I was digging around on the internet, and found some things that sparked my interest about Marathon running. Like this:
When your mind goes to the finish
line and wanting to finish....bring the mind back to your body and focus on the
(present)...
Remember if your mind goes to the finish line...it has abandoned
your body to do the last 5 or 6 miles alone....and that's not good. Bring the
mind back to the present....breathing....relaxing shounders, jaw, eyes...eyes on
the horizon...and relaxing toes....relaxing toes.©1998 Austin "Ozzie" Gontang, Ph.D.
I think that's what happened to us Sunday. For the last 6 miles or so, we lost our focus. We could see the sun was starting to go down, we were wondering how the kids were doing, and knew we needed to hurry up and get finished. And also knew that by the time we did finish, there wasn't gonna be much left of the day. It felt like an entire day gone. We just wanted to be finished. Our mind left the present, and our body suffered because of it. That's why I prefer to run in the morning. When you start early, you still have plenty of the day left to look forward to. This is certainly a confirmation of what an astounding effect the mind has on your performance.
I also ran across this on that same website:
I think that is interesting, as well. One that thing I can say that has always proven true for myself, is that every race in which I have started out too fast - I had disappointing results. And every race in which I was relaxed went out easy - I was pleased with the results. I am horrible about doing this in a 5k. I will take off as fast as I can, worried that I won't have time to make up any speed, and then I will crash and burn by mile 2. That's a bad feeling - when know that all those runners behind you are reeling you in ever so steadily, and there's not a whole lot you can do about it.Remember on marathon day, you will be full of energy. By running the first 3
miles slower 30 seconds to 1 minute slower than marathon pace, you will be ready
to settle into your marathon pace. Should you go out 30 seconds to a minute a
mile faster than your marathon pace, you will finish the marathon 20 minutes to
1 hour and 30 minutes slower than you expected. Since you are well rested, don't
let the excitement and adrenaline affect your first 3 miles which are 30 seconds
to 1 minute slower than your marathon pace. Do not waste any glycogen storage by
going out faster than race pace those first 4 to 8 miles.©1998 Austin "Ozzie" Gontang, Ph.D.
Well, enough of my thoughts for the day. Say a prayer for my shin and knee if you don't mind...I am too close to back out, now!!