Sheet theory applies to humans as well, no?
In his maiden race, the 2010 Surf City Marathon, Ace came home in a respectable 3:57:01, not bad for a first time starter. After an 18 month layoff due to minor injuries, he came back with an impressive 3:54:02 over the difficult San Francisco Marathon course. Then, wheeling back in just 8 weeks for the 2011 Long Beach Marathon, he tired badly at the end to finish in a disappointing 4:05:47.
Now training smartly and entered in the 2012 Los Angeles Marathon, the question for sheet players is, now that the bounce is out of the way, with five months between races, do you play him for a pair up, a new top, or further regression?
Congrats on your achievements.
I tried jogging once, but the ice cubes kept flying out of my drink
Hey! Soda in keyboard. Warn people before you say things like that!
Ace: new top! Good luck!
Classic...
Hi Ace,
I am the owner, trainer, and runner of a one-man marathon stable. Because of my small number of starts, think of me as the H. Allen Jerkins of the circuit.
Training smartly? I hope you are taking LSD works: long slow distance, with at least two or three 20-mile gallops. And you should be varying your training regimen. Don\'t go out on the morning track doing the same slow gallops at the same distance. A few tighteners, perhaps a couple of 5-milers (breezing) will increase your overall pace. An occasional blowout on the track of four or five 400-meter loops (hg) will surely trim some time off your performance.
Remember that according to the sire info available, older marathoners don\'t make substantial new Thorograph tops after a certain age. This varies. One of my runners got pretty fast in his fifties, but has of course slowed down since.
Also, consider blinkers. The constant distraction of other runners alongside, particularly if they are overweight and having trouble (bo, bi), can discourage you from moving up.
Another point: The rail is always best at this distance. Unlike the thoroughbred tracks, the marathon courses offer you the chance to cut corners and save precious time at the end.
Finally, also unlike the thoroughbred venues, the marathon courses offer the possibility to hear cheering thousands all along the route and not just at the finish. If you have other investors or stable owners who come to the race to see you run, have them position themselves at crucial points along the race, preferably after the halfway mark, when you need the boost that their cheering can give you, which your prerace Lasix didn\'t.
And from a still-competitive 71-year-old horse (no, not gelded) in training (although there were no offers at the last Fasig-Tipton sale), try to stay calm as you enter the starting gate. A marathoner already flecked with sweat all over his neck before he goes into the gate is a sure sign he\'ll have trouble in the later stages.
I don\'t know your age, so I can\'t properly handicap your chances, but I\'m willing to at least use you under in the exotics, figuring you are 50-50 for a new top.
Good luck,
Mike
So...at the (human) marathon distance, 1 TG point = ~105 lengths, right? Eh, someone else can handle the chart calling duties -- I\'ll be taking a nap that day.
Very funny, Mike. Richeebee has a little competition for Forum Comedian, it seems.
Laughing out loud! Hilarious.
LOL - well done!
Thanks for the advice Mike. Today\'s morning workout was 2:28:48 3/5 for 128 furlongs, breezing, in company. As far as my age, I\'m 48 and think I still have a new top in me. And I hope to still be running when I\'m your age.
Not sure where in the bloodlines the stamina comes from, but my twin sister who lives on the Upper West Side has several NYC Marathons under her belt.
I like the idea of blinkers, not because of the overweight struggling runners, but for all the fit So Cal women that run these races.
Ace