Post-Ironman Marathon Training & A Little Catch Up

I can’t remember for sure if I had put it out there that I was going to try to capitalize on my Ironman fitness/endurance/strength and attempt to qualify for Boston in January at the Charleston Marathon. But that’s the plan. I have a little “surprise” planned after that marathon as long as I’m feeling good. I love surprises 🙂 Oh, and I have my fall 2016 triathlon planned. Wait!!!! (Sound the tires screeching) No I don’t. I was going to sign up for the local half iron, Beach 2 Battleship, since I blew the budget on my Ironman experience, but the rumor mill has reported WTC purchased the race, so B2B will become an Ironman race. I don’t know if this is true or if there will be a half option, but if there is, I plan to sign up for it. If there isn’t a half option, I would try and get into Augusta 70.3 if it’s not full by the time the B2B debacle gets cleared up. I didn’t want to register for a half this month, mostly because of finances, but if I have to, I will. I’ll keep you posted.

As of today, I feel really good. Training is going well, the miles are ticking off and my speed workouts are right on. Honestly, much to the chagrin of my coach, I don’t always follow her paces. I tend to go a little faster. Not much, but a little.  I do listen most of the time though… especially when she puts “I know you can go faster but don’t” in my Training Peaks. (Hint to coaches who have athletes who don’t listen.)

My Major Award in the Gallop for the Gravy 5k on Thanksgiving. 22:18 brought me home a bobble head. Yes!!!!

Funny, the bobble head award. During the race awards, I got “Fastest Local Female”, which for me, is like missing Masters winner but one step up from an Age Group award. I saw later, they changed the results on their website, and I was an Age Group winner. Then later, I mysteriously became the Masters winner. So I don’t really know what Major Award I got, but I know I got one!

Back to marathon running…..  True to every other race that I’ve ever done for time, I can’t imagine running a whole marathon at my prescribed pace of 8:22 to meet my goal of getting that BQ by 5 minutes. The fear sets in. As it always does. But I have a plan for that.

I learned a LOT about myself while training for and completing the Ironman. I think it changes everyone who does one, just as running marathons changes people.  One thing I didn’t get out of the Ironman that I was expecting to was a faster/harder run. I literally couldn’t that day. And that’s ok, because I tried as hard as I could. I remember grilling myself while walking, “Do you REALLY need to walk?” “Are you going to regret this tomorrow?” “Are you trying your absolute best?”. The answers followed, yes, no, yes. And thankfully, I still feel the same way, partially because of the way I grilled myself and my high expectations of my Ironman marathon. It didn’t go as I planned or expected, but that’s ok, because I did put it all out there that day. I’m VERY happy with my Ironman and will always feel warm and fuzzy about that day.

Back to marathon running.  Again. It’s different this time. I am going to train my brain as much as my body for this race, and I’m not going to take anything less than my best. Whether that gets me a BQ will be determined that day, but I want to walk (or hobble) away knowing I put it all out there and left no question as to “if” I could have run faster. I tend to give up, to have a mid-marathon tantrum, and I need to stop doing that. There have been a lot of external issues with my past marathons, but I realized there have been many races (my last marathon in March would be a HUGE example) where I haven’t given it my all, especially when I go into it with the intention of killing it. Now, not every race is or should be a “best effort”, because really, sometimes it’s just supposed to be FUN, right?  But this marathon is THE marathon. It’s a big test. I have some work to do in the next month, but I’m up for it.

As for other goings on, my husband scored free tickets to the Clemson vs South Carolina game. Suite tickets. It was insane, that was a new way to experience a game. Plus the Tigers won, so it was even better.

The #1 Clemson Tigers

And finally, Saturday is my Epic team’s 5k race. It’s been a good, rainy, and fun season with these boys. I’m so proud of them!! I will be offering my program for the boys and (raise the roof) the girls of Myrtle Grove in the spring!!! Whohooo!!

My Epic Running Company team

This has been a very interesting year for me. I have done a lot of reflecting and will be sharing that soon. This sums it up:

Moderation!!! And I would add, “Run the races” to this list.

Do you train your brain for big races? What do you do?