Howdy folks!!

I am in Arkansas (visiting family for the Holidays), so my two runs this week (4 miles each) were very hilly.

I really don't know if I can do this half marathon, but I know I can at least walk the whole thing if I have to. I've been running my runs with an 8 minute to 2 minute walk-run ratio and that works pretty well. We'll see how far I get with that before I have to start walking. And then crawling....lol.

You guys sound like you've all had great training for this and I'm sure you'll do well. My buddy and I are going to the Expo on Friday when he gets to Phoenix....He's excited about the marathon and thinks he'll break 4:00...

Good luck to all!!

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Matt
azredbirds[/URL" target="_blank">

MM,

What kind of "knee pain" - iliotibial band? If so, now that you've had a week off, there's good stretches for that - just start them very slowly/lightly.

This would definitely pay dividends at the full distance as my IT bands used to be very tight and would flare up on distances of 20+ miles.

Good luck - less than two weeks now gang - everybody enjoying the tapers?

kestrou

quote:<HR>Originally posted by tommy14277:
Sorry for dbl.post.

<HR>

You can delete a post by clicking on the Edit/Delete Message icon above. It is the one with the paper and pencil.

Good luck with your final two weeks of taper/training.

eryn23 - did you say that this was your first marathon?

I don't want to "bring the room down", but while I'm enjoying the taper I definitely have some trepidation.

This is BQ attempt #3 for me...

First shot was Quad Cities on 24 September - was on pace at mile 24, then flamed out and ended up in the Med Tent - didn't get out until 3 1/2 liters of IV later.

Second shot was Chicago on 18 October - was on pace at mile 26 - and flamed out on the hill right at the end and turned my legs to jelly. Actually LAID DOWN ON THE COURSE within sight of the finish line. Not sure how long I lay there, but got up and then staggered across the line - missed qualifying for Boston by one minute and ten seconds.

Since then, I ran a great 50 miler (JFK50) and have been training hard - so I'm hoping that Phoenix is my "Golden Ticket", but I've learned to respect the distance and I don't have that newbie bravado I had a few months ago.

I can tell I'm stronger/better now than I was on my last two attempts - and just set a 10K PR of 39:13 two days ago - but it's the last 10K that's the toughest, not the first!

I've heard that the definition of Success is when Preparation meets Opportunity.

Happy New Year to all - and hope your preparation meets opportunity in 13 days.

kestrou

http://This message has been edited by kestrou (edited Jan-01-2007).

kestrou~ yep, this is my first. I feel like you're trying to tell me that i'm going to suck but...i'm not expecting to be great, I'm just hoping to get through it in one piece, definitely not BQ. Good luck to you though. Please excuse my "newbie bravado," didn't mean to try to be positive and lift everyone up at all.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by eryn23:
kestrou~ yep, this is my first. I feel like you're trying to tell me that i'm going to suck but...i'm not expecting to be great, I'm just hoping to get through it in one piece, definitely not BQ. Good luck to you though. Please excuse my "newbie bravado," didn't mean to try to be positive and lift everyone up at all.<HR>

Oh no - I don't mean to personally try and bring your mood down. Sorry if you took it that way!

I RAN quite a few marathons before I decided to RACE them.

Running them is fun - I've even done them in costume

But now that I'm trying to "race" with a very specific goal in mind, well... they just aren't as much fun. My problem - not yours - just wanting to get this monkey off my back.

Now back to your regularly scheduled happy thread!

kestrou

Well, 8 miles today....Certainly not fast, but if I can keep this pace for the entire 13.1, I'll be thrilled. Now, if my knee would just quit hurting.....

The plan is to run/walk 10 next week, and then make the big jump to 13.1 on January 14th...Not ideal, I realize, but you can't very well have ideal training when you have to take a month off two months before the race.

eryn it sounds like you are excited, and that is cool. I'm sure you're going to do great.

Tom ...Your training is really unconventional in that you are still running such high mileage so close to the race...Hey, whatever works, though...Right?

Troy ...I hope it's not too hot for you down here....Your most recent training runs have been in that zero degree range, and I'm guessing it's going to be considerably warmer than that here...Just a hunch. You'll be fine, though, I'm sure. When are you arriving? Going to give yourself enough time to acclimate?



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Matt
azredbirds[/URL" target="_blank">

Alright kestrou...sorry I took your post personally. I thought you were being one of those holier than thou, annoying as **** runners ( I know you know the kind I'm talking about )