A few options I've considered:
A) Run it easy the whole way and take no real chances. Try and enjoy it and save the legs for a possible run at the Sugarloaf Marathon next month.
B) Take the first half easy, reevaluate, and maybe pick up the pace a little in the second half.
C) Say #$*& it, and still try to crank it and at least go for the fastest possible time.
The nice thing about A is it is safer, though there are no guarantees for the weather at Sugarloaf either. However, it's also kinda boring because it is safe, though I might not think that if I did really well at Sugarloaf.
Plan B allows a safe approach as well, but what's the point, really? I would go slow, then go faster... and for what? What would that do? Shades of gray don't really seem fitting here. I think I can pretty much remove this plan from the table.
Plan C... it's a romantic notion, but a very risky one. I don't think it's supposed to be terribly humid, so a dryer heat would make a difference. Still, 84-88 degrees is #$%@ing hot and it's asking a lot. I could run shirtless, splash water on my body every aid station, drink a lot... and I could scale it back if I felt signs of trouble coming on. Almost a reverse of Plan B. But there's that chance that everything clicks and it turns out fine and I don't need to scale it back, though that's a huge gamble, but is also appealing (if not stupid). There's also a much greater risk of blowing the engine, obviously. Huge, in fact. I remember when I ran the Vermont 100 in near 90 degree weather with very high humidity and still did well, but running at a pace that's twice as fast in a road marathon makes a huge difference.
I could still do Plan B or C and recover enough in time for Sugarloaf (if I opt to do it), but Plan C in particular would lessen the chance of me being near peak form even more on that race day and I'm already on the bubble to break three as it is.
A few of you commented on my weather post yesterday and I appreciate the insight. Please feel free to continue to share your thoughts, it's helpful to get different perspectives and hear why.
Oh yeah, I ran today. Uneventful.
Ran 3.0 miles @ 7:43/mile pace.
Paved roads.
Slightly hilly.
Lower 60s, sunny, windy.
Saucony Kinvara 2, shorts, short sleeved shirt.
