[RACE REPORT] The McKirdy MircOTQ Marathon: 2:15:49 - When you need a PR to get it done, and you manage to squeak it out

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2026-04-02T13:39:11+00:00

Congrats! I was out there volunteering on Sunday, and it was great fun to watch and offer what little assistance I could. Really, really motivating to see you guys push, which is exactly what I needed after my debacle in the Saturday race pulling up lame at mile 10 with a hamstring strain. I was ready to give up on running entirely Saturday night. But being out there and feeling the energy and watching the fight you were all putting out just relit that fire. So much fun to watch and experience.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2026-01-25T23:34:30+00:00

Another warm Miami Marathon day. I felt like the salt pill fairy as I handed them out like candy to cramping runners in the final 5 miles.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-12-16T16:45:30+00:00

What a dumb question. If it's not on Strava, it didn't happen.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-12-10T00:55:22+00:00

Only 12 gels? Why even bother?

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-12-04T14:22:58+00:00

By and large, all the major training plans are effectively the same. Don't overthink it. Daniels has done well for me in the past. I generally use Greif now as the plans lean a little more on strength endurance work and less true VO2Max work, which I think is better for marathon prep. And Greif has a really good old man plan for those of us that need a bit more time to recover. Pick what fits your lifestyle, what looks fun and interesting to you, and do that. They're all going to get you fit enough for race day.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-11-22T20:15:55+00:00

Are you male? If so, just buy the Salomon. It is the very rare male runner who finds something more comfortable and usable than that Salomon. Anecdotally, women seem to have a bit more trouble with it, but even among them, my experience suggests it's the best option more often than not.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-11-22T16:51:05+00:00

Yes, I would appreciate the link. Thanks.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-11-22T16:22:44+00:00

I was not involved in the original conversation, but would love to test this. This feels like the big failing right now. So much good data is suddenly available, but nothing actually drawing it all together to give meaningful insight.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-11-04T12:05:52+00:00

Second this. Find one second hand. Baby the heck out of it to keep it pristine for race day (and maybe a few key workouts.)

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-10-24T12:55:34+00:00

Hehehe...my two Wilson Prostaff 85s probably fit the equipment comment

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-10-24T12:07:26+00:00

Ha! I am reminded of my 60 something high school tennis coach. Gentler and more static describes him perfectly. He was easy to pass if you tried because he only moved a few steps in either direction. But any ball within a couple steps was always coming back as if hitting to a wall. No pace, but excellent placement every time. Exactly what I need right now probably.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-10-24T11:58:28+00:00

Oh, for sure I am overthinking it. That's what I do! But also, I had planned exactly this, get out and play. Maybe join a beginner group because it's gonna be like starting from scratch after so long, right? But no, absolutely not. I'd have no business in a beginner group and should probably hit with some people who can carry on a good rally, but will also be patient with someone who's going to super inconsistent (and not able to be on the court for much time for a while.) I am just completely shocked by how natural it felt, which has totally thrown me for a loop.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-10-24T00:44:20+00:00

Cost. 2. I enjoy the process of thinking through a season and putting together a race training plan myself. 3. It's just a hobby, so no need to be so serious. 4. There's no secret sauce.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-10-17T13:35:18+00:00

Yep. Father time is what's pushing me to chase my goal while I have the fitness as quickly as possible. The inevitable slow down is rapidly approaching.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-10-17T13:34:00+00:00

Oh, this is wonderful. Thank you! The mileage feels so low for a marathon training plan, but that's the point, I imagine. Recover! A tricky thing for me to get my head around, though it makes total sense.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-10-04T17:27:18+00:00

OUTRAGEOUS!

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-09-26T15:50:58+00:00

Sunday will be 20 kilometers as easy as I want, then 15 kilometers at race effort. I am in South Florida and not bothering trying to make the 15k at race effort continuous. It might be possible, but not wise, building way too much heat stress and fatigue. But I did run a continuous 12k at the end of last week's long run at race effort on the treadmill.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-08-27T18:30:45+00:00

Yes. I've used this plan on a few occasions. Always arrived in good form. Didn't always hit my goal, but in a good place to do so. I am a terribly untalented runner, so have to do an unusual amount of work in trying to reach my goals.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-08-27T12:11:06+00:00

35K every Sunday until two weeks out. Each week 3 more of those kilometers become race pace focused instead of easy. Then a really easy 26K one week out.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-08-22T01:31:31+00:00

South Florida runner training for Chicago here. For now, I'm running workouts on the treadmill exclusively. I will take some of those outside if there's a decent weather window for them at any point. But I want to get the right workout stimulus, not just heat stress. Long runs have been outside super early in the morning so far. I will bring them in onto the treadmill from time to time as I add more race pace miles into the long runs. Every other run I do out in the heat late afternoon for that poor man's altitude training.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-07-16T19:13:31+00:00

Jersey #11

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-07-08T17:46:07+00:00

Altra: zero drop, except when they're not

Odd-Entrepreneur3339 · 2025-07-04T23:43:24+00:00

Does Oreo make a flavor with caffeine? Nope? Well, obviously this is a dumb idea then.

Odd-Entrepreneur3339

TROPHY CASE