Needs, Wants, and Wishes

Date: November 3rd, 2013
Event: Dallas Running Club Half Marathon
Result: 1:24:46
Wishes: PR(<1:21:06), we now know it didn't happen.   
Wants: <1:23 to be comfortable with a sub 3 for the incoming Dallas Marathon December 8th.
Needs: <1:25 to make a sub 3 a possibility for the incoming Dallas Marathon, and qualify New York Marathon 2014.

At the desperate last mile, when the pace was on 6:50, I made a deal to myself that if I could hold the pace for sub 1:25, I earned the budget to New York. I did 6:45. 

I don't want to write a descriptive race report as usual. I do like to write down some of thoughts. Racing is mental game.  Before every race, I always look back to the prior experiences, and thoughts to mentally prepare myself. So why not share. If you don't care, you always don't have to read on. 

What I have done right:

1. My racing feeling has improved. I knew at mile 3 PR would not be possibly and largely raced by feel. My pace was extremely aggressive. I knew it, and chose to do it, so I don't regret I crashed 6:50 and 6:45 in the last two miles. This was a tune up for Dallas marathon. While PR became no possibility, be aggressive to test out my limit was warranted, a very good learning of my body for my future PR race. I didn't push over board to lose sub 1:25. 
   
2. My mental toughness has improved. My form was not good and my body was not sharp, probably due to lack of speed workout and strength training. But I was able to manage it and tried to relax. I always like to draft during races. This time, I partnered with a competitive female runner, Becky, during the race. As soon as I realized our pace was lacking, I pushed hard. Knowing she was in 8th place and had an interest to catch, I led the effort. In about 6 miles, I(we) chased, then led 3-5 runners. Eventually I was out kicked, but for the first time, I was the one on the course to setup the pace for a group of runners. I really enjoyed the experience and am happy with my effort and mental toughness especially with 10 months of no racing and speed work. 
   
3. My training: my training has been weird to accommodate my work schedule. While there were certainly laziness, I started getting a good grasp. The patient build up on aerobic base works very well. 2012, I ran the same race 1:28:24;2011, 1:21:06. I am half way back to my peak with only slow runnings.
   

What I have done wrong:

1. Pre-race diet: this is second time I lost 20+ seconds over the average pace in the last two miles. Since I had been cutting food pre-race, I am thinking maybe I had cut a little too much. I will certainly watch this, though I may never find out.
   
2. Strength Training: it seems apparent that my weak core is not enough to support my running pace I want. 
   

For Dallas Marathon, December 8th:

1. Wishes: <2:55
   
2. Wants: PR(<2:58:35)
   
3. Needs: sub 3
   

For Boston 2014:

Needs, Wants, and Wishes: PR.

nice race Jerry.  From what I can tell you are on track to your goals.

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!!!

Nicely raced, and nicely analyzed, Jerry.

Well run and well said.  I can certainly second a couple of your experiences as I found myself in very much the same place before Saturday.  My only blessing was that I have already re-committed to the strength training and it paid off.  I need to continue to commit to the mileage build up after a few weeks of recovery.  And, I am considering NY again as I have a half time.

Nice analysis, Coach.

Well done Jerry, you just barely made the needs time.  I hope this bodes well for your upcoming marathon.  What is your Boston PR?  or are you looking for a PR at Boston?

Next year we'll have to strike up a new deal so that we can keep you off the couch.  Get ready

T Miller wrote:Well done Jerry, you just barely made the needs time.  I hope this bodes well for your upcoming marathon.  What is your Boston PR?  or are you looking for a PR at Boston?

Next year we'll have to strike up a new deal so that we can keep you off the couch.  Get ready

To quote Jerry:

        

T Miller wrote:Well done Jerry, you just barely made the needs time.  I hope this bodes well for your upcoming marathon.  What is your Boston PR?  or are you looking for a PR at Boston?

Next year we'll have to strike up a new deal so that we can keep you off the couch.  Get ready

I finished Boston 3:39 last time. 

Nice result, Jerry! looking good for Dallas!!

Love this report. Thanks for sharing your insights!

Great job, Jerry! I like the concept of needs, wants, wishes as well.  I'm glad you got what you needed and you learned some things in the process!