My A, B, & C Goals for Twin Cities Marathon

Only 3 more days until the Twin Cities Marathon!

I’m scared. I’m nervous. I’m at the point where I just want to start running and for it to be over. I did an easy 6 miler this morning. It felt fine, but I’m not ready to rock-and-roll quite yet. Just two more easy runs before Sunday, and then I’ll be ready! (Right?!)

I’ve talked about having more than one goal for your races in this post, so I thought I would share what my A, B, and C goals are for the Twin Cities Marathon. I’m a big proponent of setting multiple goals for your race so if things don’t go as planned, you can still feel like you had a successful day!

Racing the Skinny Raven Half Marathon this summer in Anchorage.

If you have been following along, you know what my A goal is. It’s my big, dream goal that I have been trying to achieve for the last 4 years.

A Goal – Break 3 hours!

Plain and simple, right? That’s a 6:51 average pace throughout the entire 26.2 miles, and that’s if I run every single tangent, which is nearly impossible to do over that distance, so likely I’ll try to run just a few seconds under 6:50 during the race. Plus, there are some rolling hills on the course along with a 3-mile hill for miles 20, 21, and 22. Uff! That’s not going to be fun, but it helps prepare me mentally. The goal is on my mind every day and has pushed me through so many of the hard workouts.

B Goal – Set a new PR

In many ways, it is hard to have other goals for this race because it seems like an all-or-nothing event. I want the sub-3 so badly, but I also realize there is a lot that needs to line up on race day in order for things to go perfectly! So my B goal is to set a new PR (personal record). Right now my PR is 3:06 (with-an-asterisk) as the course was a mile short when I ran the Moose’s Tooth Marathon two summers ago. It would be nice to have an accurate PR for the marathon and not have to explain my “asterisk” each time.

C Goal – Finish the race

I’m pretty sure this is always my C goal for every marathon I run. The marathon is such a long distance to race, so any time I complete the distance, it is a huge accomplishment. Plus I would hate to say I dropped out of a race–unless something harmful to my health happened. I really struggled during Grandma’s Marathon last summer, but I did finish!

If you are interested in following my progress during the Twin Cities Marathon, download the ‘Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon’ app, and then search my name: Michelle Baxter or bib number: 3741.

I will also be posting on my Instagram account: therunnersplate.

Hi, I'm Michelle

I love running around the lakes of Minnesota, running after my two boys, and racing anything from the 5K to the marathon. I have been blogging here since 2010 when I ran my first marathon. I finally secured my sub-3 hour marathon after trying for 8 years.

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3 Comments

  1. 9.29.17
    Tom said:

    Best of luck in your marathon goals!! You are well prepared and will reach Goal A.!!

    • 9.29.17
      Michelle said:

      Thank you! I sure hope so!!