SBR Utopia Season II - OPEN (Page 57)

I used to think I'd go to Kona in any way possible too--and I certainly understand why anyone would do that--but after running the numbers on the true cost, I just don't think I could justify it for my family :)

I don't know anything about Tremblant.  I really should look that up;)

Not quite the same thing for me, but I did a December marathon in 2010 and 2011 after spending June - August mostly on my bike.  Looking back on my logs, I ran 80, 57, 24 miles for those months in 2010, then tried to start my marathon training in September (basically 15 weeks).  In 2011, same scenario except I only ran 22 miles in June and nothing in July/August.

So needless to say, while I was biking a lot, my run base was not that good going in.  I felt like my training went well (45-60 mpw), I did a half marathon each year (5 weeks before the marathon) that lead me to believe I could do well in the marathon.  But come race day, both were pretty poor performances.  I felt like I lacked the sheer volume of total running, not from the 15 week training plan, but just overall volume for the whole year to run to my potential.  Hence I skipped the marathon last year, and will do so again this year. 

If you're maintaining your run volume throughout the year, you should be fine...but I learned my lesson that marathons are WAY more about your total volume over a long period of time (possibly years) and not just the 12-18 week training program.  The training program is just the race specific stuff...what you're really going to lean on for a marathon is that huge base you should have built up over time.

Not sure if you know this already, but I'm doing Kona this year via the Hawaii State Lottery (Hawaii residents who finished Honu 70.3 were eligible for a separate lottery). 

But I totally get your view as well.  It's actually the total opposite for me because as someone who lives in Hawaii, Kona is the cheapest IM available to me and sort of my "home turf."  We also don't have any other IM distance race (WTC or non WTC) that doesn't require a 3k+ mile plane trip.

If in an alternate universe...the world championships were rooted in Lake Placid instead of Kona...I'd probably feel the exact same way as you.  Especially if Hawaii had a non world championship IM that I could sign up for anytime I wanted to.

When I saw my name got picked...I was just happy for the opportunity to do an IM...and that many of my friends and family would be able to make the trip to come cheer me on.

My mind is going all the way back to the South Park - Prehistoric IceMan episode. They end up sending him to Iowa so he'd fit in with the culture better. (sorry, kind of)

I've done several variations: Honolulu Marathon (Dec 2009), Seattle Marathon (Nov 2010), IM Western Australia (Dec 2011).

I really don't have much trouble getting motivated to run.  But re-doing the bike buildup - since I also raced IMCdA June 2011 - was trying my patience.  If you look at the running as a year-round thing, it's not really a big deal.  And if you're doing marathon distance, you really SHOULD be running year-round.

Side note: a marathon in Seattle in November is one of the stupidest things ever conceived.  I'll do more late races, but not that one.

*snerk*

That is awesome! 

There's nothing wrong with being a princess, and if my parents wanted to roll me like that, I would let them EVERY time :)

I cannot even fathom no AC.  And I keep the house fairly warm at 81 (80 is just too cold for me)

Good to hear from you Neil.

For a second I was worried that you were suggesting that you were going to spend less time riding your bike and thought we might have to have an intervention.  

Been lucky there too. Last year it was like 94, but saw 103 the day before and similar on a lot of the days leading in.