Close to the real thing

With just over 11 weeks until Race Day in New York we really begin to launch into one of the most important phases of training- Simulation.

This is probably where I have missed it the most in my training for marathons in the past.  Whether it was too much emphasis on long slow running, training for ultra’s or other distances I just have not put my body through the pace I need to hold on race day for a long time.  I think it is the biggest reason my results from other distances have not translated to the marathon distance.

How during your training can you put your body in a position where it is not surprised on race day for how it feels at a certain point?  That is simulation.

We do this in most areas of our life and never really think about it.  You operate with discipline on a daily basis for the reason of, when tough times hit you don’t have to find discipline in your life.  That discipline has already been developed.  We can’t be there every moment for our kids and know the every day pressure they face so we do our best to prepare them for those moments ahead of time.  Hopefully these moments are not a surprise in their lives.

When I look back to my first marathon at about mile 14 I had run a pace for the first half of the race that my body was not used to.  It was not properly trained to run how I was asking it.  You can’t ask your body to do something you have not trained it to do just like you can’t develop discipline with your decisions in microwave timing.  It takes time.  

Happy running….