<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Timr1</strong> <a href="/t/75626/fall-trainers-week-of-10-31#post_2019017"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>Thanks guys. Yeah, RIL I told DW the same thing too. I basically said that you can run races for fun or you can run them with goals, but when you run a goal race and it doesn't go anywhere near what you planned for, it's rarely (if ever) fun. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I looked at the data, from my Garmin and HR and it told me the story that I suspected. As we know from training and running marathons, to achieve your maximum performance, you must put yourself into a very narrow window that's just below the pace & HR that will cause you to crash and burn. What I need to do was run an even 7:10 pace (between 7:08 and 7:14) and not have my HR over 167. A couple of ticks below would've been optimum. And, I needed to cruise easy, hold myself back, relax and wait for it to get hard. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Instead, I was boxed in and the first 10 miles were hectic, chaotic, and stressful both mentally and physically. We (Micah from my team) and I ran fairly consistent splits, but to do so, we had to accelerate, slow down, bob, weave, push, shove our way through the crowd. We went around one 90 corner and literally came to a complete stop...then you had to accelerate back up to speed. You can't do that. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>From mile 7 to 11 my HR was 172. So, I basically ran myself into the ground in tough conditions. The course itself would be hard enough to manage without the crowd. </p>
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<p>I told my brother in hindsight, perhaps I would've been better served to back off to about 7:25 pace and try to manage the crowd a bit better and let the race come to me. But hindsight is always 50/50 (that's a joke from a coach down here, who messes it up instead of saying 20/20). You can't get a shot at the big PR unless you go for the homerun ball. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, I'll regroup and put together a plan for Houston...it's 10 weeks away. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And, I got my family's cold too. Typical.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks again for all the support. </p>
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<p><br>
It is so true that races are no fun when you blow up. However, even after every time I do (such as Grand Rapids), I think, okay I ran a 3:44 and it was a total sufferfest. If I had just gone out at a 3:35, it would have been easy and a lot of fun. But is that what I wanted? Nope. Glad I gave it a try every time - even if it was not my day. Because one of these days it will be.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You are in phenomenal shape and you applied incredible commitment to your training and your fitness this season. Be proud and get ready for Houston.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope you feel better soon.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Hawk</strong> - nice week with impressive quality. I wouldn't worry about not hitting MP. I always find it very difficult to hit MP during training season - particularly during a high quality week. Keep resting, get your nutritional house in order, and visualize success in Philly!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Timr1</strong> <a href="/t/75626/fall-trainers-week-of-10-31#post_2019017"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>Thanks guys. Yeah, RIL I told DW the same thing too. I basically said that you can run races for fun or you can run them with goals, but when you run a goal race and it doesn't go anywhere near what you planned for, it's rarely (if ever) fun. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I looked at the data, from my Garmin and HR and it told me the story that I suspected. As we know from training and running marathons, to achieve your maximum performance, you must put yourself into a very narrow window that's just below the pace & HR that will cause you to crash and burn. What I need to do was run an even 7:10 pace (between 7:08 and 7:14) and not have my HR over 167. A couple of ticks below would've been optimum. And, I needed to cruise easy, hold myself back, relax and wait for it to get hard. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Instead, I was boxed in and the first 10 miles were hectic, chaotic, and stressful both mentally and physically. We (Micah from my team) and I ran fairly consistent splits, but to do so, we had to accelerate, slow down, bob, weave, push, shove our way through the crowd. We went around one 90 corner and literally came to a complete stop...then you had to accelerate back up to speed. You can't do that. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>From mile 7 to 11 my HR was 172. So, I basically ran myself into the ground in tough conditions. The course itself would be hard enough to manage without the crowd. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I told my brother in hindsight, perhaps I would've been better served to back off to about 7:25 pace and try to manage the crowd a bit better and let the race come to me. But hindsight is always 50/50 (that's a joke from a coach down here, who messes it up instead of saying 20/20). You can't get a shot at the big PR unless you go for the homerun ball. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, I'll regroup and put together a plan for Houston...it's 10 weeks away. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And, I got my family's cold too. Typical.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks again for all the support. </p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
It is so true that races are no fun when you blow up. However, even after every time I do (such as Grand Rapids), I think, okay I ran a 3:44 and it was a total sufferfest. If I had just gone out at a 3:35, it would have been easy and a lot of fun. But is that what I wanted? Nope. Glad I gave it a try every time - even if it was not my day. Because one of these days it will be.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You are in phenomenal shape and you applied incredible commitment to your training and your fitness this season. Be proud and get ready for Houston.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope you feel better soon.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Hawk</strong> - nice week with impressive quality. I wouldn't worry about not hitting MP. I always find it very difficult to hit MP during training season - particularly during a high quality week. Keep resting, get your nutritional house in order, and visualize success in Philly!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
