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ASICS Super Six: Maria (Sub-3:15)
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Maria, agree with running with a faster runner to improve your times. I bullied a chap in my club to do a weekly session with me during my marathon training. This started off as LT sessions, then went into 800m reps and MP runs. He's faster than me at shorter distance but I ran a marathon with him at the end of last year (his first) and we were about the same. At first I was a bit daunted by him but I knew it would be to my benefit and he also got something out of it because I was teaching him about LS running. My marathon is this weekend so I can't say at the moment whether or not its paid off but I definitely feel stronger and more confident from my sessions with him.
Can you join a club? Its a great way of meeting new runners to team up with at others times of the week.
Honest race report, UD. And Allan is sooo cute!
when i ran new york in the fall, i was extra careful about my nutrition - cooked everything myself, meticulously planned my menus etc rather than go out to restaurants as i did in paris - and i was totally fine, what a relief, because i never want to have to experience what i went through in paris again!
UD, of course there is no substitute for a good running partner but most of us will do most of our miles on our own. I get one track session a week as a group and if I am lucky I can find a partner at the weekend for a run of sorts, but few want to do 20 milers and fewer want to do it targeting 3:15 pace.
One thing that does help is these forums, and obviosuly runners world is not the only forum, and facebook etc can help. With a garmin on your wrist you get that continual pace nagging that a partner can bring but you dont get his fluctuations so when he wants to go fast and you don't it isn't an issue.
The 3:15 thread is quite friendly, pop over and say high and spend some time enjoying running away from the limelight.
At least on the fells I can take the dog to talk to!
Agree much easier to do your long runs with someone but occasionally disadvantage as you run at someone elses ideal pace rather than your own which could be too slow or fast.
Ultimately what happens in a marathon is often how well you grit out that last six miles on your own and it does seem that those who are used to fighting fatigue solo in training may be able do it better in the marathon itself but of course it is possible that runners with company do better training runs and therefore build better fitness.
I agree it is hard to find a person to do long runs with who would run at the same pace and I do not mind doing my long runs alone. I actually really enjoy it! What I was talking about was having some company for speed sessions or hill sessions. Having a running buddy would be of more benifit there I think.
I just thought of one more positive taken from the competition - having to report back to the forum about what I have done. It did put extra pressure but made me go out and run even when I did not feel llike it. So I am definitely sticking with the forum!
MsE, spot on. My MLR is done somewhere between 7:30 and 8:00 (actually closer to the 7:30 end) but in my opinion the important thing is doing it rather than the pace and over the years I have found that having someone waiting for you is a good motivator. Obviously if there is a bug difference in pace it won't work but closish is what we are looking for and not an exact match.
There are sessions when pace is important, so track work for sure, bu tthe nice thing about track work is that you all get together at each recovery.
The other thing is that you can run with somebody but at a different pace: I had a NZ girl coaching me and she was a rower and fit but not a natural runner so we went out together and then she would say "Run to the bridge and back fast" so basically I did a fartlek session while she jogged round.
I do agree there is a big benefit of doing speedwork in a group - the training group that Alex and Alison joined had around 30 in and it's easier collectively doing something which lots of others are doing and suffering with you. Usually there is someone of a similar pace and if you are doing 400m or mile reps the difference in speeds with someone is less pronounced than if you were doing a 20 mile run together.
I also agree that with a little bit of compromise, that is better to do training with other people as long as one person isn't slacking or straining too much.
very excited as have just checked NYC marathon website and turns out I've been lucky again - bring on more training!
So Maria, the big question is what is your target time for NYC, and more importantly, what thread are you going to join in with and become part of a family rather than a star in a spotlight?