Chicago Marathon Training Thread (Page 3)

The idea with long training runs is that they are supposed to be little slower than say, your average 3-mile run. This is important because if you train too fast while dramatically increasing your distance, you risk injury. The basic rule of thumb is that you should be able to carry on a conversation during your long runs. My weekend long runs are about a minute to a minute-and-a-half slower than my weekday runs.

Race pace is what you do on race day to make your goal, it's your 'hard' pace; you're not carrying on a conversation. It can differ depending on your goals and the distance. There's a good overview here: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=475816&posts=9

Check out Hal's page for a description of Slow Runs http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51137/Marathon-Novice-1-Training-Program  and Races. 

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Group: Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of the above info. 

Just curious for the group... if you're not planning on going hard (race pace), and you are running the same distance as called for in your training plan, why would you taper?  I saw this article with info on B and C races.

http://www.endurancecorner.com/Alan_Couzens/training_races  

Welcome back! And welcome to our little group.

LOL that you are already planning your pre-race meal. I am not that far ahead. Since I'm g-f I won't be doing Olive Garden, but that just means more pasta for you! Rock on.

....All those good Italian restaurants in LaGrange, Forest Park & Oak Park, though -- we have to get you to a locally-owned place after the race. 

Maybe this? http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/general/rws-race-time-predictor/1681.html  
I would put in your 10-mile time and see what it says for a half.

Honestly, if you've never done the distance, I say just listen to your body for pacing, especially for a mid-summer race. The goal is to finish, not kill it. I would stick with your regular training pace for this, since it's not your A-race, and just use that as your benchmark moving forward. Make sure you don't go out faster than you usually run, and focus on enjoying the environment. If you have gas in the tank at the end, that's great. But if you've only ever run 10, this distance in the heat will be a challenge. Stay safe and just do what feels good. 

How was it???

Well I learned an invaluable lesson this weekend: You cannot stay awake until 4 a.m. one night and still feel OK to train for a marathon. 

Well, maybe some people can. I am not one of them!

Pearl Jam at Wrigley was great, but that show was an endurance even in itself. Not to mention the 2-hour trip home on a slow-motion CTA. Wow. As my head was hitting the pillow that night, I kept thinking, "I am usually getting up to run in an hour." So glad I didn't sign up for the RnR half, as I was originally planning. I wouldn't have been in the right state of mind for it.

Back to the grind this week. I hope my internal clock can get back to the early weekday schedule! 

But you finished --- yay! GREAT JOB! And in this heat and sun? Awesome work.

... And you learned a valuable lesson: no deep dish the night before the marathon. LOL. 

What is your current plan? Tell us more about it.

14 miles on a wednesday morning? You're hard core. I thought 6 this morning made me tough.

I feel the same way about my 5:00 alarm. 

Originally posted by ironbaby HH plan, same as yours (in first post) with a major aversion to cross training (for no good reason). I hate the hot/humid weather. Although started swimming a bit in recent few weeks and that has helped. Also, my consistency in few initial weeks was less than optimal. I was traveling internationally, had a ankle injury... small stuff that caused my ramping up to suffer.

I don't know if I would switch plans at this point (switch to what, anyway?). Maybe just focus on following the plan you're on and hitting all the workouts consistently. 

Maybe just take that as a message to be more consistent? Hoping a few others can weigh in on your original question.

I do my shorter runs at a faster pace than my long/medium runs. Generally under 10 mins for 3 to 5 miles (somewhere in the 9's) and then 10:30s for my LSD runs. Obviously if the weather or illness is a factor, I adjust. But mostly, I like to get the shorter runs done as fast as I can, just to be done for the day