Marathon #5 Training Complete

While this was supposed to be the year I would start running multiple marathons, I will have to settle for one in 2012...my fifth in five years.  My average training pace is not on par with my previous two, but is slightly better than 2009 with a similar week-to-week progression.  I have definitely run the miles necessary to prepare me for the Malibu Marathon, but, even though I did break my half marathon PR earlier this year, I am not expecting to do so on Sunday.  I will be exceptionally happy if I break 3:40, especially considering that this course is uphill trending from miles 18 through 24.

10/13-10/20: 46.65 @ 8:46/mi
10/21-10/27: 36.67 @ 8:31/mi
10/28-11/03: 30.15 @ 8:18/mi
11/04-11/10: 20.22 @ 8:13/mi
Average training pace for month: 8:31/mi

Month before the Surf City Marathon in 2011:
01/09-01/15: 45.49 @ 8:17/mi
01/16-01/22: 36.42 @ 8:27/mi
01/23-01/29: 30.02 @ 8:06/mi
01/30-02/05: 20.26 @ 7:40/mi
Average training pace for month: 8:11/mi
Average race pace: 8:13/mi

Month before the Los Angeles Marathon in 2010:
02/21-02/27: 45.41 @ 8:47/mi
02/28-03/06: 36.16 @ 8:23/mi
03/07-03/13: 30.11 @ 8:08/mi
03/14-03/20: 20.17 @ 7:59/mi
Average for month: 8:24/mi
Average race pace: 8:22/mi

Month before the Long Beach Marathon in 2009:
09/13-09/19: 45.74 @ 8:51/mi
09/20-09/26: 39.09 @ 8:33/mi
09/27-10/03: 29.06 @ 8:24/mi
10/04-10/10: 20.29 @ 8:03/mi
Average pace: 8:33/mi
Average race pace: 8:31/mi

It is worth noting that, up until the 23+ miler I ran exactly four weeks ago, this was to be my first marathon wearing minimalist running shoes.  I have not worn my traditional running shoes much over the past few months...over 90% of my marathon training miles were divided between my Merrell Trail Gloves and Vibram Five Fingers Treksports.  That said, I spent this final week of training breaking in my first pair of traditional Asics Kayano 18s, perhaps why this week's pace did not show a similar week-to-week improvement as I have seen in previous years.

Though minimalist shoes have completely eliminated any issues I have had with plantar fasciitis, knee, or hip joints, they have aggravated a pain I have been experiencing in my right ankle.  This tenderness dates back to a snowboarding injury I sustained long before I resumed running...a pain that used to only surface during my longest runs (starting with the Long Beach Marathon, but now present most of the time).  Any issues I experience become harder to ignore on longer runs, so I have decided to wear Kayanos for tomorrow's race.  I have worn Kayanos for all of my marathons.