07 June 2009

Umm, it's June...

46 degrees and overcast here in (Soviet) Kiel today. I'm a bit worried we won't see 70 degrees until right about June 20, when I'm running Grandma's and it'll be 85 and suddenly I'll need to have some experience in the hot stuff. Oddly enough, in my previous "I'm not posting anymore for a while" post, I was contacted by a running company asking if I'd review some running tights of theirs. I told them I'd love to try out the winter tights, but that I likely wouldn't need them because even in Wisconsin it gets nice out by June. Maybe not :)

Today's the last big run for me before really buckling down into taper mode for what I hope is a great run in Duluth. I've even changed the picture above to a view from Highway 61 along the Grandma's course. I really can't wait for that event, and I'm hoping a change in mindset (i. e. Optimistic and Determined) from how I'd been feeling (i. e. Sluggish, Heavy, and Slow) will get me through the next couple weeks.

I haven't been nervous like this since the days before my first BQ in Madison last year. However, in Madison, I knew I had it in me. I knew I was fast enough to run 3:10. I knew it would be hard, but I was pretty sure I'd get it done. And, despite some puking at Mile 25.5, I got it.

This time around, I only think I can run sub-3. And each run lately has been chipping away at that confidence, as even BQ pace (7:10/mile) has my breathing off. Oh yeah, I forgot: Optimistic and Determined.

Side note: Mega Congrats to Matt for an AMAZING run at the Kettle 100 this weekend, finishing in LESS than 20 hours. It seems his training and preparation were spot-on, and by the splits posted, he just kept getting stronger. I'm looking forward to reading about it, so stop sleeping and get writing, Matt!

Mega Congrats also to SteveQ for completing the Kettle also, in what I believe was his 17th ultra in 15 weeks. Okay, maybe not quite, but close!

Now, it's time to get out there and put some miles in...hopefully 12 at goal marathon pace (6:52). BRB with an update...

UPDATE: Well, I started off with a warmup 3 miles, then picked it up from there. I ended up running 12 at 6:51 pace, but it was hard (AvgHR 167), I was sweating (didn't I just comment on how cold it was here?) like crazy, and immediately upon hitting "stop" at Mile 12, I started dry heaving. Seriously, WTF is going on?! That run sucked! Oh, wait, stay Positive...that run Positively Sucked!
(Thanks to Chuck Barkley, via Teh Marcy for that :)

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Good luck not going insane during the taper!

Danielle in Iowa, who is also freezing her ass off.

Glaven Q. Heisenberg said...

You'll either break 3 or get heart-breakingly close ...

nwgdc said...

hahahaha
thanks, G!

Marcy said...

I'm waiting for tomorrow . . . I . . guess . . . I don't know . . .unless someone else comes out the woodwork?!? I guess I was too quick on the draw to be done with it already *sigh* And I'm sure a certain someone (who shall remain nameless will probably beat you out HAHA)

Anyhoo, I predict a sub 3. I think you will surprised yourself. If I'm wrong I'll go back and meat punch G :P ;-)

Marcy said...

*"surprise" I mean

Jess said...

I can't believe how cool it has been in the midwest; my parents, who live in MN, said there was frost warnings on Saturday. Frost! In June! Ick.

And don't worry, you could always take a quick vacay down here for some heat trianing if you feel you need it!

Matthew Patten said...

I think it is funny that a company contacted you about trying out running tights. Do they have one with a skirt you could wear?

Thanks for the shout out. It would have been fun having you out there from 62 on.

Don't worry about the weather for Grandma's. The perfect day was spent at Kettle. Grandma's will be 90, very humid, and no wind. Enjoy it.

Hopefully you will stop doing these road things and join us on the trails.

Rachel said...

I hear ya on the cold weather. We had it back here in the Twin Cities too. Yuck!

nwgdc said...

A sub 3 marathon and I may be done with them, Matt. And I'll be back to the trails this fall!

carrie said...

I had to come over here and see what all this Dr Nic crap was about. So since I'm here....
MY THEORY: You always have a really crappy run *thisclose* to an important race. You know, to knock your confidence down a notch and make you think you suck, when really you don't and you're actually going to run just what you desire.

Good luck at Grandma's. Maybe I'll see you! Oh, no, probably not. You'd have to wait at the finish line for about two hours for that to happen!

B. Kramer said...

You need the rest to get faster. Taper and start believing in yourself.

/bullshit

Carolina John said...

yea hang in there. some good rest will make everything seem better.

Nitmos said...

What, just a BQ pace not good enough for you anymore?

Snob.

Good luck....I guess.

Glaven Q. Heisenberg said...

Hahahaha! Teh Marcy is obviously responding to something you said on HER blog which, by now, the rest of us will never know because she's a QUITTER and her blog is gone!1!

But ya gotta love her comment anyway because it's like reading the transcript of one half of a phone conversation. The half being spoken by the crazy person.

But ... I still think you got that sub-3 in you for Grandma's.

Runner Tammy said...

Hi Dr. Nic,

I know you can run a sub-3 hour marathon. It's all about muscle memory (well that's what I tell myself when I am ill prepared for all my ultra's, tri's and even this weekends metric century bike ride that I am considering ditching my bike and running!)

I will keep my fingers crossed that the weather is nice and that you do not end up puking mid run.