Daily run logging has resumed... August reflection

Today's run: 7 miles @ 8:34/mile in 1:00:08, outdoors - elevation 234 ft

Rolling, rolling, rolling... I am rolling along toward my goal marathon of the year - the Marine Corps Marathon. I put in 160 miles in August, my highest mileage month of this year (maybe ever). I've tracked my heart rate and my efficiency at 150 beats per minute is presently at around 8:45/mile pace when run at my 7 mile baseline.

Tomorrow begins September. The mileage will continue to rise. Probably to 200 or more miles. I hope to watch the heart rate bpm drop. I still need to know how to analyze this heart rate data, but I do use the info on the run. When I feel I need a break, I break until my heart rate is in the 120s range.

My painful right knee is occasionally bugging me, but it isn't hurting me like an injury. I bought new shoes and know that I should never let so many miles go by in a pair of shoes without replacing them. Well, more to come.

Getting ready to race

I am still plugging away at this running thing. August marked my second year training at running distance races. I am happy that my first running injury suffered this June has not completely sabotaged my Fall marathon plans, but my hopes for an early Boston qualifier is almost assuredly off. I gave myself 3 years to run a Boston qualifying race. For me, on the cusp of age 35 that means that I must run 3:15:59 to qualify. That's averaging 7:28/mile for 26.2 miles.

What makes me think I can get to Boston soon? I ran a 5K race in May in 21:06 with a fever. I ran the Cherry Blossom 10-miler in 1:12:57 without gasping, which is an average pace of 7:17/mile. I think that if I didn't injure myself running 50 miles/week I would've been able to post the sub-20 minute 5K and 1:30 half marathon I'd feel gives me the best indicator of my 3:15 potential.

What do I need now? Speed. I will have to ask myself to race 10K every three weeks until MCM to break 3:30. I want to put up at least 2 sub-45 minute 10K (my best race time is 46:21). There are 11 weeks to go until the Marine Corp Marathon. It is time to put up or cruise to the finish line. I prefer to race.