lately, my short runs have been slow. like slower than usual. so my goal for my final long training run was to run 13 minute miles. and i did average 13 minute miles. just not the way i wanted to...
before my run i was feeling crappy, but had gotten that all out of my system by mile 5. and through mile 9 i was feeling like i was born to run. my splits: 11:32, 11:00, 11:59, 12:15, 11:55, 6:45 (my watch accidentally stopped but the real time is somewhere in the 12 range, 12:16, 12:13, 12:16. obviously, i'm not at my goal pace, but i'm finding it very hard to slow myself down, even with walking breaks.
so i started making more of an effort to slow down. miles 10-11: 12:29, 12:45. it helped that i was kinda getting tired.
at this point, i started damage control. forcing more frequent walk breaks at a ratio of 3 min running to 1 min walking. miles 12-14: 13:20, 12:37, 13:02,
then mile 15 kicked me in the ass. 15:11.
at this point, i veered from my planned route. i couldn't bear the thought of anymore hills and if i had kept on going i would have to tackle 3 more, not counting the one i had no choice to run up to my house.
so miles 16 and 17, i fared much better: 13:23, 13:24. it helped that i played "til i collapse" on a continuous loop.
then came mile 18: 16:35. what happened? i stopped to stretch, a lot. and i started getting this uneasy feeling in my stomach. like i was gonna throw up. i could barely down the gu i was scheduled to take. i could barely drink anymore water. i've never felt like hurling during a run before.
so i tried to pick it up for mile 19 but during my bouts of running, i started getting dizzy: 15:30. at this point, i'm quite certain i'm dehydrated and i guess it wasn't a surprise since it was past noon and temps were in the mid to high 70s. and maybe i hadn't properly hydrated the past two days?? it didn't feel like it, but maybe PMS requires drinking more water?
if i could have stopped, i would have. but as it was i was still a mile from my house. so i trudged on, walked on. my final mile: 14:22. total time 4:20: 49.
as for my 5 gus, i alternated 3 gus (mint chocolate flavor!!! tastes JUST like brownie batter with caffeine!) and 2 powergels with 4x the sodium. as for my water, i had 1 liter in my fuel belt and i refilled at mile 11.
i don't really know what to think at this point except that 1. if i'm PMSing now, any period issues will have passed by october 21. and for that i am eternally grateful. 2. it most likely won't be as hot come race day because i will be in sf and 3. there is always something i can do about hydration. if anyone has any suggestions for race day, i'm very open to them.
so now officially begins the taper. which considering my inconsistent, lazy training, shouldn't be too hard ;) i'm undecided what "long" distance i should run next week, so any suggestions on that would be helpful too. other than that, i'm planning on yoga-ing my heart out, spinning to keep sane, and enjoying my shorter runs.
11 comments:
Great job! Way to push through that whole run. I heard once that running 20 miles in training is about what running 26 miles on race day will be like... I don't really buy it but thought I'd throw it out there. :P You got through it like a warrior and I have no doubt you'll get through the marathon! :)
You probably needed to drink more, especially with it being warm and the course hilly. It will be cool in SF but hilly, so carry water and drink often. Take andvantage of the aid stations. Sounds like you have a good nutrition strategy- you should be eating every 45 minutes or so, so stick with what you've been doing.
I'd say do 12-14 miles next week, then 8-10 the last week. I believe that was what I did for my first marathon. :)
Great job on getting it done!! That is awesome that pushed through (and by yourself too) and finished it up!
At the race, stop at each water station and drink something -- do you know what kind of replacement drink the event will have? If so, you'll know whether or not your stomach agrees with it.
I agree with Jen -- next week, 12 miles would be about standard for the first week of the taper, than after that, 8 and then the marathon!
Woo-hoo! You're gonna be so ready to rock that thing!!
great job finishing...my taper is the same...20 miles this week, then 12, 8, marathon day. (the pit in my stomach opens as I type that...)
I think the uneasy feeling in your stomach, not wanting to drink, not wanting to GU and the dizzyness were all connected to dehydration which was probably a result of PMS - at least I have similar types of symptoms.
Jess is right - take fluids at every water station. I, personally, cannot handle any sports drinks anymore, but you might want to do 1/2 sports drink and 1/2 water...
anyway, I'll stop now. Have a good recovery and enjoy your taper. (I laugh as I write that)
Now's not really the time to try something new, so my advice might not be that great - but I swear by watered down sports drink (I like gatorade orange) for hydration. I always fill the bottles I carry with half water, half gatorade.
I think you did awesome! Way to push through and I agree with Jen, I have no doubt you'll push through the marathon as well!
Hooray for you!
Actually you know what I just realized? Try SmartWater. It's plain water with electrolytes in it, like gatorade has. But it tastes and works just like plain old water, except the electrolytes up your absorption of the water.
Nice job on the long run. Sounds like you were well prepared!
TAPER TIME!
Loooove that taper!
Gu has given me stomach problems in the past. My stomach is much happier with Clif Shots. I know that switching things up this close to the race is dangerous - but have you tried any other gels?
Ouch! That sounds like it was an ordeal. Look on the bright side -- you're in the taper now! That was also a good character builder.
Congratulations on pulling through! I can't imagine what that's like, maybe one day I'll find out but you are quite the motivation :)
Now go be lazy!!!
Yeah for taper!
Great job getting your miles in!
Hi there!
I have been reading your comments on other people's blogs for awhile and thought I would stop by to say hi. It seems we are doing a marathon on the same day! (Oct 21st). I am doing Columbus, Ohio! I just ran my last 20 miler last weekend.
Good luck on pushing through the run. You didn't quit when the going got tough and that is awesome!
As for my taper, tomorrow I am doing 12 and next week 8, same as everyone else. Enjoy your taper, I'll be back to see how it's going!
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