Marine Corps Marathon Training – Week 16 (Reevaluating marathon goals, Across the Bay 10k)

The Marine Corps Marathon is in 10 days. Ten days!?!

These last four months of training have seriously flown by. I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish during this training season — waking up at 4 a.m. to run before work, consistently hitting the gym after work, and keeping up with my long runs, even when it meant doing them on a treadmill.

I’ll be honest though. Despite all of that, I’m not sure if I’m really ready for the race… physically or mentally.

The struggle has been real these last 3-4 weeks of training. It’s just been harder to push myself. And mentally, I seem to have lost focus.

I had two goals for MCM this year:

1. complete the race without having to go to the bathroom (yes, I’m being serious. I went twice last year, and waiting in those long lines killed my time)

2. beat Oprah (i.e., complete the race in under 4:30)

I think I may have a chance at achieving goal #1. But I’m probably not going to beat Oprah.

My pace runs haven’t been fast enough. I probably should have done more speed work.

I’m still averaging around a 10:40-10:54 pace (my half marathon pace), which would mean I would finish in about 4:40-4:45. That’s assuming I maintain that pace throughout the entire race, which I don’t think is likely. So, I think at this point, if I completed the race in under 4:50, I would be happy.

Only a week and a half of training left. I’m hoping I’ll regain my focus and energy these final days.

MCM Training – Week 16

Monday, Oct. 5 – off

Tuesday, Oct. 6 – 6 miles – treadmill

Wednesday, Oct. 7 – 4 miles – treadmill

Thursday, Oct. 8 – off

Friday, Oct. 9 – 6 miles – treadmill

Saturday, Oct. 10 – 13 miles – treadmill

Sunday, Oct. 11 – 4.1 miles – outside in the hood (in the most gorgeous weather ever)

Total: 33.1 miles
Cross-training: none

Goals for this week: stay positive.

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My sister suckered me into signing up for the Across the Bay 10k on Sunday, Nov. 8, a couple of weeks after MCM. She’s not big on running, but one of her goals is to complete a 10k. I was a little hesitant about signing up at first because I wanted to give my legs a break between MCM and the Last Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon on Nov. 15. She really wants to do this race though and won’t do it without me, so I gave in (I’m an awesome sister).

I actually wanted to participate in Across the Bay 10k last year, but didn’t sign up in time, and it sold out. It’s apparently the 6th largest 10k in the U.S. Nearly 4.5 miles of the course takes place on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Annapolis, Md. Several of my friends ran it last year, including Jen. I hear it’s a fun race. It’ll be my first time running on a bridge. And maybe not the last… For my California race, I’m considering the SF Half, which would take me over the Golden Gate Bridge.

In non-running news, my cousin, Stephanie, celebrated her 30th birthday last Saturday. It was an awesome affair at the White Room that included tons of family and friends. We managed to round up the cousins for a photo that actually came out pretty decent.

Hope you’re having a great week.