Training

I guess I am now committed to running Broad Street on May 1. 


I got into the lottery, but I was having trouble justifying the price of a plane ticket to Philly and a hotel. 


But I mentioned the race to my favorite Philly defense counsel and asked if he could work his magic and have me required to be in court on May 2.  Done!


So work paid for my plane ticket (same price if I fly to Philly on Sat or Sun, otherwise I would have had to pay the difference).  I'm paying for Sat night hotel (Sunday race) but I don't have to worry about checking out or anything, staying at the same hotel on my work credit card Sunday night.


I checked on my 10 mile race PR and I would say I have a slight chance of beating it.  I've actually only done two 10 mile races (I don't count a longer race like a half, even if there is a mile 10 chip time provided).  It's a stretch and a challenge, but it's not totally outside the realm of possibility.


I don't think I'm going to taper much for the race, so I've got about 3 weeks of training left.  Right now, I can manage a few miles at my goal 10 mile pace. 


I actually ran a half a few weeks ago (the Dallas Rock and Roll race) and averaged 30 seconds per mile slower than I need to be for the 10 mile race.  The Dallas course had some Dallas hills, whereas I think the Philly course is very flat -- it's point to point with a very slight net elevation drop (less than 200 feet over the 10 miles). 


If I take my 3 slowest miles out of my recent half time, it would leave me about 3.5 minutes slower than I'm hoping to be at Broad Street (that's a little misleading because Dallas was basically a loop course, so I'm counting the biggest downhill miles and not counting the biggest uphill miles).


But I would still think that with some work, I can make a dent in those 3.5 minutes I need to trim.  If only I had more than 3 weeks. 


I was supposed to have 1 more week, but I was down for the count with some kind of upper respiratory thing last week.  It's about 75% better now, but I'm still wheezing, coughing, stuffy/runny at times, just not as bad as it was before. 


But either way, no more slacking!


After Broad Street, then it will be beer mile time, and after that ... still toying with some ideas for a fall marathon. 


Since we're not leaving for South America until Oct. 19, I've actually got an extra weekend of races to consider than we usually have (we usually fly out about a week earlier for vacation). 


My top contenders, roughly in order:  Columbus or KC (tied for top spot, KC is hilly I think but since I'm not in PR shape, might be a good time to check that state off the list, plus free lodging in KC, lots of high school friends to visit), Des Moines or Quad Cities, or Steamtown (least likely just because I want to be in better shape for this course). 


I'm waiting to get on a plane to Philly right now for work.


My big dilemma:  try to run part of the course tomorrow (probably about 4 miles of it, and then doubling back to my hotel), or run with my favorite running group there, or run one of my favorite solo routes. 


If it weren't for the fact that the race course is a straight shot down Broad Street, and I know there are traffic lights about every block, I'd definitely aim to do the course.  But that would be a whole lot of potential stopping and starting, and that does not lend itself to even a single pace mile.