It is official, I am now registered for the 2012 Woodlands Marathon on March 3rd! While I had previously hinted at a spring marathon, I finally registered for one.
I actually began training for this race back in November. I had revisited my goals for 2011 and realized I needed to ramp up my running if I wanted to hit my goal of 1500 miles for the year. As I ramped up my mileage to 40-45 miles a week, Jeff recommended Pete Pfitzinger’s book Advanced Marathoning. It was just what I needed. While I still recommend Hal Higdon’s Marathon book for the newbie marathoner, Pfitz’s Advanced Marathoning is geared toward taking your training and racing to the next level. I realized, that with some hard work and serious focus placed on running, I could make a run at a BQ marathon this spring.
I looked at some races in the Midwest (Glass City, Martian, Lansing, etc.) but all fell in April which would be a few months into IMMT training. So, I took Jeff up on his offer to race the Woodlands Marathon with him in March, just before IMMT training will start up. However, by the time I made that decision (early December), I was already a bit behind schedule. Advanced Marathoning offers 4 levels of training plans each in a 12-week and 18-week format. Ideally I would have like to have done the 18/70 format (18 weeks, maxing at 70 miles per week), but I only had 15 weeks until race day. So, with a bit of tweaking, I “warmed up” with some modified weeks from the 18/70 program before beginning the 12/70 program (12 weeks, maxing at 70 miles per week). If you are curious as to what the training program looks like, you can check it out here.
I now have 4 weeks of solid training under my belt and I can feel it working. At least I hope that feeling is “working” and not my legs ready to cry “Mercy!” It is the hardest (and most) I have ever run in my 14 years as a runner. Before reading Advanced Marathoning and starting this plan, I’d have thought it would be impossible to log 50, 60, or even 70 miles a week. However, the body somehow adapts to it. I’m not going to say it is easy or pain free by any means, but I don’t feel like I am training any harder than I have for previous marathons when I logged 30-40 miles per week.
The goal for Woodlands is to BQ which means sub-3:05 (yikes). However, I am shooting for a 3:02-3:03 in order to give myself a buffer to both BQ and not get locked out a the new registration process. That comes out to about a 7:00 mile which should be doable. Over the past month or so, I have gone back and forth in my head on whether or not this is a realistic goal. My fastest marathon was at Grand Rapids this past October in 3:20. Other than coming off Ironman training in September, I was horribly undertrained for it. My current training times point to the fact that I am right on track with my training, but mentally I still struggle with it. So I have decided it is time to nut up or shut up ignore the brain and trust in the legs (and the plan).
That’s the plan. Woodlands Marathon in 8 weeks. I’ve got this.
(via: http://www.wordboner.com/)
24 comments
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BDD
January 9, 2012 at 8:11 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Just promise me you wont Tebow along with Jeff, It a man card infraction
BDD recently posted..As the New Year Starts….
Jon
January 9, 2012 at 8:22 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes. What BDD said!
Jon recently posted..NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K Race Report
Jeff
January 9, 2012 at 9:27 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Whatever, you guys are just jealous. After we get done Tebowing at the finish line we will then begin random “Trust Falls”.
Jeff recently posted..Calling Bullshit on CrossFit Endurance
Matt Oravec
January 9, 2012 at 3:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
A Tebow after a BQ = Instant Blog Removal Process from my reader!
Matt Oravec recently posted..I am a vegetarian!
Jeff
January 9, 2012 at 9:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Matt, what about the trust falls? Those seem more like your type of thing, right?
Jeff recently posted..Calling Bullshit on CrossFit Endurance
Jon
January 9, 2012 at 8:23 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Texas ain’t gonna know what hit em on March 3rd! GO GET THAT BQ KEVIN!!!
Jon recently posted..NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K Race Report
Jeff
January 9, 2012 at 9:29 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Kevin, this is going to be awesome! We are looking forward to you and Jennie visiting, after the race is BBQ, Tex-Mex, and Shiner GALORE!!! We are going to need to be fattened up with IM Training starting the next day!
