure out how this age thing works and what the Boston requirements are is it age when you run the race?? And how does the two year fall qualifier rule effect all of that?

Jul 9, 2008 6:31 AM Guest Yumke  says:

Hey, on Boston, there is an interesting rule that allows you to prequalify as long as a year and a half before the Boston marathon. I'm in a very interesting situation where the stars may align.

 

First, i'm gunning for a 3:10 this fall in Toronto marathon, which is the time I need at the age of 34. A 3:10 will get me into 2009's Boston. BUT, if I manage a 3:15:59 this fall, there is a good chance I can use that time to qualify for 2010 Boston, when I'll hit 35. Boston uses your age on Boston race day. Now the trick is what day they set up as the cutoff. For 2008 Boston, their cutoff date was Sept, 29 2007 so people from last fall can use their times in the future.

 

Anyways, it's boring talk for most, but for those of us who are about to move to the next age group, it can allow you to shoot for two qualifying time goals...

 

http://www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon/Qualifying.asp

Jul 10, 2008 8:56 AM Guest Nitmos  says:

As Yumke said, you qualify based on the age you would be at the time you RUN BOSTON.  So, you can run a certain time at age 34, for example, but - if you don't run Boston until you are 35 - you only need to meet the 35 yr old requirement.  Pretty cool.  And, I think, you have 18 months to use your Boston qualifier.  So, continuing the example, you could conceivably run a BQ at age 33 1/2 at the 35 yr old standard as long as you turn 35 before Boston comes around.

Jul 10, 2008 1:34 PM RJ A RJ A    says:

Ok so answer this smart guys, lets say I run a full Mary next fall when I will be 39. With my Birthday in May which is after Boston would be run the following spring I would need to run 3:15:59 to qualify for the 2010 Race. What I am wondering is since you qualify for two years if you run a fall qualifier would I qualify for 2011 if I ran sub 3:20:59 at the Marathon I run next fall? This is what I am unclear on.

Jul 10, 2008 2:27 PM Guest Yumke  says in response to RJ A:

I believe so.

Lets use this example:

 

For the 2009 Boston, you can use a 2007 fall qualifier.

 

So for 2011 Boston, you can use a 2009 fall qualifier.

 

So as long as have reached the next age bracket on April xx 2011 (race day), then you can use the 3:20:59 from fall 2009

Jul 14, 2008 6:49 PM Guest Michelle  says:

The pyramid thing is very Type A.....but I like it!

Sub 1:40 sounds like a great half mary goal. Get after it!

And remember, the more you run, the more you can eat!

RJ A

RJ A

Member since: Aug 21, 2007

“People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.” - George Allen

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