September (2016) Running Challenge

I just started running the beginning of August so this is all new to me. I've been running about four days a week. As a newbie I haven't been running far so set my initial monthly mileage goal at 40k for the month. I had to up the goal to 80k, and have already surpassed that.





Ran my first 10k race (actually my first chip time race ever, at any distance) this morning. I had 3 goals:

1. Run up the big hill near the end without stopping (big hill, for me, in the last km)
2. Run the whole 10k without having to walk
3. Run negative split, because I usually start faster than I should and run out of steam.

I accomplished all 3 goals, and ran the race in 1:05:23. I get to count this as a PB since it was my first race.

Here's me with my victory pose, and all the race bling that was part of the race kit. Oh, and I have officially registered for a HM in my area in early November. Oh god it feels real now!!!

9/1- Rest
9/2- 4.13
9/3- 10.03
9/4- 3.02
9/5- Rest driving home from visiting family
9/6- 7.01
9/7- 7.01
9/8- 7.17
9/9- 4.06
9/10-12.01
9/11- Rest
9/12- 4.04
9/13- 7.06
9/14- 4.06
9/15- 8.88
9/16 REST
9/17- 11
9/18- REST
9/19- 3.0
9/20- 5.42
9/21- 3.0
9/22- REST
9/23- REST
9/24- 12.8?????


Total: 113.61????/115

Today's notes: Ran the Boundary Waters Bank HM in Ely, MN today

Official time was 2:01:09, gun only, no chip reader at the start. That said, According to my Garmin, I only ran 12.8 miles. I have an Email and a Facebook message sent to the Organizers to get some confirmation before get slightly depressed or do a happy dance, depending on their response.

The race started well, I stuck with the 2:00 pacer, but 6 of the first 7 miles, we were faster than 2:00 pace, with three of the splits under 9:00/mile. At about 10 miles in, according to Garmin, we made a turn to the ENE, and I just got slammed by the 10-14 mph wind that was hitting me straight in the face. I ended up taking quite a few walking breaks (again!!!) because I was pretty fried by the headwind. Good news though, it was just tiredness, not my HR going crazy and pounding in my chest. Speaking of HR. My monitor kept slipping down so I ended up taking it off and shoving it in my pocket for the last few miles.

Thoughts on the run: I'm slightly disappointed, though only slightly, with my performance. My little man kept us up until close to 2300, and decided that 0545 was a great wake up time. This on top of the mild head cold I have, made for a tired run. I also was ravenous after the run, so better fueling, and possibly having more caffeine than the little bit in my NUUN would have helped.

The walk breaks, and possibly short course, put me in something of a bind. I was hoping to use this race to help me decide whether to sign up for the Full, or HM on my anniversary next June 17. I told myself that If I could run it in under 2:05, without walk breaks, I'd sign up for the full.

The distance discrepancy has me questioning my time, and, of course, I took some walk breaks. My geeky side plugged in my Strava 10 mile and 20K (Both PR's according to Strava) times into the McMillan calculator, for estimated HM times, based on the assumption that it was a short course. Both of the estimated times were under 2:05.

Part of me really wants to still sign up for the full, having a June 17 Full would be great motivation to keep running over the LOOOONNNGGG Northern Minnesota winter, but (according to my watch, and my walk breaks) I didn't meet the goals.

Looking for some advice on what the Marathoners think. I would NOT be running for a specific time if I did the full. It would be an "I ran a marathon" kind of thing. What ya'all think? Just go for the full for the experience, or stick with the half? I really am torn on this.......

@MNLittleFinn

Sounds like a tough race, and I hate it when I do a race and the course is short. Did this course have a certification?

You asked about opinions on a full, and here is mine, and I know it's only worth .02. I'd wait on the full. I did my first full about 18-20 months after starting to run. I was nowhere near ready for the pounding on my legs. My fist half was a blowup at mile 11 finishing at 2:20ish after averaging 9:00 for the first 8-9 miles, then the second was an easy run after a broken leg at 2:10. After my first full, i hired a trainer who told me he'd have advised me to wait until I had run at least 2-3 years relatively injury free before attempting a full. Running a full is not equal to 2 half's, it's so much more than that. From my perspective, looking back at your strava data, you run a lot more in mid to upper zone 3 than you should, and that will kill you training for a full. I was actually worried about how hard you ran your last long run, then did a really tough interval run 4 days or so before this half. Both runs looked like leg crushers from your HR data. Doing 50+ miles a week will take it's toll and it's important to stick to a 80/20 split on easy running vs tempo's/speed work. Doing a workout too hard in half training is tough to recover from, but doing it in full training can throw you off for many days, even weeks. I'd work another summer building base miles, running 10k's & half's and get your easy runs to stay in the upper portion of z2 and lower z3, keeping the average in z2. Once you have mastered racing a half and can finish them strong, then you can look at doing a full.