After the Race
03 /06/2006 15:45
I am
happy to report that I finished the Okinawa Marathon in 3:12:57, a
Boston Marathon qualifying time (BQ) and an improvement of over 15
minutes on my personal record. To be perfectly honest, I didn't
think I would be able to break 3:20 because this was a much more
difficult course than the NAHA Marathon course, which I ran in
3:28. Upon crossing the finish line, I felt overwhelmed with a
feeling of gratitude--to fellow runners, who urged me to push on as
I was struggling on the second half of the course; to the numerous
supporters along the route, several of whom handed me full gel
packs; and to Steve Walker, for his words of encouragement on his
Podcast, Phedippidations.
Other factors that helped me to improve my time include the following: 1. increased training (I peaked at about 103 kilometers/week), 2. weight loss (I lost about five kilograms in the months before the race), and 3. cool weather conditions (a light rain for most of the race). Obviously, the first of these is the most important, and I have come to see increasing the amount of running as being the key to breaking the three hour barrier. I have been reading up on the training methods recommended by Arthur Lydiard, who recommends running about 160 kilometers/week, and although I might not be able to run quite that much, I do hope to significantly increase my training volume.
Other factors that helped me to improve my time include the following: 1. increased training (I peaked at about 103 kilometers/week), 2. weight loss (I lost about five kilograms in the months before the race), and 3. cool weather conditions (a light rain for most of the race). Obviously, the first of these is the most important, and I have come to see increasing the amount of running as being the key to breaking the three hour barrier. I have been reading up on the training methods recommended by Arthur Lydiard, who recommends running about 160 kilometers/week, and although I might not be able to run quite that much, I do hope to significantly increase my training volume.
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