First Marathon, Lessons Learned, Next Steps

Completed my first marathon today and exactly qualified for Boston! – at least from what is shown here: https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/qualify (M 50-54)

I was using Boston as a motivator towards the end. When I saw the finish line I kicked into high gear and ran hard for the last few hundred feet. Glad I did!

Lessons learned:
– over aggressive target. I ran a half in December at 1:31:00 and just assumed I could train to do a full in under 3 hours. Too aggressive. Adding a whole minute to the pace and going for a 3:30:00 would have been safer.

*** Coaches – do you agree, or perhaps it would have been perfectly reasonable to aim higher if I trained using 80/20 from the start? Where do you “plant the flag” on this one? I basically trained from February to September.

– before 80/20, I trained mostly in moderate/high intensity. Had a lot of long, decent runs until I got injured.

– started 80/20 with 8 weeks left before the marathon. Was pleased after using the plan to do a 22 miler in good time at zone-2.

– When I ignored the training (I’m trying to adhere!) my injuries flared up and training got difficult. I kept up with it but entered the race injured.

If I had used the 80/20 plan from the start of training, maybe I would have been able to utilize the extra gas in the tank at the end of the race. I finished saying “Damn, I could of run faster the last few miles!” I suppose I had to go the distance before knowing how to obtain maximum effort from myself. I was afraid if I pushed I would of quit early.

*** Coaches – next marathon to attempt may be in the Spring. Sub-3 too aggressive?

Thanks,
Dan