You can say that i’m doing things slightly backwards than normal, because i’m just now deciding what pace i’ll try to run Sunday’s marathon in. I did PR in this same race last year (although the course was slightly different)… however in comparison to last year, i’m not sure i’m at the same fitness level. I think i’ll plan to run a 3:45, which would mean i’d need to pull around an 8:35/mile pace, which is aggressive based on how i’ve been doing my 20-22 miler runs, but I think its a fairly decent goal. Anything faster than that will set me up for failure. The major difference in the course this year for the Lehigh Valley Health Network marathon is that the course is mainly flat, because Gary Ward hill is now excluded. That hill was what slowed me down last year from a faster finish, it was just more than I wanted to see at mile 17-18 ..

Since we’re talking pace, I did find a website that allows you to calculate your marathon pace, but add what is called a ‘fade’. For anyone that hasn’t completed a marathon yet, the ‘fade’ is the effect on your pace after you’ve run a good number of miles. For example, I generally keep a decent pace in a marathon for the first 16-18 miles, then the fade happens.. I describe it as what happens when you’re starting to get out of your training range and your pace starts to fall behind. Only once did I keep my pace past mile 18 .. generally I felt the ‘fade’. Anyway, this calculator allows you to account for that fade, but still finish with a goal time .. basically you’ll run faster in the first bunch of miles, to make up for the last bunch of miles where you’re fading. I was never a fan of ‘banking minutes’ while racing though, which is basically what this is .. just because it forces you to work harder in the first half of the marathon than you probably should… be cautious if you use these types of calculators, my opinion is always to keep your pace as best as you can, and DON’T BANK MILES, you’ll regret it ..

Anyway, I’m slowly tapering down the miles as the week goes on and concentrating on mentally preparing for the race and NOT OVEREATING .. this is the tough part. I do think that the weather will be pretty good at this point as well, as of today, it’s looking like a start in the mid 50’s, with a mid 70’s high for the day .. not a particularly sunny day, which is good (cloudy is excellent!)

Well its time to get ready for the Labor Day BBQ .. I love cooking out … 🙂