Official 2014 Dopey Challenge Thread!

[roomthreeseventeen]

This exactly. You might even see some splits at or above threshold. Just depends on the runner. While I personally would never drop my time down that low, I can see some people who would. I guess it comes down to are you looking to survive the marathon or put up a good time?

Well, agree to disagree. I dropped 40 minutes from my marathon PR this year by slowing down my long runs by a minute.

 

[FFigawi]

In four years of running I have never seen a BQ plan that advises more than a few miles at MP during your long run.

In eight years of running, I have seen many marathon training plans that advise more than a few miles at MP. In fact, my long run tomorrow morning calls for intervals of easy/MP+10/easy/MP+5/easy/MP/easy. Again, it all depends on what you're after, how you train, and how your body responds to that training. Kind of like deciding on the perfect taper. Some people do better with three weeks, others do better with two. There's no perfect system that works for everyone, but there are no rules that work for everyone either.

 

[CaptHomer]

In my 20+ years of running my current training plan tells me to run my long runs at my 10K pace plus a minute. I believe that is what I was doing.

 

[CaptHomer]

Just printed out waiver. Bib 30347

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Just printed out waiver. Bib 30347

Make sure your birthday is correct. The bib waivers that are up will not be official until tomorrow or Monday.

 

[CaptHomer]

Make sure your birthday is correct. The bib waivers that are up will not be official until tomorrow or Monday.

I had to type my last name and birthday in to get it to pull up. I am assuming the birthday is correct. I will pull up and official one then on Monday. Thanks, didn't know they were unofficial.

 

[cewait]

It's funny, Gallowalker has most all his runners running training runs at marathon pace.... Mainly because a newbie does not really know where they should be and it would be crazy for a newbie to start off a minute or two a mile faster than a training run. Thinking further, his silly Magic Mile is a mile or three x one mile intervals during a long run are at faster than marathon pace if performed correctly.

Seriously, for advanced plans, most all want surges to occur on the long run. There was a plan out there asking for intervals 30 seconds below expected pace on the back side of the long run.

It all comes down to if one wants to race fast they must train fast. The primary purpose of the long run is to create adaptations in the fueling system of the runner so it seeks to burn a higher percentage of fats as fuel. The speed surges as part of the long run are to push up the point where the glycogen demand starts to pick up and to help the body adapt to processing lactic acids better as a fuel source. If one never taxes the system on a long run, and then attempts a pace 1-2 mm faster on race day, they may realize out in the 16-22 mile point that things are headed south with the body and end up finishing at a much slower pace - maybe even an overall finish at an average pace slower than training pace.

Now this is all to say that if one is looking to finish a marathon then just running a nice constant pace through the entire long run works well. One can still drop times and set PRs but they may not hit a peak performance on race day and there is nothing wrong with that, either.

 

[cewait]

I had to type my last name and birthday in to get it to pull up. I am assuming the birthday is correct. I will pull up and official one then on Monday. Thanks, didn't know they were unofficial.

They are only unofficial since the link is not on the rD site. Save a tree and just check instead.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It's funny, Gallowalker has most all his runners running training runs at marathon pace....

This is blatantly not true, unless they are a first time marathoner and guessing. Jeff suggests that all marathoners should be doing long runs up to 2 minutes slower than goal marathon pace. I can link you all day places where he says that. I don't follow his plan, but a lot of folks do.

 

[CaptHomer]

Thanks Coach! I train at a faster past actually than I know I am going to run on race day. I do all my training on a treadmill so I know I won't do that pace on the road.
Also, I know I can't keep that pace up after running a half the day before. The goal now is to slow down on the half and run at a faster pace for the full but still nowhere near my training pace.

 

[cewait]

Thanks Coach! I train at a faster past actually than I know I am going to run on race day. I do all my training on a treadmill so I know I won't do that pace on the road.
Also, I know I can't keep that pace up after running a half the day before. The goal now is to slow down on the half and run at a faster pace for the full but still nowhere near my training pace.

Man, I do not know how one switches from TM to road on race day. I know several folks do but I need the visual feedback.

See ya in a month

 

[cewait]

This is blatantly not true, unless they are a first time marathoner and guessing. Jeff suggests that all marathoners should be doing long runs up to 2 minutes slower than goal marathon pace. I can link you all day places where he says that. I don't follow his plan, but a lot of folks do.

Read the ENTIRE line!

