Boston Strong

May 14, 2024

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Location:

Naples,FL,

Member Since:

Mar 29, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

400m - ATC:  1:08   May '11

800m - ATC:  2:32   May '11

1600m - self-timed:  5:?? 

5k- Vinings Downhill 5k:  18:34  Sept, '11

10.k - Mardis Gras 10k:  39:15   Feb '12

Half - The Scream:  1:23:59  Jul '11

Marathon - Ridge to Bridge:  3:06:23   Oct '11

Completed 13 Marathons & 2 50k & 1 Century ride

Short-Term Running Goals:

Run injury free

Upcoming Races:

Sept. 14: - Erie Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

Sprint down Boylston Street once per year

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
ST-6 Racer Lifetime Miles: 223.50
Boston Adizero Red Lifetime Miles: 607.00
Boston Adizero White Lifetime Miles: 430.00
Nike Free Lifetime Miles: 362.00
Nike Trail Lifetime Miles: 327.20
Boston Classic Lifetime Miles: 362.50
Adidas Marathon TR Lifetime Miles: 155.90
Vertical Feet Climbed - 2011 Lifetime Miles: 75701.00
Kinvara 2 Lifetime Miles: 31.80
Adios Lifetime Miles: 277.90
Ghost GTX Lifetime Miles: 328.00
Karhu Flow Formula One Lifetime Miles: 166.30
Brooks PureFlow 2 Lifetime Miles: 153.70
Adios II Lifetime Miles: 147.40
Adios 2 Lifetime Miles: 150.20
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
5.000.000.000.005.00

I have decided to halt all marathon training indefinitely & have joined a soccer team for the Spring season.  When I reviewed my training, I realized that I ran a 3:20 marathon in Oct. 2010 after only having run 400 miles in the previous 9 months, including 190 miles in the previous 3 months, and a whopping 60 miles in the 30 days leading up to the marathon.  At this time, I stopped playing competitive soccer & channeled my competitive juices into running ... and my time dropped to 3:06 ... and was enroute to a sub 3 ... until I got injured.

In retrospect, taking 14 minutes off my marathon time ... or dropping it another 6 ... just is not that important to me in the grand scheme of things.  I am proud to have run the PR times I have, but improving on them further is not that important ... I would rather play soccer & just enjoy running when I choose to.

We all set goals ... and somewhere along the line, my goals went from running a marathon to getting a BQ to breaking sub 3 ... but why?  I can not answer that question ... but feel like if I don't break the cycle ... when I run a sub 3, my goal would simply become to run a 2:55 ... that is just my competitive nature and desire to continually improve.  But again ... if I step back & ask ... why would you want to run a 2:55 marathon?  I have no answer, and certainly not one that justifies the commitment it would require in my own mind and sacrifices ... like not playing soccer.

 If one day I happen to cross a 5k finish line at sub 18:30, I will probably entertain a 16 week training cycle to go after a sub 3 ... but only if that happens first.  The jury is out on if I will run Boston this year ... sometimes we have things other things in life that are more important than running ... and this is one of those times for me. 

Adios II Miles: 5.00
Comments
From timp on Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 18:20:09 from 99.110.188.230

Dude, I didn't expect that post Jon. Cant argue with the reasoning at all.

From JG on Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 06:59:18 from 174.49.78.66

Tim, I guess we all go through phases, at least I do! I started running to get in better shape for soccer ... & then strayed from playing soccer. Now my soccer is inhibited by foot pain which came as a result of running. I guess in many ways I realized that I was in better shape/health playing soccer than I am from running. I just want running to be fun & injury free ... I have found marathon training to be counter productive to those two goals. I have been choosing roads over trails to simulate road racing .... But the 4 mile hilly trail run laterally dodging rocks trains me better for soccer & is more fun ... Just getting back to what I enjoy more & makes me more fit fot my true passion ... Soccer! With that said, I stiil plan on running the last 18 miles of your marathon with you ... or at least as long as I can keep up! :)

From SlowJoe on Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 07:14:03 from 155.219.241.10

Marathons aren't for everyone. You gotta have fun with what you're doing and if running doesn't scratch that itch like soccer, then you're doing the right thing. Hope to still see ya in Boston though!

From timp on Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 09:15:14 from 159.63.144.194

totally agree on what you are saying

looking forward to the miles on the 17th

From JG on Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 17:40:09 from 174.49.78.66

Looking forward to it also Tim.

I like marathons Joe, I have run 13, I just dont like training for them. :) At age 46, I guess I just decided it is not important to me to see how fast I can run one. I did enjoy the journey improving in them, but to be honest I already far exceeded what I thought I was capable of a few years ago. I will see how I am feeling in month & if I get lucky on cheap last minute airfare, I may still make it to Boston.

From Neasts on Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 17:51:13 from 75.169.63.62

I also totally respect your goals. I don't enjoy marathon training either! If you like trail running because it gets you in shape for soccer, then maybe consider incorporating more of that type of running so that you still enjoy its healthful benefits (which include being able to still pace your friends) but the road-racing, gotta-get-a-time, and mileage pressures are removed. I'm impressed that you can still be competitive at soccer; nothing's as easy after 40.

From SlowJoe on Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 17:54:03 from 69.131.141.92

Yeah I guess I meant the training, you have to like marathons to do 13 of them! The training for me is almost as fun as the race. Good luck this season!

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