Monday, October 19, 2009

Conquering the Red Baron?

In January I blogged about a rare run with my husband (read it again here). Back then I wasn't able to keep up with his pace--which is usually right around an 8 minute mile. My husband has the gift of natural speed. Here's a guy whose dad--who started running when he was 45--has run over 20 marathons, including Boston. Joe ran his first (and possibly his last...) marathon the year he turned 40. He found a training plan online and ran it almost to the letter, cranking out a 4:05 marathon. This was before I started the ironman journey and now I keep wondering how he'd do with a little coaching, some track workouts, and a better nutrition plan... Running with Joe was a lesson in humility about how slow I was, and that day in January I was left cursing him with raised fist, much like Snoopy at the Red Baron.

Yesterday we ran together, my regular 4.5 mi loop. Sophie pulled me along as usual, but where I'd normally reign her back with a strict "NO PULL!" I was keeping up with her just fine. And I was also keeping up with Joe. He might have slowed down a bit since his marathon training year since he hasn't been running as regularly, but he's still pretty quick. And yesterday was the culmination of the biggest running milage week for me EVER--almost 40 miles of pounding the pavement. And I did that loop in about 40 minutes and could've kept going!

I'm liking this new running pace. I'm sure at some point I'll still get my ass kicked by Lynnie, since she's getting better and stronger every day. But you know what? I'm thinking this 4:30 marathon thing is in my reach. Now all I need is a trio of farm animals to boogie with at mile 20!

9 comments:

Jennifer Harrison said...

LOVE IT KATE ! I remember you talking about this and trying to keep up with JOE - here you are! :))) classic. :)) YOU are going to nail it this weekend!

Molly said...

Wowza!! Great job on the run and the newfound pace! Your legs just needed time to recover from IMLP. You're going to rock the marathon!

GoBigGreen said...

Steve will be so honored. Oh yea that 4:30 is a done deal, IMO...Joe is a rockstar but so are you!

ADC said...

Great stuff Kate. You will do it. You are definitely capable of sub 4:30. Yay!!!

runningyankee said...

that new pace was just waiting for you to go and get it! and now that you did dont let it go :) good luck this weekend. 430 is waiting for you too!!

Unknown said...

Kate, thanks for the kind words on my blog! Good luck on the IM training - I'll be reading!

Steve Stenzel said...

Good luck hitting the 4:30 goal!!!!!

Jennifer Cunnane said...

I hope that VINO was good after the marathon. I really truly enjoyed meeting your friends - they are great! And, the video just cracked me up! Thanks for the laugh.

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