This marks the beginning of week 9 - half way through our 18 week training program! Holy cow - we can't believe how much we've accomplished. While it may be passe to those of you who have done it before, for us - it's a new level of self discipline and accomplishment.
I appreciated all the information that everyone shared when I was preparing to run my first 14-miler. I am happy to report that I did it - and Rich completed his first 12 miler - on a nice, cool and slightly misty day (thank gawd) on vacation in Stowe, VT. I felt great and finished with a decent pace (9:31) - feeling like I could have kept going.
However, a week later (yesterday), we had another long run. I had to go 15 and Rich had to run 13. We decided to take advantage of our last day of vacation to do our run together. After spending a week's vacation with my brother - who's a 2x marathoner - we heeded his advice and pre-planned our route, drove it and dropped off Gatorade and GU (yes, we're back on the GU) at strategic spots, and took off.... AT NOON... ON AN 80+ DEGREE DAY... LIKE IDIOTS (that was not part of Ken's advice!).
So ... the heat was tough. The sun was out and a good portion of the hilly route was without shade. Rich dropped me off two miles out, then I met him and we did 13 together. At our first stop at mile 6 (4 for him), I was almost in tears wanting to get out of the sun. But I persevered... at our second stop (mile 11/9), I was in pain in my hips and back. I had not finished my bottle of Gatorade yet and I probably didn't drink enough.
We took off, encouraging each other that we only had 4 miles to go - easy, right? We do 4 miles all the time. Rich seemed to have a faster pace than I did so I told him to go ahead. He took off - looking great. I, on the other hand, hit THE WALL. I was in so much pain from my hips to my knee that I stopped and walked more than once. I rarely, if ever, stop and walk. I was walking down hills.
By the time I hit 15 miles I was unsure of whether or not I had really run the right amount of miles, I was a bit confused of how to get home (we were in Rich's hometown) and I was crying in pain. I stopped - I had made it - but I could not get comfortable no matter what. Only after some Advil, painful stretching, a leg massage (from my mother-in-law!) and about 45 minutes, did the pain stop.
I've never experienced this before. Ken (my brother) said he and his running partner Karen also had horrible, painful 15 mile runs when they trained for their last marathon. But he reassured me that it was the only bad run like that - for whatever reason - and that all of their longer runs were fine.
Then, today Rich sent me this article. Have you ever hit "the wall?" Got any advice for avoiding it again?
Half way there... getting past "the wall"
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7 comments:
I think we have all been there, the dreaded horrible run. The late start, hot day likely contributed a lot. The hills also probably hurt your knees and hips (downhills can be very bad). Chalk it up to a bad run and leave it behind you.
When training for my 1st Half last year I had a similar experience due to heat/humidity and hills on my 1st 12 mile run. It wasn't the wall, more like BAD dehydration.
Unfortunately I let it get it my head and it negatively impacted my training for the next two months. It taught me that bad runs are a normal part of the process.
Are you drinking your Gatorade diluted? Are you taking Gu with Gatorade?
Continued good luck with your training.
Thanks for the feedback ctbamafan. I usually drink a ton - but after the first stop my stomach was so full from the GU, water and Gatorade that I felt weighed down - and I think I stopped drinking due to that.
We are reading "The Marathon Method" and he talks a lot about NOT diluting your Gatorade - that years of research have gone into it, etc. What is the reason that you do it, if you do?
Thanks again for the reading and encouragement and advice.
Stubmled across your site by chance. Think it's great what you are doing!! I'm running the Dublin Marathon also and I'm really dedicated to doing myself justice.
I've only started running this year, Belfast (in May) was my first ever marathon.
P.S - "the wall" totally sucks, trust me:)
Graeme - so cool! We are going to have to have a Dublin after-marathon meet up - we met another woman on Twitter who is also running. if you're there - we're @trainin4dublin - let's make a plan; that would be so cool!
Okay, after much searching on the internet for info on diluting Gatorade, it appears that the info we received at the VT Marathon Expo may have been less than clear.
All of the info I could find discussed was geared towards races making sure that they diluted Gatorade properly so that it would not cause gastric distress. Having received a Gatorade that was not properly diluted at a race once, I can vouch for that.
Based on the available info, I would suggest that if your body can handle Gatorade straight out of the bottle undiluted, go for it. I know Gerri and others have better luck tolerating it when it is diluted, but everyone is different. Best way to know is to experiment on your long runs so that you know what to expect during the marathon.
Congratulations on finishing that 15 miler! Sometimes on those long runs - just completing, even if you have to walk - becomes the goal. You begin to train the mental part of the race when the running gets hard.
It may be the only really bad run you have. Some days it just isn't there, and other days you feel like you can fly. You just tough it through the bad ones (and sometimes even cut them short) and really enjoy the good ones.
When it gets hard, begin to work the mental part of your training whether you choose a mantra of some kind. One lesson I distinctly remember learning on my first marathon training was learning to run through the pain (and knowing the difference between long run pain and injury pain). I knew my feet would hurt - I just kept going.
Don't be discouraged. You did a great job hanging in there and finishing the run! Better days are ahead! :-)
Hey Chris - yeah that would be awesome:) You must be starting to get pretty excited now - not long until Oct 27.
My training is going pretty good at the mo. I'm so much better prepared both physically and mentally than I was in May.
I found a pretty cool website at the end of July called MapMyRun.com that lets you keep a training log - not sure if you've heard of it or used it before but it's pretty good at keeping the Motivation levels high. I have a Profile on it - http://www.mapmyrun.com/user/706221613110/ - it's free as well.
Keep up the dedication and motivation Chris!! :)
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