Next month, I’ll be running the Big Sur International Marathon for the fifth time. I know that I won’t be setting a new personal record, or even a personal course record. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t have a good race. Coming back to the same race year after year can offer a unique opportunity to focus on different goals.
The Advertisement - Continue Reading Below, my aim was simply to experience the amazing course that I’d heard so much about. But then, as the race progressed and I was feeling good, I picked up the pace and ended up missing three hours by just a couple of minutes.
Naturally, my goal the following year was to come back and run it faster. I found myself visualizing Hurricane Point in my training runs, eagerly anticipating the chance for a do-over. That day finally came, and Health & Injuries. But what next? After that breakthrough, I didn’t really have any drive to come back and run the course faster.
And so, on my third attempt, I didn’t have any goal in mind. I finished almost a half-hour slower, but that extra time was spent looking around, taking in the unbelievable scenery and chatting with other runners on the way. It was a really nice change of pace.
Then, last year, I got it into my head that running an 80-mile week would be a good idea. Sure, the elites run well above that week in and week out, but for me, it was a challenge. I was nervous at the starting line, standing there with sore legs and hoping that I hadn’t done something dumb, but the run went smoothly.
This year, I’ll once again have a time goal, but it’s a different type of time goal: make sure not to run too fast. My goal marathon this spring—the Kentucky Ale Horse Capital Marathon—falls three weeks after Big Sur, so I’ll be using the 26.2-mile trip to Carmel as my last long training run in preparation for Kentucky.
Runner’s World coach Budd Coates warns, “Despite trying to take it ‘easy,’ when you pin on a race bib and line up with hundreds of others trying to race as fast as they can, you’re bound to go faster than you would on a regular training run on your own or with your pals.” I’ve fallen into that trap many times myself, but am determined not to let it happen again. So, while my goal might sound unconventional, it’s one that I’m taking seriously, and intend to hit.
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Robert is training in preparation for the 2017 Big Sur International Marathon with Runner’s World VIP. To learn how you can be part of the RW VIP program, click here.
Robert is the former Executive Producer for Runner’s World Online. He has run over 60 marathons with a personal best of 2:52:11.
