Do you mind sharing what your training paces were?
I tried to stick to what Pfitz prescribed which was 10-20% above GMP for long and medium long runs. 15-25% above GMP for easy runs. I had a few long MP race runs which really boosted my confidence. I did those around 8mm which was faster than I actually wanted. I had actually started with a goal marathon pace of 8:10mm, but after the cutoff this year I realized that it was not going to cut it (lol). So I upped my GMP to 8:05mm which would have put me with a 3:32, I think.
I think I hit one of the Lactate Threshold tempo runs at my goal pace of 7:52. The rest of them did not go as planned. I sucked running fast in the early morning when I had to do them. I did intervals at 5K pace which was 7:14mm. I had one failed interval run, but the rest of them I hit just at 7:14.
Edit: I was definitely unnerved sometimes when I saw how fast some of the moms in my running group (with the same goal as me) would do their long/medium long runs. But I knew that I was running high mileage and I should save my energy for the tempo/interval runs.
More info than you probably wanted.
The bolded is such a great point for anyone thinking of doing Pfitz. I did my long runs at a much faster pace this time around, because I was doing zero speed work anywhere else. Long runs were my speed work (I am not suggesting this to anyone, I was just lazy & had no interest in doing a Pfitz plan again. LOL) When I did Pfitz, I was usually 45-50 seconds slower than MP. It's not the mileage, but the intensity of the Pfitz plan that really makes you have to stick to those paces & truly take the long runs slow. It's definitely a bit of a mental game to really be able to trust it though, so good for you!
Do you mind sharing what your training paces were?
I tried to stick to what Pfitz prescribed which was 10-20% above GMP for long and medium long runs. 15-25% above GMP for easy runs. I had a few long MP race runs which really boosted my confidence. I did those around 8mm which was faster than I actually wanted. I had actually started with a goal marathon pace of 8:10mm, but after the cutoff this year I realized that it was not going to cut it (lol). So I upped my GMP to 8:05mm which would have put me with a 3:32, I think.
I think I hit one of the Lactate Threshold tempo runs at my goal pace of 7:52. The rest of them did not go as planned. I sucked running fast in the early morning when I had to do them. I did intervals at 5K pace which was 7:14mm. I had one failed interval run, but the rest of them I hit just at 7:14.
Edit: I was definitely unnerved sometimes when I saw how fast some of the moms in my running group (with the same goal as me) would do their long/medium long runs. But I knew that I was running high mileage and I should save my energy for the tempo/interval runs.
More info than you probably wanted.
I know I'm not the one who asked for it but this was super helpful.
Wow. This is so inspiring. I often wonder when people do such amazing things if they can really see how awesome they are. I mean, I just read your recap as this awe-inspiring story. A BQ is so unattainable for most people - it is SUCH a big deal. You train your butt off, then run so fast for so long. What it feels like to actual DO that is just inconceivable to me.
I really hope you take the time to pat yourself on the back, rockstar!