Since it’s sort of the last minute here and I’m planning to go to bed in an hour, I’m going to keep this short…at least for my standards. But I did want to throw up a quick little pre-race post regarding training.
Going into my third Chicago Marathon and twelfth marathon total tomorrow, I can’t remember the last time I felt this out of running shape. It’s hard to describe, but I just feel slow and untrained. However, the thing is, I’m not. I might not be in PR shape, but I’m actually in decent shape. I did the miles in training, more consistently than I’ve done for a marathon in at least two and a half years. I didn’t do any speedwork, but I did the miles. Six or seven weeks ago, I ran the Reykjavik Half Marathon—after two weeks of being on my feet for 15-25 miles every day traveling—just 20 seconds slower than my PR. And my last two miles were in the 6:50s, which is 5k pace for me. A few weeks later, I PRed a 5k after an 18-mile training run. And then just three weeks ago, I finished out the Newport Half Marathon with a 6:55 mile. So, I’ve clearly got a lot in my legs.
The lack of speedwork was mostly just due to having run Grandma’s Marathon exactly 16 weeks ago and me having planned to keep the miles easier effort for the first half of training.
Unfortunately, a big confidence problem for me right now is my right quad, IT band, hip, and adductor. Just that whole damn thing. The hip and adductor pain that started all the way back in March still isn’t 100%. I thought it had gotten there after my Europe trip, but it started coming back just a little. I’d say it’s like 95%. On the outside of my leg, down the length of my IT band, from hip to knee, has been bothering me for the last month or so. This is something I’ve been dealing with for years. It’s just a problem spot for me. I know how to prevent and rehab it, but I got busy for a few weeks and neglected it. It’s not a serious thing, but it is enough right now that I can’t completely ignore it.
Anyway, what it comes down to is that I’m really not sure what I’m capable of for tomorrow…which is the same position I found myself in last year. What I do have going for me, though, is a lack of pressure. I BQed here last year and will be running Boston in April. I no longer have a BQ hanging over my head. And I realized this wouldn’t work out to be a good goal race anymore weeks ago when my heart just wasn’t in the training.
So…I’m not gunning for a PR tomorrow. And that’s okay. I do want to score a BQ, though, just in so I have it in my pocket in case I want to run 2019 too. Still, it’s not a weight on my shoulders and I do think I should be able to run a 3:35 or better.
We’ll see how it goes! The weather is going to be a bit warm tomorrow so that could also be a factor.