This is the root of the great internal debate whenever I go on a run. How hard should I push?
Pros of pushing
Looking at faster splits on the garmin and later at home on the computer.
Running races faster (shiny new PRs!)
Teaches me useful stuff in life (you know, like setting goals and accomplishing them etc etc)
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| PRs are great! Knocking out that sub 2hour half new year's resolution on the 15th of Jan was sweet. |
Cons of pushing
I run because I like it. At some point, trying to meet time goals becomes way too stressful
I don't want to overdo it and injure myself
Additionally, I convinced my bf to run this marathon with me saying that it'll be cool to be able to finish together. I thought that we'd do long runs together, but my inner competitive b-word isn't letting me be satisfied with keeping his 11:00/mile pace. Seeing that number or above freaks me out.
Thus far, I've mostly done my long runs alone. But I feel bad. The whole reason that I convinced him to do this with me was so that we could keep each other company.
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| Running races together is fun. I actually didn't run the race with him per say, I ran it about 4 minutes faster, but it was fun. |
I mean, this won't be the first and the last marathon I'd ever run. If I don't get a great time, then no big deal, right? There will definitely be others.
However, I don't want to scrap time goals completely for the marathon. I guess I just don't know how to keep the balance between enjoying the training and also setting a goal and achieving it.
What do you guys think? What should I do? Should I opt for slower long runs with the bf? Or should I go all or nothing and shoot for an ambitious time goal? Do you ever feel like you're the number on your Garmin?
Yes!!! Im certainly not as fast but gearing up for my first half and all i can think about is the pace il be running to achieve my goal!! :( I think its good to just run sometimes and leave the machines at home!! (in saying that id probably be completely lost without it and fret over my pace the whole run!lol)
ReplyDeleteGood luck at your half! I'm sure you'll be great. I can't wait to read about it on your blog afterwards!
DeleteYou don't always have to run fast. That is a mistake a lot of runners have, it can actually hurt your body. Enjoying nice easy runs is not a bad thing, it is good for you an you mental state. I like to say that it is not about the finish time, it is about the run. Unless it is race day.
ReplyDeleteI know that I run my long runs and easy runs way too fast. It's hard to get myself to relax and hold an easier pace.
DeleteI think that you should do whatever you will be the most happy with! I think it would be amazing if you two ran it together but if you want to try to get a really good time then maybe you shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteMike and I won't be running our first marathon together, together and that's alright with both of us!
I think you could run part of your long runs with him and then go faster at the end. Mike does that some times!
That might be a good idea to speed up at the end. I guess I should just enjoy this little window when I'm faster than Stefan.
DeleteYou should be running slower on the longs so relax and have fun. Push harder on the midweek runs. The best pre-marathon advice I got (from a Boston veteran) was do NOT make time goals for your first marathon, your only goal is to finish. It was tough to swallow (I do love my numbers) but he was absolutely right!
ReplyDeleteYou're right. My goal should be just to finish. 26.2 miles is long and I don't want to get injured and take myself out from the possibility of a fall marathon.
Deletewhen i ran my first marathon last fall, i went to the race expo and watched kathrine switzer and bart yasso do a panel and we could all ask questions. someone asked what advice they had for their first marathon and they both said to just go out there to finish and enjoy the day and soak up the experience and not worry about time. i figured if these two greats of the running world were saying this, i should listen! i wanted to be around the 4:30 mark but i really just wanted to finish standing up and having enjoyed the day and that's exactly what i did! i didn't quite hit my goal (4:40) and to be truthful it does bug me a tiny bit, but i have such a great memory of that first marathon that it doesn't really matter to me anymore!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. I feel that 10 minutes difference really isn't too off the mark for a marathon. That's less than 30 secs slower per mile.
Deleteoh! and as far as you and your bf running together, hubs and i go for runs at the same time but rarely actually run the same pace or race together! it doesn't bother either of us if we're together but like someone else suggested, you could do your long runs together and then do your other runs apart!
ReplyDeleteI think hard runs and easy runs both have a place in a training plan. To the best of my knowledge, long runs are supposed to be run 1-2 min slower than your race goal pace and it somehow works at race day. I know everything is mental, but I would enjoy those slower runs with the boyfriend ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat never made sense to me how I can run faster on race day if my long runs are slower. It's strange how that works.
DeleteLong slow runs are actually a really good idea, even if you could go much faster. It's nicer on your body to have an easy pace for new distances. If you're worried about losing speed, through in some striders into your weekday solo runs.
ReplyDeleteRemember, you want to run for a long time, so you can't always be making a new PR. :)
I know. I'm a new enough runner that every race has been a PR. It's sort of hard to let go of the fact that I'll be transitioning out of that stage.
DeleteI hate to see slower times on my garmin too. You should have a pace that you are supposed to run for long runs and such and it really is good to stay with that number. Im not exactly sure but I think running to slow can be bad too. But don't quote me on that. It is nice to have a buddy for the super long runs when training for a marathon though.
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky to have your running buddy! I think the biggest factor in this decision would be, do I really want to run for 20 miles alone.
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