59 Days and a Wakeup
City of Oaks Marathon Calculations
City of Oaks Marathon is back on the schedule!
My first official Marathon will take place on November 6th, 2022 here in Raleigh, NC. My work schedule changed four times in four days and I’m available now to complete this hometown Marathon with my club. I’m excited for it!
However, this past Sunday I had some reality smack me in the face and there are some hurdles, obstacles and roadblocks that require devising some dynamic solutions to solve.
On Sunday (9.4.2022) I ran 13.1 miles on my own and afterwards I realized a few things, both good and bad. Mostly I found areas that need rapid improvement.
Double my mileage in the next 60 days.
Lose +20lbs to be at race weight (195lbs)
Running Posture Corrections
Strength Training
In the next 60 days, I need to double my mileage from 13.1 to 26.2. It almost seems insurmountable, but my training plan looks solid. I feel strong, without injury or pain and as of this moment, I feel I can physically get there. However, I quickly realized that I don’t think it’s reasonable or feasible to attempt the Marathon weighing over 200lbs. I’m currently sitting at 220 and that’s just too much weight to be carrying for upwards of 5 hours. It takes too much energy and will be too much of a toll on my joints.
On my long run, around mile 10 I noticed my neck was sore. A quick analysis of my running and it was clear I had poor posture. I spent too much time looking down at my feet and the 20m in front of me. I need to make a mental effort and physical correction to look at the horizon. If I ran with my head down for the Marathon, I believe I would be in a substantial amount of pain. I’m aiming to avoid that debacle.
I have to achieve those things while fitting into my travel and work schedule.
Over the next 59 days…………
2 days in Miami, FL
6 days in Orlando, FL
18 days in Honolulu, HI
This gives me 26 days on the road and 33 days at home. This requires looking at local running routes, traveling with all of my running gear and ensuring I can keep my diet in check while traveling and not having access to a full size kitchen.
The next 59 days are going to be a challenge to really dial it in and focus on the goal at hand. To toe the line on Race Day and know I’ll be ready to tackle the 26.2 miles through the City of Oaks.