Race Week is Here

As you can see, time continues to elude me. I used to take great pride in blogging but I guess since it is also my job, my personal blog continues to take a back seat. So much to say, so little time and energy to get it out.

Nonetheless, race season is officially here. This weekend I have my first real race of the year--Tom King Classic Half Marathon. It is flat, fast and on a fairly familiar course for me. It has all the makings of a great race. Well, except...

My long runs continue to hinder my progress. This is nearly two years of rarely hitting a good long run. Long run to me is 10 or more miles. I don't know why I can't do it. It is as if there is a mental block. I used to love long runs. I used to love sitting in z2 for 2 hours. Not anymore. They just don't happen for me.

So this leaves me feeling really unprepared for next weekend. I know I am running more than last year. I don't quite know if I am running better than last year. Fortunately, I keep an extensive training log that allows me to run some basic analysis on the situation.

So last year, I completed the Atlanta ING Half Mary in 1:36:04 (7:11 pace). I knew during and immediately after the race that I ran it stupidly. I went out WAY too hard, felt a bit flat and let go a bit toward the end. My goal for the race was 1:35. Finishing 64 seconds after your goal kinda sucks. But I knew I easily had a 1:35 in my. It was just a matter of using my head.

So my goal this year made that next big leap. I want to run a 1:30 half. I tend to think that real runners begin at the 1:30 mark. That is simply my opinion. I really want 1:29:xx but for now I will settle for 1:30:xx. That is a big leap in a matter of a year. One that I am not 100% certain I am ready to make. My training has been slightly sporadic. But the volume is there.

I took the opportunity this year to train more by volume than intensity. I wanted to see what would happen. I did the 50 runs in 50 days challenge. I have a regular running routine. I have long felt that running was my weakness. And I don't really even know how I survived with such low running volume. Last year, I was lucky to get in 20 miles a week. This year it was different.

Data on the four months of running prior to race

	Last Year	This Year
November	57.2	103.7
December	83	121.3
January	56.8	81
February	77.4	84.9
	274.4	391.9

Weeks Out	Last Year	This Year
1	16.5	27.5
2	20.9	9.5
3	25.7	21
4	23.4	27.1
5	14	26.4
6	14.3	25.1
	114.8	133.1

So my monthly volume shows a 41% increase in total running or about 100 miles more. Additionally my weekly volume shows a significant increase (despite being ill for 5 days last week). Even with the abysmal 9.5 mile week, I was able to bounce back to 27.5 the next week and would have been 30+ had it not been for a series of thunderstorms.

But lost in all the mileage is the lack of long runs. This year I have likely passed 10 miles 3-4 times total. And I can think of two runs that were horrible. But looking back on last year, this seems par for the course.

I don't quite know if I will reach my time on Saturday. I know it is a bit of a stretch. Based on a hilly 5k I did in January, the running calculators predict 1:33. Blech. The course is flat so I know that will help. Guess we will see if I can hold 6:52 pace for the entire race.