With my running legs finally healed, I did my first long run in a while. During the entire run, the Rockford Marathon (May 17) was in the back of my mind. A number of friends want me to run the race, it is my hometown marathon, and it was originally included on my racing schedule this year. Should I do it? How is my running fitness? Should I "cram train" for a marathon? Will I get injured if I do? Will it ruin my Ironman training? These were all questions that ran thru my mind at the YMCA this morning. I came up with some answers. Here they are:
- My running fitness is still ok.
- I am pretty sure my heart rate was pretty low the entire time. I was never breathing hard at all.
- I can not build up the mileage to safely complete a marathon by May 17.
- My joints were screaming at me this morning.
- My heart and lungs want to run a marathon, but my joints and body structure do not.
- It is not smart to crash train for a marathon.
- Even though I want to do the marathon, evidence says that it is not smart to do so 4 months before an Ironman. The following article talks about this very subject. http://ironman.com/holdingcell/2005/may-2005/the-marathon-ironman-combination
- Maybe I will run the Rockford Half Marathon with My sisters on May 17.
Todays Total
Run Mileage = 13.1M
Run Time = 2:00:00
That's a great article you linked to, Zack. I've had pretty much all the thoughts they mentioned running through my head as I've been training for the marathon, but keep convincing myself in the end that, "Eh, you can do it." Good to see other opinions about it! I'm definitely starting to reconsider running Rockford.
ReplyDeleteWill you be up for 13 more miles on Monday?
Ran for 1h 31 min outside today in Iowa City. Felt good and was also a good route. On part of the run I was in a trail, semi-wooded. All of the sudden a deer crossed the path and met up with another one. I was soooo close to them! Then as I was continuing, I spotted 3 more. It was really cool because of the fact that I was so close. They looked so peaceful and it made me feel happier for the rest of my run.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well, see you this weekend!