RW Forum Six – Sub 3.30

congrats Sarah, you're a bit speedy for me but I'll still look in, as the advice given should be transferable to slower target times. 

Sarah - very well done, you really deserve this and you have a top mentor there too!

Congratulations Sarah!! What fab news!! Woo woo!! And Minni is going to be amazing as a mentor!!

Will be watching with interest!!

Here is Sarah's pitch with her pbs:

Have you been shunned by Asics? Yes

Stuck in a training rut? Yes although i didnt realise this until I joined the 3:30 thread.

Got a marathon place? VLM 2013

Busy busy busy and no time to train?? Extremly busy and now I have even less time due to having to catch up with jobs I didnt do over the last week due to trying to win a competition which appeared to not be winnable!

???As alot of you are aware im an ASICS 26.2 reject, however I do still have a spring marathon to run and do still want to achieve my aim of a sub 3:30. Having spoken to many of you already on here, I can not think of anything I would want more than to be coached/mentored by one of you......to achieve my aim and show the ASICS team that I didnt need them in the end!

I started running just over two years ago, initially to keep fit and destress after qualifying to become a doctor but later i also did it for enjoyment and satisfaction. As my love for running grew, I started to enter races and joined some running clubs. My running has improved over the last couple of years and my race times have quickened but I would like them to become quicker still. My parents were both good runners (I won't bore you with the history again, but if your interested you can have a look at my long thread under vote SO4) and I feel like I live in their shadows at times. When I go to races in Sheffield people expect me to be as good as my mum, but I'm far from this at the moment. My mum is supportive (saying she had alot more time to train than me) but my dad torments me saying I will never achieve their PBs. This is were I'm hoping forum 6 comes in. Not only will they help me achieve my goals and show ASICS 26.2 that I don't need them, but hopefully it will also show everyone in the running community in Sheffield that I'm as good as my parents. I know I can do it...I have the genes...that together with the correct coaching/mentoring would be the perfect combination.

I do have a busy life, working at least 11-12 hour days, at least 4 days a week, playing netball 1-2 a week, constantly going to Sheffield/Newcastle at the weekends to visit friends and family....the list goes on...but I'm also a very determined and focused individual who will give at least 110% into everything she does.

My current PBs are
5k 20:28 (on the track at boot camp, not a race)
10k 43:21
Half 1:35:54
Marathon 3:47:45 VLM 2012 (with an interrupted training plan due to illness).

seren nos yn canu wrote (see)

Sarah...........You can do what i did and beat your mentors PB

That's what worries me!

Mr Puffy wrote (see)

I wonder what the approach to overall mileage will be as opposed to the Asics plans?

I think the mileage in the Asics plans is way too high.  I'm sure you can run a marathon off 1 run per week....

So, I think Sarah has huge potential and her times are really good.  I'm not going to mention that her 5k is fast than mine   Oops I just did!  The 1:35 half shows that 3:30 should be well within her grasp so long as she gets the endurance side right. 

I guess the hardest thing will be fitting in work and other sporting commitments but it can be done.

Sarah what races do you have lined up?  Is netball every week and will this continue? 

Finally, a bit of background about me.

I am not a coach and have not undertaken any training in this department! 

I have been running for lots of years now and ran my first marathon in 2003 - 3:43.  I thought all I had to do was keep running and I'd get quicker over the distance but 2010 brought yet another one just over the 3:30.   I then changed my training completely (actually I just started to train properly) and with the help of Dubai Dave in 2011 finally cracked the 3:30.   I'd decided if I got sub 3:30 it would be my last marathon but then realised I could probably go quicker and signed my life over to Moraghan and my marathon PB is now 3:20.

Everything I know I've learnt from the girls and guys on the sub 3:30 and sub 3:15 threads, Moz and through experience.

Right, over to you Sarah...

Minni you are obviously not drinking enough if you are still up at this hour !!

I've had four hours sleep.

Dear god woman .... I have that as an afternoon nap 

Well done Sarah....

Day one....bottle of red

Day two...double session...bottle of white at lunch, red in the evening

Day three...recovery drink,  resolve

Day four....long drink...2 bottles of red

Well done Sarah- again you are too speedy for me, but as a fellow medic, some of the issues are the same. I'l tag along if I can.

Off to the gym now for LSR on tready- it's waay too stormy for a proper LSR.

yeeee haaaaaa Sarah . You are one lucky lady. I'm so happy you made it. Crikey, it means we have to keep two sub 3:30 threads going .

haha, AA - that's the spirit

we'll manage Chick!

Not sure Sarah has made it back from last night's party yet....