Pensacola Marathon Training: Week 17
Sunset – Pensacola, Florida
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Week seventeen wound up being an extra week of taper to carry me through to Pensacola Marathon on November 11. Wrapped up training feeling strong and healthy. Who would have guessed the outcome of the marathon, then? Thus proving that even when training’s spot on, a good race isn’t necessarily guaranteed.
Monday: Rest day.
Tuesday: Intervals. Replaced intervals with tempo-like run. Ran slightly under MP for same amount of mileage. Temperatures dropped enough that my muscles took time to loosen up.
- Total = 5.09 mi – 41:09 – 8:06 min/mi avg pace
- Plan = 6 x 400m @ 6:38 min/mi
- Actual splits = (1) 7:57; (2) 8:01; (3) 7:51; (4) 8:01; (5) 8:35
Wednesday: Rest day.
Thursday: Tempo run. Last training run on (revised) schedule. NYC was hit with snow and Central Park was closed as a result. Ran on streets, dodging pedestrians and cars. Cold weather, streets were wet and slushy. Pace felt comfortable and legs feel like jet engines ready to go!
- Total = 5.01 mi – 40:27 – 8:04 min/mi avg pace
- Plan = 3 mi @ 8:23 min/mi
- Actual splits = (1) 8:15; (2) 7:59; (3) 7:48; (4) 8:29; (5) 7:50
Friday: Travel day. Flight to Florida.
Saturday: Rest day.
Sunday: PENSACOLA MARATHON! Race details are in the fall season conclusion. The concise version is: I was on target pacing for a 3:35 finish until a stress fracture in my right 5th metatarsal at mile 20. I missed both my A goal (3:35) and B goal (sub-3:40), losing my Boston Qualifying time. I finished the race by slowing pace and then run-walking when it became necessary. However, I finished with a 5-minute PR.
- Official Race Stats = 26.2 mi – 3:48:39 – 8:43 min/mi avg pace
- Total (Per Garmin) = 26.55 mi – 3:48:23 – 8:36 min/mi avg pace
- Plan = 26.2 miles
- Actual splits = (1) 8:18; (2) 8:11; (3) 8:07; (4) 8:11; (5) 8:07; (6) 8:05; (7) 8:07; (8) 8:10; (9) 8:09; (10) 8:04; (11) 8:09; (12) 8:07; (13) 8:03; (14) 8:06; (15) 8:06; (17) 8:05; (18) 8:23; (19) 8:10; (20) 8:52; (21) 9:14; (22) 8:28; (23) 9:37; (24) 10:04; (25) 11:42; (26) 10:59; (27) 8:29 (for final .55 mi)
Total weekly mileage: 36.65 miles
See all weekly training recaps here.
LV runs NYC 
NO!!! I am new to your blog but obviously you trained hard and were crushing it until mile 20. I feel for you but man…can I say that you are a machine for still posting a 3:48…I hope to be a terminator like you some day.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. It only goes to show, training can be amazing but race day will still hold the unknown. Definitely a tough lesson to learn! Hoping to be back at that goal again in time for a spring race…
That terminator comment made me laugh…thanks for that!