Napa Valley Marathon

Welcome, Guest

Blog Forums Calculator

Some links below may be affiliate links. BMOW may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.

As an Amazon Associate BMOW earns from qualifying purchases.

Return to topic list

<< Runworks 5 Mile Virtual Race	Weeklies, 12/27 - 1/2 >>
Napa Valley Marathon

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Napa Valley Marathon Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:08 pm

It's official-- I'm entered in the Napa Valley Marathon, March 6th! Anyone familiar with this race and want to offer some advice? It seems very popular judging by feedback on marathonguide.com. This is part of my master plan of running as many marathons as possible in as short a time as possible. I figure that if I keep slamming my head into the 3:10 door, sooner or later the lock will break. :-)

OldManRunner
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
Rochester, NY
Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 262

Re: Napa Valley Marathon Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:35 am

Ohhh, but you be a glutton for punishment, laddie! Taper starts in 6 weeks - what will you try to focus on most to improve your time...long runs, or speed? How high will you take your weekly mileage?

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: Napa Valley Marathon Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 1:05 pm

I plan to focus mostly on distance, getting in a good number of 20 mile runs. The first one was today. I didn't do any during my abbreviated training for CIM in December, and before Des Moines in October I think I peaked too early distance-wise, and turned to slightly shorter runs with tempo intervals in the final couple of months before the race. I don't think 16 miles with 2x3M at tempo pace helped me as much as a plain old 20 mile run at a steady pace would have. As for mileage, I will probably build up to about 60 - 70 mpw before beginning the taper. Sure, this probably isn't the recipe for the best possible finish time, but what the heck.

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: Napa Valley Marathon Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:39 pm

Rickshaw wrote:
I plan to focus mostly on distance, getting in a good number of 20 mile runs.

Are you topping out at 20 miles or are you going to try to get one or two 22-23 miler's in before you begin your taper. I've always found a good steady 22 miler once or twice in the final 6 weeks at about 30-45 seconds slower than race pace is a good strength and confidence builder. At this pace (and focusing on taking 4-7 onces of Accelerade every two miles) I can usually finish feeling tired but not very sore and ready to get back into my regular training schedule two days later.

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: Napa Valley Marathon Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:53 pm

I'll probably top out at 20. I've done a couple of 22 mile runs before previous marathons, but they left me feeling pretty wiped out, and I don't think I can afford that in a compressed training schedule. If I had more time to train, I would probably throw in at least one 22 miler though, once I'd had a couple of successful 20 mile runs.

View posts:

		All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1