nyc marathon | Preppy Runner - Theodora Blanchfield

I try to live my life without regrets, but I also like to constantly improve on myself, so sometimes that takes some looking at where I’ve gone wrong.

So first, let’s talk about the parts of my training I would like to do differently next year.

Start speedwork early. I started marathon training in July, but I don’t think I started doing speedwork until September. I also want to incorporate some Yasso 800s into my training, mostly so if I meet Bart Yasso again, I don’t have to tell him I don’t do his workout.
Stay consistent with strength training. I don’t know if the lack of strength training led to my knee pain, but I know it can’t possibly have helped. I was good on my strength training at the beginning of training, but I started slacking pretty quickly.
Stretch more. Last year, I was so good at stretching after every run, but this year, I sort of substituted the ice bath for stretching. Bad.
Maintain a healthier diet. I started carb-loading really early. I could have used some more vegetables while training.

Look! It’s green!

Really, other than that, I think my training was pretty spot-on. Since a few people have asked, here’s how I think I was able to shave 40 minutes off of my marathon time.

Speedwork. I didn’t do any last year, and really, I was okay with that. It was my first time running the marathon and I was terrified of getting injured. I didn’t want to push speed and distance at the same time.
Running more. Last year, I’d say I stuck to about 60 percent of my scheduled runs. This year, it was closer to 90 percent. Granted, I also had the luxury of time on my side this year, but I think even if I had been working in an office this fall, I would have found a way to get my runs in. I’m more dedicated to running this time around. By running more, I also mean more days. Last year, I ran 3 days a week; this year I ran 4 days a week. I’m pretty sure 4 days a week is my personal maximum–at least right now–but the more you run, the more your body adapts to it.
Not putting my life on hold.Last year, I generally refused to do anything the night before a long run or the day of a long run after I was done. This year, I was definitely cognizant of being careful to get enough sleep and hydrate well enough for a run, but I was fine having a beer or two the night before a long run–even my 20-milers! While I was certainly focused on my goal, I think relaxing a bit about things actually helped my body out, too.
Running with faster people. Basically, meeting Gia really helped. Running a few long runs and a racewith her helped me realize that I really could push my pace.

What’s Next?

The other question I’ve gotten a few times is–what’s next?

While I am so damn happy with shattering my marathon and half-marathon goals, I’m not ready to hang up my Sauconys yet.

So, my 2012 race goals are as follows:

Marathon: sub-4. This is a pretty ambitious goal, but with another year of good training, I think I can do it. Before Sunday, I was nearly positive I was going to run Marine Corps next year. Now, I’m not sure if any marathon could ever live up to the NYC Marathon, and I’m thinking of running both next year. Either way, there will be another marathon in my life next year.
Half-marathon: sub-1:50. (Also pretty damn ambitious.) My next half is the DC (now RnR) Half in March. To be honest, I’m not sure if I’ll be clamoring to try to PR at that one or not (although I have a hard time training for a big race without trying to PR, so we’ll see), but that is the next big race on my calendar.

What have you found has helped or hurt you in training for a long race? What’s your next big goal???

Allow me to pimp this post one more time: I ran the NYC Marathon on Sunday, and it was amazing.

I left off that post at meeting my family at JackRabbit, where I’d dropped some stuff off the day before.

They had a pretty sweet spread of bagels and hot chocolate. I didn’t have much of an appetite yet, so I just sort of nibbled on a bagel and sat there until Lacey said she was at my apartment waiting for me. Crap. Time to get movin’ and get home.

I walked into my apartment, and promptly popped a bottle of bubbly I got on my Long Island wine tour a few weeks ago. I’d been saving it for a special occasion. A marathon most definitely counts as a special occasion.

This is the face of a girl who is very happy but also very cold.

Lacey thought I should give you all a close-up of my headband. It’s Sparkly Soul, and I got it at the expo. In total small world-ness, the founder is Erica’s neighbor. And I only had to adjust once in the entire marathon. It’s a keeper, and thankfully not just because it’s sparkly.

Why are you so tired? You didn’t run a marathon.

Tebowing. It took approximately five minutes to get down there and another 5 to get back up. And don’t you love how my foam roller fits so perfectly under my counter? Easy access to my lover. (You’re not in love with a long piece of foam? Weird.)

Finally, it was time to get that post-race beer I’d been dreaming about all day. I went for a Goose Island IPA.

To eat, I had a burger and sweet potato fries. There is nothing that sounds better to me than a burger and a beer after a marathon. This burger, however, was sort of lame. It was definitely overcooked.

I wanted so badly to party like a rockstar on Sunday night, but shockingly enough, I was exhausted. I was in bed by 11.

Yesterday concluded the official marathon stuff.

I went back up to the park to get my medal engraved and look at finisher gear. After waiting on line for 40 minutes, I got inside and they told me I’d waited on the wrong line and I’d have to wait in line all over again. I was so tired, I nearly looked at the lady and started crying. Instead, I thought about how else I could get my medal engraved. I’ll probably just take it to a trophy shop near my parents’ to get it engraved. Also, you can apparently send them in to NYRR to get engraved, but I can’t find anything online about that.