The California International Marathon is 18 weeks away. I want to run it and I'm planning on it. Just have to shape up a bit and stay healthy/uninjured. I would very much like to improve upon my current marathon PR set in April '08, which is 3:17:45. Ideally I'd like to get it down to the 3:10 range or faster this Fall, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
I've been battling a summer cold with a teeny temperature since last Friday. I took Friday and Saturday off and have run very easy miles yesterday and today. I feel a lot better but probably won't push the pace just yet, depending on what Pete says.
Speaking of Pete, in our weekly phone conversation on Saturday we talked about my running last year when I was down to 122 pounds. He said in all fairness I really cannot compare my current race fitness to what it was back then, not so much because I am rebuilding after time off due to injury, but mostly because I am 11 pounds heavier right now! He said if I were still 122 pounds and running 7 minutes slower than my half marathon PR, then he'd be worried.
Therein lies the reason for this post... I'm going to get back on that weight loss train and get serious about getting my race fitness back. I can keep spinning my wheels and doing all the work, but if I'm currently 8 pounds over my "recommended" average weight for my height (which is 5'5), then I'm running and training with a lot of unnecessary baggage. What I'm going to do, God willing, is get back down to at least my average healthy weight of 125 and then reevaluate. If I'm still feeling strong, I'll possible go even lighter. I felt good at 122, so maybe 120 will be where I stop.
Apparently elite distance runners who are my height have an "ideal race weight" of 106 pounds. I am laughing hysterically as I type that. I am not an elite distance runner, nor do I want to be 106 pounds. I think my family and friends would really get worried about me if I lost that much weight. I'd probably get worried about me!
Okay, so it's out there. Wish me luck!
Managing Hydration When You Are a Runner
4 years ago
6 comments:
good luck!!!!!! I will be running CIM again this year - LOVE that race!
How do you intend to get the weight down? Are you going to use the crossfit nutrition (AKA paleo) approach? I noticed Robb Wolf's post about leaning out where he cut carbs sharply and moved more toward protein refeeding post workout.
I have similar issues. I'm currently ~18 lbs more than when I ran my best times (26 years ago!) That might explain why I ran the marathon 45 minutes slower than in 1982! (among other reasons too no doubt).
Good luck! And congratulations on staying injury free- that's saying something.
Cynthia
Thanks Aron!
Hi Cynthia, no drastic dietary changes for me... just the old fashioned method of taking in fewer calories. I've figured out how many calories I need per day to lose weight, based on my current activity level. That's how I did it last time. I gained the weight back when I was injured (and feeling sorry for myself). I basically continued to eat as though I was still training for marathons.
GB, one of the only (oops) things our "Coach" taught me was that fueling yourself is more important than being a goal weight. I completely understand your desire to lose the weight (I feel this way, too), but I really hope you keep your eye on the prize of your marathon time and not a goal weight. Does that make sense? Just don't get TOO absorbed into the weight loss that you lose sight of your training and energy needs. Being skinny isn't everything, ya know (wink, wink)! I'm lovin' your goal, too! Keep rocking; you're doing great.
You did it before and you can do it again. No magic, just math. Measuring and taking in every calorie is painstaking at times but the results are worth it. Good luck, but really, you will do it if you really want to.
Where is this marathon, Glorybelle?
And Good Luck to you.
Btw, you look terrific
How's your reading going?
Cheri
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