Anyone else running the MCM in a few weeks?
Anyone else running the MCM in a few weeks?
If you haven't run it before, it's the most difficult one I've ever completed, and the only one I didn't complete on my initial attempt. Have fun, keep good pace and be safe.
Detroit 2013, flat course, my 1st, 4:44:40
Chicago 2014, flat, my 2nd, 4:11:34
MCM 2015, I'm still apprehensive about the up and down nature of the course, but shooting for a PR and really aiming for a time that begins with a 3. I have done a lot better with hydration and energy intake during my long runs, so I'm pretty comfortable with that. I'm going out in the 9:15/mi range and we'll see how I feel at the 10k and the half.
Last weekend, Saturday I did 10 "hilly" miles at 9:22 and Sunday I did 18 slightly less hilly at 9:12. Currently fighting a cold so doing my hilly 10 Saturday morning but not worrying about pace.
My sister qualified and will be running. I had to get her an appropriate shirt so she could represent wearing the EGA. I had no idea how difficult and time consuming it would be to find a wicking shirt for a tiny chick. Sent her 2 short sleeve and 1 long sleeve boys performance shirts, so she should be good to go. She's proud of her little bro's time served...
When I was in The Basic School back in 1978 a bunch of us lieutenants ran in the 3rd Marine Corps Marathon. All I can remember was the route back then was pretty cool as it winded through all of the historic sites.
many many yrs ago I had planned on running the MCM … but, if memory serves back then it was a spring time race … one of the lures was running through the cherry blossoms … when did it move to the fall ?
This one is on my long term list to do. Keep us posted how things go! Good luck!
AngryCorvair wrote: Detroit 2013, flat course, my 1st, 4:44:40 Chicago 2014, flat, my 2nd, 4:11:34 MCM 2015, I'm still apprehensive about the up and down nature of the course, but shooting for a PR and really aiming for a time that begins with a 3. I have done a lot better with hydration and energy intake during my long runs, so I'm pretty comfortable with that. I'm going out in the 9:15/mi range and we'll see how I feel at the 10k and the half. Last weekend, Saturday I did 10 "hilly" miles at 9:22 and Sunday I did 18 slightly less hilly at 9:12. Currently fighting a cold so doing my hilly 10 Saturday morning but not worrying about pace.
Dang, Pat- you've really gone after this running thing! Ines just managed to do the one, and both of us tried twice more- only to both come up lame during training. I broke my foot both times- once on my first 18 mile run. Ines broke her femur on her last 20- she was really doing well, too.
We've turned our running into just exercise + a nice way to be a tourist.
Good luck!
Before you know it, you will be qualifying for Boston. Although, that's pretty tough in our age range.
Eric
In reply to alfadriver:
Holy carp, broken femur? I've lost the same toenail twice (same shoe model, two different pairs) but that's the extent of my injuries. My biggest struggle these days is getting out of bed early enough to get my miles in before work.
I will confess that I enjoy running a lot more than I thought I would. I'm still 3 years away from a BQ, but that is definitely my goal.
All I can say is good luck. I've done the Austin Marathon and it's very much up and down route. Just conserve the energy and enjoy it. The route doesn't look too bad overall. I know when I did austin, the last climb at mile marker 19 got to me.
Today was a 10.5-miler, back and forth over "the hill" on Hines between Six Mile and Seven Mile Roads. Short sleeves and running shorts, with temp about 47*F and breezy. I was cold for the first 5 miles, and was running in the mid-10s. Then the leaders of the Heroes On Hines half-marathon started going by, and I started going faster while cheering for them. My last mile on the hill was a 9:03 and the final (flat) half-mile was at an 8:20 pace. Tomorrow is about 13 or so, generally down hill (one-way run from Wixom to Canton). I'm going to shoot for an 8:59 average.
You've ran more then me at this point but I've found arbitrarily setting faster pace goals then your typical training runs an incredibly efficient way to get yourself hurt. Especially during recovery or tapering times in your training. I've always found dedicated shorter speed work to be better to increase pace then trying to just run faster on shorter distance training runs. I managed to screw up my leg and hip deciding to push the speed during the last few weeks before a big event 6-7 weeks after my first marathon.
Glad to hear your making good progress. My first was a 4:20 when I weighed 225 4 years ago. Then I hurt my leg and ballooned to 245 and am finally back near 230 ready to try to get in better shape to try again. I ran a half a month ago but had what ended up being pneumonia so I haven't ran since. I'm going to run tomorrow though so hopefully back after it. I promised my knees/legs no more marathon until I am <200 so that's the plan for this winter. Only 30lbs to go..
8:59 isn't really arbitrary, it's 10 sec per mile faster than my goal marathon pace.
On 9/12 I did 13.9 @ 8:49, and on 9/13 I did 8.9 @ 8:59, both on relatively flat terrain. So I'm in the ballpark for where I need to be three weeks out.
I'm doing Steamtown next Sunday. I'm looking for a 3hr 59 min PR. Good luck at MCM!
In reply to Huckleberry:
I've heard that's a good race. Leave it all on the course!
AngryCorvair wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Holy carp, broken femur? I've lost the same toenail twice (same shoe model, two different pairs) but that's the extent of my injuries. My biggest struggle these days is getting out of bed early enough to get my miles in before work. I will confess that I enjoy running a lot more than I thought I would. I'm still 3 years away from a BQ, but that is definitely my goal.
It was just a stress facture, but the results were that no running for 2 months. So no Detroit. My foot really sucked.
Keep running!
We are just about to go out for today's run.
If you're "fighting a cold," you're right on the threshold of overtraining. Pay attention to the amount of sleep you're getting these last couple of weeks or roll your training back slightly. Don't miss meals either. I know how hard it is to bend your training around work, family, etc. Training is one-third of the whole pie. The other two thirds are food and rest. They need equal attention.
14.3 @ 8:51, negative split due to gravity, LOL.
Huckleberry wrote: I'm doing Steamtown next Sunday. I'm looking for a 3hr 59 min PR. Good luck at MCM!
How did it go?
My bib number is 23495 in case anyone wants to follow my progress this Sunday
Cool--been watching your progress on FB. Good luck!
Our next full marathon will actually be in the spring in our old neck of the woods--there's one in Ormond/Flagler that runs really close to my parent's house. Until then, we've got a few halfs--one on Thanksgiving and one near Christmas that we're doing.
Best wishes to all of you participating in the little jog tomorrow! Hope you do as well as you would like! Semper Fi! 
Good luck!!
"Ooh Rah!"
Congrats! Results say 4h 38m 25s. How was the race?
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