NCR Trail Marathon 11/25/06

[marathoner452]

Am I absolutely crazy if I want to run a marathon this fall?

I haven't run more than 20-25 miles a week (with the exception of one crazy week in July) since before Christmas.  I haven't run more than 10 miles at a shot since a 12 mile treadmill run during a blizzard in February.  It would be absolutely crazy to think I can ramp up for a quality marathon in three months. 

On the other hand, crazy might be just what I need.

That 4 hour marathon mark is still waiting to be broken, and if I don't do it now then I'll have to wait for next fall because this winter/spring is already given over to gutting houses in NOLA.

~Bethany

EDIT:  I'm looking back over the comments on marathonguide.com for the race last year.  This one particularly strikes me:

"Mile markers - For those who didn't mind this, then you must not be into running hard and had no interest in your time. Marathon running is about pacing and since the mile markers were off, you had to constantly do math out there to figure what was what. And, it stunk to hit mile 22 but really be at least 5 miles from the finish. In fact, some idiot volunteer said, "Only five miles to go," even before mile 19. On the surface, no big deal; in reality, your body and mind cannot handle the cruel fate when you learn it's not 5, but 7." 

If you don't think I'm interested in my time, then you'd better watch out this year.  And personally, I always enjoy engaging in a little mid-race math.  Helps keep the mind off the insanity of running 26.2 miles. 

If you really want to see an idiot volunteer, then take a look at the guy at Baltimore last year who though it would be encouraging to hold a sign at the half-marathon mark that said "now do it again".  Or the guy at Marine Corps one year with the sign that said "only 7 more miles" at mile 19.

I'll be back.  In under 4 hours this time.

EDIT PART 2:  The weather will be perfect for a long run this weekend.  Low of 55* Friday night, high of 78* Saturday.  I wouldn't even have to get up all that early to get in 12 or so miles.

Comments

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're crazy--maybe a little on the ambitious side, but it's a worthy pursuit and one you probably need. And once again, I'll be there to pace you and pull you to the finish. Just train smart. I'm planning on running both the Mardi Gras 1/2 and B&A 1/2.

~Adam

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

I don't see myself running while I'm in NOLA. Not any great distance anyway, certainly not enough to PR at a race of any distance.

I'm going to sign up to do it before I chicken out. Then I'm going to go out and run 12 miles this weekend.

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

My running in New Orleans will be kind of a makeshift taper, if nothing else. A max of 6 a day, and maybe 1 tempo run that week. I figure it's a perfect way to see part of the city and take in the atmosphere of Mardi Gras in other parts of the city than the ones we'll be working in or hanging out in.

Running down there will also a good excuse to go to the French Quarter or to Magazine Street. :-) (Yeah, I've thought this through.)

~Adam

[avehoward.livejournal.com]

Go for it...you have three, three-and-a-half months. Plenty of time to ramp up smartly.

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

I'll even have a coach-the coach for the summer program I've been doing is offering a 3-month fall program for $60. So I will be forced to do this smartly.

It's good to have you back online.

~Bethany

[black-op.livejournal.com]

No, it's not crazy. The NCR Trail is one of the easiest Marathons there is, out and back, slight downhill on the return trip. I'll be running it this year if there is still room and I do well at the Army Ten Miler. I have 'gutted it out' before on a minimum of race preparation. Ask yourself if you want to do it. If you do and you can avoid injury between now and then you really don't need more than 32 miles a week to be a finisher and 39 or so (most at race pace) a week to shave time.

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

First of all, I'm going to go ahead and friend you so I don't have to keep unscreening your comments. Do I know you from somewhere?

I know how (relatively) easy NCR is-I ran it last year and set a PR of 15 minutes. I'd just run a 14 minute PR at Baltimore 6 weeks before too. The plus to this race is that the trail is only about 20 miles from my house, so I can train on it every weekend and the race will be like any other long run, only with a medal at the end. And a clock that says 3:59:59.

I ran a peak of 54 miles a week last summer and almost 200 miles in August. Then Katrina hit the day I started working at the Red Cross and my training kinda fell apart. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to go all the way. No just finishing for me. :-)

Thanks for the encouragement.

~Bethany

[black-op.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Good luck, God bless.

[batemanenroute.livejournal.com]

It's fun seeing you this excited about something :)