IIt's funny, Gallowalker has most all his runners running training runs at marathon pace.... Mainly because a newbie does not really know where they should be and it would be crazy for a newbie to start off a minute or two a mile faster than a training run.

emphasis added.

I know what he says and I know what actually happens. Most folks who get serious about BQ's or pushing down PR's move away from his plans; many keep the run/walk but seek a higher level of overall training effort.

You are a perfect example

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Read the ENTIRE line!

emphasis added.

I know what he says and I know what actually happens. Most folks who get serious about BQ's or pushing down PR's move away from his plans; many keep the run/walk but seek a higher level of overall training effort.

You are a perfect example

Well, I'm not an example at all since I've never done walk/run.

 

[FFigawi]

Thanks Coach! I train at a faster past actually than I know I am going to run on race day. I do all my training on a treadmill so I know I won't do that pace on the road. Also, I know I can't keep that pace up after running a half the day before. The goal now is to slow down on the half and run at a faster pace for the full but still nowhere near my training pace.

All your runs on a TM? Wow. That's just asking for injuries. Be careful on race day. A friend tried that and had massive shin splints set in around mile 16 because her body wasn't used to the added stress & strain from the pounding on the road.

 

[Diskidatheart]

In his book, Hal Higdon suggests that you run your longer runs slower than race pace, but it's mainly because he tries to get you to the start line injury free. I think (or hope) everyone would agree that if you run your long runs at a slower pace, you are less likely to get injured. I know, it doesn't mean that you won't get injured, but you are less likely.

In his book, he also suggests that you do interval training, Fartleks, and/or tempo runs to increase speed. He also says that to increase speed you can do a 3:1 long run...meaning that you can run the first 3/4 of your run at a slower pace, then up the pace on the last 1/4 of the run to marathon pace. Every plan is different and the majority of them work. I think it ends up being which one fits your schedule the best, which one you feel will prep you the best, and possibly more than anything else, which one gives you the confidence to go into the race knowing that you will finish it!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

ANYWAY!!

just looked at the rundisney website and it says that the 5k starts at 6:15. i had to giggle to myself that my first thought was, "ooo! i get to sleep in that day!"

i think the hardest part of this whole weekend won't be the running at all. it will be trying to do the races while still fulfilling family obligations. it's alot to ask of my husband to deal with my 4 and 2 year olds.

just a little over a month!

 

[cewait]

ANYWAY!!

just looked at the rundisney website and it says that the 5k starts at 6:15. i had to giggle to myself that my first thought was, "ooo! i get to sleep in that day!"

i think the hardest part of this whole weekend won't be the running at all. it will be trying to do the races while still fulfilling family obligations. it's alot to ask of my husband to deal with my 4 and 2 year olds.

just a little over a month!

Sleep in day then a work day for me :0 I decided to save a day of roll over vacation for later. It's not going to smell very good in the office that morning.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Sleep in day then a work day for me :0 I decided to save a day of roll over vacation for later. It's not going to smell very good in the office that morning.

both days will be work days for me too. i have to work remotely because i'll be smack in the middle of my reporting period. dh and i work for ourselves so every vacation is a working vacation. definite pros and cons! friday we're getting a sitter for about 5 hours so we can head to the lobby and work. if you see two people in the OKW lobby with their noses in their laptops, that's us! at least i'll be off my feet

 

[CaptHomer]

All your runs on a TM? Wow. That's just asking for injuries. Be careful on race day. A friend tried that and had massive shin splints set in around mile 16 because her body wasn't used to the added stress & strain from the pounding on the road.

I know, but one of the reasons I run on the treadmill (the main one is I am too lazy to go outside) is to save the strain on my knees. Trust me I felt it at the ToT by not running outside.

I might do a couple of off day short runs outside just to get the feel of it.

 

[cewait]

both days will be work days for me too. i have to work remotely because i'll be smack in the middle of my reporting period. dh and i work for ourselves so every vacation is a working vacation. definite pros and cons! friday we're getting a sitter for about 5 hours so we can head to the lobby and work. if you see two people in the OKW lobby with their noses in their laptops, that's us! at least i'll be off my feet

I feel your pain.... We may come over just to pester you on Friday - Just kidding. Seriously, if you need supplies or something holler. The OKW lobby can be a little distracting. If it is, the back glassed off room in Olivias may also be an option.

I had a major dump from our friends at EPA just before the Disney on Ice (2010) race. I was on the phone all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday - enough to justify saying 0 hours vacation for the entire trip over that year..