Last Long Run

Last Sunday I ran an 18 Miler. Three loops around Central Park. I am almost recovered from my cold, so I wanted to see how fit I was. The run yielded both good and bad things.

My overall pace was just around my desired marathon pace (6:54 mile per minute) which is great. I ran the tow loops at sub 6:50 pace and was fine till probably Mile 16 or 17, but then started to cramp. This is making me suspicious that I am running too fast a pace and that I should hold back during race itself to a more comfortable pace and make sure that I will not cramp at the end.

I have been toying with pace calculators to see possible goal times. I know that for me I need a 3:15 marathon for a BQ, which I should be more than able to run (if I run the whole thing, I mean). But knowing myself, I would disappointed should I not run in at least under 3:10 and possibly set a PR of under 3;06. The sub-3 marathon is still the super goal, a life goal I could say. But that will come only under perfect circumstances, which I thing will not happen in St. Louis.

Also my left calf is still sore, but hoping that the slow/low milage starting tomorrow will help it heal in time before the big day.

I am running later on today a the last longish run of 15 miler (with the last 10 miles at marathon pace). Since this is in the middle of the week, I will run after work on the West side along the Hudson. Then only easy runs (4-8M) till next race day.

Now it is carbo loading and no coffee nor alcohol. After the race I will off for 2 week on vacation! Can't wait.