Cowtown Marathon: My last important training run

Today's schedule: 16 miles at marathon pace.

 

What it meant for me: Try to keep every mile under 8:00

 

What I did: 16.2 miles in 2:08:08, a pace of 7:53

 

My fuel for the run: A Hammer Chocolate GU and a packet of table salt at Mile 6. (I also had a cup of Gatorade with a packet of table salt 20 minutes before the run). The salt is working! The salt is working!

 

This is the first run of any distance longer than a half marathon where I averaged a sub-8 minute mile for the entire run. So, I guess that means I'm ready for Cowtown, right? The question that will no doubt linger in my mind for the next two is how fast should I run the marathon.

 

I think I'll start off doing 8:15s to 8:30s, then hit 8 to 8:15s from mile 10 until 18, then do the last 8 miles in 8;00 or better per mile.

 

I'll spend the next two weeks training. This week, in fact, I'll be in Austin covering the state legislature for the newspaper I work for, so that means more time to spend with my 18-month old son, Noah. I'm sure I'll have no problems looking for places to run. Can you say Town Lake?

 

After White Rock, I took a few weeks off and started training for Cowtown at the beginning of January. Here is a look at my 7-week schedule.

 

Week----------------Miles------------------Long run/time/---------------pace

12/28 to 1/3 ------41.62 miles---------14.5 miles in 2:00:54/-----8:06

1/4 to 1/10---------44.9-------------------16.16 miles in 2:13;45.....8:16

1/11 to 1/17--------41.32-----------------16 in 2:17:03.................8:33

1/18 to 1/24........51.19 ----------------20.3 in 2:52:24...............8:29

1/25 to 1/31........37.1...................13.1 in 1:36:01...............7:20 (half marathon race)

2/1 to 2/7............51.91.................20.2 in 2:56:07..............8:43

2/8 to 2/14...........46.24................16.2 in 2:08:08..............7:53

 

Notice how my long runs got slower and slower. I figured its because I was starting to wear down. But things have picked up since I figured out my electrolyte/cramping problem. Hope everyone has a nice Valentine's Day.