Jeff recently posted..Calling Bullshit on CrossFit Endurance
Christina
January 9, 2012 at 9:35 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sounds like you are kicking off the New Year with a big hairy ass goal. Love it! I’m sure you’ll have a blast in TX!
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Emily
January 9, 2012 at 10:21 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That poster quote. Exactly.
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Viper
January 9, 2012 at 10:32 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Eight weeks? Pfft! No problem. Go kick some ass. Cheers!
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Matt Smith
January 9, 2012 at 12:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yeah Baby! It’s game time! You’ve freaking got this, and it’s gonna be awesome! I know that you’ll just gut it out if you a feeling crappy, so this one is in the bag. All that training is going to give you what you need. BQ, watch out, cuz Kevin Neumann is coming through!
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adena
January 9, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
LOVE that picture. I can’t see the training plan (blocked at work) but I’ll assume is super scary. My training plan goes like this. ‘Get OFF your ass!’ The other book you recommended for newbies looks interesting. Tks for the link.
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James F
January 9, 2012 at 3:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
i do not think you can Te-Bow and use that poster in the same post. I think it cancells it out!
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Matt Oravec
January 9, 2012 at 3:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I believe you and Jeff… I really do. However, my body was so jacked up from last year that I am taking a RECOVERY YEAR haha. Maybe next year I will hit you up for the plan. I do agree that you have to over train to get your pace down at that distance.
Keep up the great work man. Don’t think, just do the workouts and put the effort in now so you can reap the rewards on race day!
Matt Oravec recently posted..I am a vegetarian!
Elizabeth
January 9, 2012 at 4:11 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Nut up or shut up! I like that. I am going to start saying that to my kids when they give me crap about homework and junk. Good luck with the training! I am sure you will nut up just fine!
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Ironman By Thirty (Kevin)
January 11, 2012 at 7:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I need a picture of your kids’ faces when you use that quote on them. If my mom ever said that to me my jaw would be on the floor.
katie
January 9, 2012 at 4:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hahah, LOVE the sign. you got this.
Jason @ Cook Train Eat Race
January 9, 2012 at 5:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I have no doubt that both you and Jeff with BQ on that day. Looking at your training and your paces I know that you guys can do it. I was horribly undertrained for Vegas and ran in a quagmire and held a 7:30/mi pace through 20 miles. With your training and fresh legs going into this race you will do it.
Now the real question is convincing the wife to head down there to watch and cheer you guys on.
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Kristin @ Lazy Marathoner
January 9, 2012 at 9:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn, you’re a machine. Nice work!
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Beth
January 10, 2012 at 4:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I checked out the plan you’re doing. If you can keep up that training, you’ll definitely get that BQ in march!
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Aimee (I Tri To Be Me)
January 10, 2012 at 10:50 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
LOVE that quote at the end!!! I have no doubt that you are going to do awesome in your marathon!
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lindsay
January 11, 2012 at 12:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
if you shave 20 minutes off your marathon time i’m hiring you to be my coach. if i ever return to running that is. oh, but you’ll be paid in bicycles that you were supposed to send me but never did. i figure it’s only fair.
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Ironman By Thirty (Kevin)
January 11, 2012 at 6:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sounds like a plan. However, you haven’t followed a plan yet for a marathon so what makes me believe that you would follow my plan?
kc
January 14, 2012 at 8:55 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
like i said before, i’ve called my bookie and placed my money on you and Jeff to BQ. I must meet you both in Boston 2013! Nuf said!
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January 18, 2012 at 8:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Pfitz Plan is still keeping me plenty busy on the running front. This week will be my first 70 mile week [...]
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March 5, 2012 at 10:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] race day but for the 12 weeks of training leading up to race day. I’m going to post about The Plan later this week and go into more detail, but having someone working towards the same goal was one [...]
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March 15, 2012 at 7:04 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] finally had time to sit down and do a review of The Plan. With the marathon now over a week in the past, it is probably a good time to reflect on what [...]