Behind the Result: Taka Hoy’s 3:28 to 3:19 Marathon

First off, congratulations on sub 3:20!  How’d the race play out? What was your PB going in? Was that something you were shooting for or did you have a magical day? 

 Thanks so much! Calgary was an exciting race to run, as I’ve never ran a marathon in my home city before. I felt good right away, so I knew the first challenge would be to keep my pace in check, so I tucked in with a pace group until about 15k in. A good portion of the race is an out and back along the river, and I knew I was going to have a tail wind on the way home. I started feeling it with about 8k to go, so decided to focus on effort and form over pace, which I think keeps the confidence up later on in a race. My PB was 3:28 before, and I had kind of arbitrarily set 3:20 as my goal this build. I think knowing I was so close to my goal throughout the race kept me pushing through the pain cave and across the line, and to squeak in just under 3:20 was the cherry on top.

What changes did you make in this build compared to your last? 

The main changes I made this build was being connected to a training group, and actually cutting down quite a bit on my weekly mileage. Being a part of M2M helped me be more consistent in incorporating workouts, and to push myself by chasing people down, or seeking feedback from the coaches. With respect to mileage, because of my schedule, I was only running on average 4 times a week. As a result, I had to be more thoughtful in how I would lengthen my mid-week runs, and inject harder efforts on my long run. I think overall this build was less about mileage, and more about making my time running count, which definitely was made easier by having a team to run with. 

How long have you been with the Calgary group and how have you found managing training with your day to day life? 

 I joined M2M last spring and I’ve been doing the general monthly workouts which are a great fit for my budget and schedule. I find that especially when I get into the groove, running begins to feel like a natural part of the routine. That being said, this build I was able to be a lot more flexible and forgiving when I couldn’t get a run in which I built a pressure free mindset. That way running stays fun, instead of feeling like more of a burden.

Fishing for a testimonial quote here, but what has it been like being a part of the Mile2Marathon community? 

 I really appreciate being a part of M2M because you’re surrounded by like-minded people who push you when your legs are feeling heavy, and can laugh with you afterwards. We meet not just for workouts – but for long runs, trail runs, and post-run beers. I’ve never worked with a running coach before either, so just having that level of knowledge at your disposal is really special. The post-workout freezies aren’t bad either!

I find it so interesting to hear how people discover Mile2Marathon; I’m curious as to what sparked your initial interest into M2M, and if can you offer any words of advice to those sitting on the fence? 

 I heard about M2M through Bridget who is one of the amazing coaches in Calgary and who I knew through the general running community here. She’s the one who initially encouraged me to show up, which I admit I was nervous to do so! When I did, I was so glad. So I would encourage anybody who has even considered it, it’s worth taking the leap because the community is so friendly, and the improvement to your fitness is honestly impressive.

Lastly, what’s up next for you? Any races on your horizon? 

The main reason why I signed up for the Calgary marathon in the first place was to train for some longer trail runs this summer including Skyline trail in Jasper National Park this July! Race-wise I might sign up for some 5k’s in the summer and fall as I really haven’t raced shorter distances much and I’m hoping to build more speed.