There is now exactly one month to the Twin Cities Marathon and looking back into my training log I've done over 600kms in training runs over the summer, not including the base building I did when I joined the City Park Runners (CPR) marathon training clinic in February.
I had a disappointing last outing in Fargo where I was trying to go sub 4:00:00 but just collapsed in the middle distance. But I didn't let that get me down as I used that as learning tool and gleamed inspiration into what I need to get better. Instead of a pity party, it was just chalked it up to another step to improving myself in the marathon distance.
As I've noted before, I went back to coach Dan and Erick from CPR and hashed out the race and then sat down and figured out what I needed to do to improve. And I took to writing out all of my training in my log book and I'd fill it up with post-it notes with observations and I'd always do a review every week and when I look back upon what I've done, it gave me more confidence in my training and helped me figure out if I could run more or dial it back a bit. As I've been pretty good at keeping myself injury free this training cycle.
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| That puke feeling indeed... |
Since I ran the course last year, I'm at the advantage of knowing the course layout, and I remember so fondly where I died (mile 20 hill). I've studied the map layout and marked out the areas I'd need fueling and actually practiced the fueling strategies during my long runs so there should be no surprises.
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| Check that elevation chart and mile 20! |
The other valuable resource I've tapped into, is using the running group at CPR. And I would talk to all of the veterans and ask them how they prepared, their mileage, their mindset because they've been there and I can't say enough, how their experiences and stories have helped shaped my thought patterns. Nanos gigantum humeris insidentes (Standing on the shoulder of giants).
But right now this is all heresay, as I haven't even got to the start line yet, and that is the proof in the so called pudding. A lot of my anxiety now is just mental. I'm just going to continue my training for the next two weeks, then start the taper and on race week, just completely chill out and relax and have faith in all the preparation and training to help me get to the finish line.
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| Again going the wrong way on the track. Big thanks to Erick for taking this picture of me during a CPR Speed Clinic. |
