Pay Off Runs

Running in the heat

The sun rises on July 22nd, as I reached Lake Zorinksy in the midst of a 21-mile run, the longest training run of my life.

“This is going to pay off.” I have said that phrase out loud, written it down, or thought it, a dozen or so times this summer. In all actuality, every time I’m out for a run, it’s something that’ll pay off in Chicago. That said, I have had many a run this summer — long ones in particular — that fall on some of the hottest or humid days of the entire week. Runs that I would have cut short years ago, if not outright skipped altogether. The runs where I’d find an excuse to get out of.

I’m not doing that anymore.

Going to bed on Friday night, it hit me that the following day’s run would have been one of those runs. 16 miles, 12 of them at race pace¹, in 79-degree weather? It was going to be 80+ by the time I finished. Three years ago I would have bowed out. “No thanks, I’ll sleep in and get in eight or so on the treadmill.”

Instead, I went to sleep excited and ready.

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The log week 8:

Sunday: Rest

Monday: 10 miles, with 6 in the morning and 4 more at Peak Performance after work

Tuesday: 14 miles

Wednesday: 5 miles

Thursday: 11 miles

Friday: 6 miles

Saturday: 20 miles

Weekly total: 66 miles

Training total: 484 miles

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I have really enjoyed this training plan so far, even as I have worked out harder and faster than ever before. The 2020 and 2021 cycles were hugely important to me. They allowed me to discover a love of running I didn’t really think I had. I finally stopped running so fast. I went at a slower pace most of the time. I still did speed work, I still did hill work, but there was no reason to go out for a long run 15-20 seconds slower than what I hoped to be at on race day. Most of my runs in 2020 and 2021 were 60-90 seconds slower, at least, compared to what I’d do when it was go time.

Cut to this summer, and I’m knee deep into the Pfitzinger 18/70² plan. Outside of specific marathon pace runs, most of my runs are still taking place much slower than what it’ll be on race day. It’s done a number on me mentally that 60-90 seconds slower means hanging out in the sub- 8:30 range on a Saturday morning, compared to my ten-minute miles back in 2020. But my heart rate is where I want/need it to be. This plan is easily the hardest one I’ve ever done, but I’m still enjoying runs at the same level I have in previous years, if not even more. 15 miles on a Tuesday morning? Let’s go! A long run with temperatures close to 80 before the sun’s up? Cool, though sadly not literally.

I lay in bed at night, thinking about Chicago. Thinking about crossing the finish line. Thinking about what’s possible.

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The log week 9:

Sunday: Rest

Monday: 10 miles, again with 6 in the morning and 4 more at Peak Performance after work

Tuesday: 15 miles

Wednesday: 6 miles

Thursday: 13 miles

Friday: 7 miles, with 6 x 100 meter sprints late in the run

Saturday: 16 miles, with the last 12 at marathon pace

Weekly total: 67 miles

Training total: 551 miles

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I think about arriving in Chicago. I think about the expo. Getting my race bib, spending way too much on gear. I think about the energy and the excitement. I think about trying to go to bed the night before, and how I hope sleep comes to me quickly. I think about the start line. All the people around me³, with similar goals. Hoping the weather stays great, or gets better, whichever fits that morning. Wondering if we’ll run our perfect race that day. All of us hoping to do so, believing it’s possible.

I think about seeing all the people along the streets of Chicago. I think about slowing my pace down in mile’s one and two, just to make sure I don’t go out too fast. Picking up the pace at mile three. Seeing what’s possible at 13.1. Knowing decisions will be made, important decisions, at mile 20.

I think about seeing my family — my mom, brother, and future sister-in-law will be there cheering me on. I think about seeing Riss, an incredible and supportive partner on this running journey of mine, never batting an eye when I go to bed at 9:30 pm on a Friday night. I’ve even thought of something I’d love to say to all of them in that moment, if I get the chance. If the race is going right. I hope I do.

I think about the last mile or so, giving it everything I have. Crossing the finish line, receiving a Goose Island beer special to the race. The medal, the smiles.

I think about it all. It’s nine weeks away. It’ll be here before I know it. I don’t know yet what’s possible. A year ago this week, I wouldn’t have expected to run a sub-3:30, let along 3:24:58. I don’t imagine I’ll fully know until October arrives, if not race week. But I know one thing for certain — runs like I had on Saturday will most certainly pay off.

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Thanks so much for reading. I’m a little over $2000 away from reaching my fundraising goal for the race. If you’d like to help the many families that are affected by childhood cancer, would you consider a donation to St Jude? Thank you.

1. I plan on writing about this at some point, but my race pace has been a moving target most of the summer in the best way possible. As I’ve written about previously, my goal has been a 3:15 race, which equates to 7:26 per mile. On Saturday, in the aforementioned heat, I averaged 7:16 a mile for those remaining 12, which would be 3:11ish. Excited to see how hard I can push myself.

2. I wrote about that here.

3. I recently received my starting corral assignment — Corral D — which means I’m with people that have either run a sub-3:30 marathon or a sub-1:40 half in a prior race. Proof required. I imagine all of us will be dreaming dreams of shaving some time off those priors.