The Good, The Okay, and the Could Have Been Better…
I’ve been neglectful of my website so this is going to be a quick gloss over of the last couple of months with the intention of bringing readers up to date. The quickest way to do this I think is to touch on the last three races I have done and just saying that training in between those races has been steady and good.
First off would be the Victoria Track series 10km on the track ( video coverage under this post). The race went about as well as I figured it would for me, I was in good fitness at that time and as it turned out I had some help early on with pacing but after 3km I was on my own and the race turned into more of a steady state workout. The plan before the race was for me and Trevor to trade off pacing for most of the race with the goal of getting in under 30 minutes. It wasn’t Trevor’s day as he fell off pace after 3km and I got into a comfortable pace early and didn’t vary from that too much from start to finish. Looking back I could have pushed and taken some chances mid race to run a bit quicker but in the end I ran a negative split and accomplished the one goal I really wanted from the race which was a positive experience to keep me motivated through the next phase of my marathon build up.
Training between this race to my next at the McNeil Bay Half Marathon went well with some good long run/ marathon paced workouts and intervals on the track and leading into the half marathon I was confident that if things went well I could run fast. Leading into the race I picked up a bit of a virus but it didn’t really take hold till after the race so it had no bearing on my result. I ran a 1:06:11 on a course that was deceptively difficult. I felt good the entire way and when the course was flat I was able to run at a good clip, on the way back the hills got difficult and my pace drifted off a bit but I kept my effort high and worked hard coming back and was okay with the result and the place I was in training.
Next up was the national 10km champs in Toronto. With my cold holding on all the way through to this race I was not optimistic with my chances there but I was able to train through the sickness and even get in some good workouts but they had definitely taken more out of me than if I was not under the weather. So I went out i conservatively at the start of the race and just kept working the entire race bringing myself from 20th place to 11th or 12th by the end. The one good thing I can say from the race is no one passed me once I settled in; but instead I reeled people in which is going to be something I will want to do in my upcoming marathon.
Two days after the Zoo run 10km in Toronto we had a 40.2km run we did out here in walnut grove where we ran each consecutive 10km segment faster as we ran and I was able to run well and feel good doing so so I was happy to see my body rebounding from sickness. Now I am into my taper and brining down my mileage and overall volume of workouts. Today I ran a good in and out workout where I alternated 3minutes on and 3 minute off around a trail near my home and I am feeling confident my training has gone well and that I am as ready as I can be for the Toronto Marathon at this point. Next up thanksgiving over on the island and a tempo workout on my own on Gabriola Island.
