Race or Pass?

STrooper

I resumed running in late May after allowing an injured hip flexor to heal. I gradually built my mileage back up to the point where I was comfortable running 30 miles per week and I ran a short 4K race and a half-marathon at a fairly before seriously beginning training for a marathon on March 5 in Myrtle Beach.

In the early and mid portion of the more intensive training, I felt like I was making progress. And on my longer early tempo runs I was running at a BQ pace. But a week ago, I went out onto the track where I could measure how I was doing with five weeks to go. Encouraging was the fact that at a sustained fast pace, my heart rate is lower than what I've run in the past. So, the endurance conditioning seems to be working. Even though the weather and some health issues have caused a few missing runs, I've attempted to keep all the key runs on my schedule.

However, it is now pretty obvious that I am going to come up short of a BQ time by at least 10 minutes.

So, I am signed up for an April marathon (local and much hillier) which I was going to run "easy" after running the March marathon.

I am now thinking of passing on the March marathon and refocusing on the April marathon (which I limped through last year because of the hip flexor injury).

Thoughts and opinions?

Thanks in advance.

litsy3

It sounds like you've made your mind up already. I think you wanted to do the March marathon primarily in order to BQ, but are more excited about the April marathon because it's local. Now you think you won't BQ, you don't feel motivated to do the March marathon because you'd rather race the April one (even though it's hilly and not necessarily a BQ prospect). That sounds fair enough to me. I wouldn't have wanted to run a marathon even 'easy' the month after racing one anyway. You can build up to the March one next year and BQ then.

STrooper

@litsy3
Thanks.

Yes, I wanted to do the March 5 marathon for three reasons.

First, I've run it before (it was the second of two marathons run on consecutive Saturdays last year and under really challenging conditions. In very cold conditions and 25-35 mph headwinds after mile 17, I PR'd it.). It is relatively flat.

Second, because it was flat, I set it as my goal race for attempting a BQ pace. The local race (Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh) has more than 1100 feet of climbing in it and I didn't really consider it a candidate for attempting to use it to attempt a BQ time. I still don't and I am running it to keep up my streak (I ran the inaugural and the second one last year) and it was dirt cheap when I signed up for it.

Third, I have a comp entry into the March race. We have family in the area that provided the comp entry for me, a coworker and his wife. It will cost the time to travel, hotel and food. I will get to see family members if I go, but I could do that almost anytime. My coworker, who is a much faster runner than I am and has been with me on some of my training runs, has encouraged me to go and run it anyway. He also thinks that I am actually fast enough under race conditions to qualify if I run smartly. But, he tells me at least I'd know how much progress I had made and how much I have left to go if I don't make the time.

So, I am torn. I am trying to trust the training but I also don't feel "ready" or like this is going to happen (this time).

And there is another marathon I intend to run in October on a very flat course but it will probably be too late to use for the 2017 Boston Marathon.

dewd2

Personally I would still go for it. If you miss your BQ time you will at least know how much work you need for the next try. It sounds like the 2nd one is just for fun anyway so there's no pressure.

MobyCarp

The relevant question is, even if you don't BQ will the March marathon be fun? If it's no fun unless you BQ and you think your chances of a BQ are poor, you pass. If you'll have fun anyway, run it.

STrooper

Thanks to all for your thoughts.

I was talking to my wife about this race this morning. After yesterday's run in the cold and assessing how that went, I'm going to pass. She wasn't surprised. She could tell that in the last few weeks, my heart didn't seem into it.

Since I haven't put any money into the entry fee, I don't feel like I've obligated myself to going and collecting the t-shirt, the swag bag or the medal. I'll save my money from a hotel room and eating out for something else.

I'm going to continue to train for April and running that marathon well. I also have a couple of other races in April (a 10K eight days before the marathon and a 10-miler two weeks after the marathon). But I won't be making that marathon race my BQ goal race.

My other marathon for 2016 will also be "for fun" even though it is supposed to be a very flat course. That is a vacation marathon. I'll reassess where I am later on in the year.

Maybe I'm just a little burned out with all the focus on training for the BQ goal, as well. In that sense, taking the pressure off is just a relief.

STrooper

A quick update. On Monday, after I posted the comment above, I reached to twist a wand for a set of blinds in the bedroom. As I reached across and was twisting the blinds open, I had a lower back spasm that made it very difficult to walk the remainder of Monday and most of Tuesday. It is Thursday and its just beginning to feel like I could go for a short run.

With the ice and sleet of Monday and the back issues this week, I guess it was just karma that I had realized that a high speed run just wasn't in the cards.

Once again, thanks for the thoughts.

dewd2

Oh man, that stinks. I hope your back feels better.

Sometimes when I have back issues going for a brisk walk or easy run is the best thing for it (assuming I CAN walk at the time ).