Wednesday 17 October 2012

16k time trial run reveals a lot about my sub 3 chances for Pisa

A slight cold has given me this valuable opportunity to update my blog.  I will rest tonight and try to do the Yasso 800s that Jeff planned for me today, tomorrow night instead.  So time for a quick update on where I stand with regards to my marathon training.

I have been following Jeff's plan pretty much to the letter, although twice now I have had to do the planned workouts one day later due to migraines.  In those cases I combined 2 days of workouts into 1.  I now have a solid fitness and strength base, and I am really enjoying the CrossFit classes that I am doing twice per week.  We will see if my Pilates teacher notices any difference in my core strength on Friday, as due to my holiday and then her holiday, I have not been able to do Pilates classes for over a month now, but I have in the meantime started doing regular CrossFit classes.

Jeff had me do a 16k time trial on Monday, and I completed the distance in 1 hour 9 minutes and 44 seconds.  According to the RW race time predictor, that gives me a predicted marathon time of 3 hours 14 minutes and 56 seconds.  If I had run it in 1 hour 4 minutes and 23 seconds that would have given a predicted marathon time of 3 hours.  So, based on this prediction and my prediction from the 3k time trial, I can realistically expect to run the Pisa marathon in 3 hours 15 minutes if all goes well.

There is nothing at all to say that I cannot improve between now and then, but to knock 15 minutes off my predicted marathon time in the next few months would be a long shot.  I hate to set myself a aim and then not to achieve it, so my aim of a sub 3 hour marathon will most likely have to be carried over into next year.  I will get Jeff to draw me up a plan that keeps me in great shape all winter, allowing me to start from a really solid fitness and strength base next year.

Once I manage a sub 3 marathon, I want to try my hand at an Ironman.  One thing at a time though - for now my aim is clear, a sub 3.