Going into this morning's run, I was apprehensive about adding almost 2 miles to my previous personal distance record (13.25 miles). It had taken me months to build my long runs from 5 miles to 10 miles. Therefore, it didn't seem realistic to add 1-2 miles each week for the remaining duration of my marathon training. Many experienced runners had all assured me that once you got to this point in your training, that an additional couple miles would not be a big deal. Admittedly I was skeptical. But it turns out they were right!
The run felt great this morning. It was a beautiful, breezy, sunny day with temperatures in the mid-70s. Normally during my long runs I store water and GU inside my mailbox in my building lobby. Then I run various loops near my building so I can come back whenever I need to for hydration, etc. Today, however, I changed my route up for some variety. I decided to carry some GU with me and rely on neighborhood water fountains for hydration. It worked out well, and I really enjoyed being able to explore a much, MUCH wider radius of surrounding neighborhoods while running.
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| OK, maybe not THAT much wider of a radius. But a woman can dream, right? |
A couple other training notes from this morning's 15-miler:
- My usual practice during long runs has been to take a GU about every 3.5 miles. I knew this was on the higher-frequency end of the GU-consumption spectrum, but I was paranoid about getting worn out from not fueling enough. Today I experimented with taking a GU every 4.5 to 5 miles, and felt fine. Now I know that maybe I don't need to take GUs quite as frequently as I did in the past. Since the cost of GU can add up quickly, this is really good for the pocketbook.
- After finally having had enough with my SPI belt, combined with Irina's thoughts and positive feedback, I bought an iFitness double-pouch running belt. I gave it a go this morning and it is fantastic! It's so much more durable, efficient, and well-designed than the SPI belt. Highly recommended! I'm officially retiring my SPI belt from running and will now use it just as a money belt when traveling. Thanks again, Irina!
- I started feeling tired around mile 10 and thought that things would just go downhill from there. But, I ended up getting a second wind around mile 12, which carried me through. At the end, I actually felt like I could have even gone another few miles. It was such a confidence booster!
On that last note, many people might make snap decisions when they are feeling emotional, intoxicated, or ambidextrous.
I have certainly been guilty of making decisions without thinking them through, due to all of the above conditions. Today I added another decision-accelerating condition to the list: I make snap decisions after good training runs.
As I'd mentioned here, I have been debating back and forth on whether or not to run the Mad Dash to Madison. I was so charged up after my 15-miler that in a frenzied fit of post-run exhilaration, I gleefully signed up for it without giving it another thought. Go Blackhawks!!! (I would cue Chelsea Dagger here, but for the sake of everyone's sanity other than my own I'll try to contain myself until hockey season starts.)
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| "I feel so good right now that I will sign up for enough races to span all 50 states, all 7 continents, and every star in the Milky Way Galaxy!" |
While I was in race-registration frenzy mode, I was also thisclose to signing up for the ZOOMA Great Lakes Half Marathon. I know/follow the blogs of several of the race ambassadors (Hi Kim, Bobbi, and Maggie!), and this race takes place in a gorgeous Wisconsin area which I visited many times with my family growing up. My hesitation about this race, though, is the occurrence just a few weeks after the Chicago Marathon. (Same thing with the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon, which I am still dying to run, but at this point probably will not do until next year.)
Fortunately or unfortunately, conservative rationalism did get the better of me at that point. And I reluctantly stopped before clicking any more "Confirm" buttons.
Sigh.
Note to self for future reference:
Keep the computer locked away for at least three hours after training runs. This will allow some time to come down from any runner's high and resume somewhat-rationale thinking. Otherwise risk a torrid spree of new race registrations that the body may not be able to handle.
No regrets whatsoever on signing up for Mad Dash, though. None at all.
But the Great Lakes Half? Seriously, folks, thisclose... thisclose...
Congratulations on the PDR! I did my first run farther than 13.1 last weekend and it went well. Hopefully the rest go well ... as does the Marathon.
ReplyDeleteI got really close to registered for the 2013 Warrior Dash. They had a really great price a couple weeks ago and a bunch of my friends were registering. I was doing a good job not registering (I've done one obstacle race and it's not really my thing) but then my best friend posted that she registered and I got really close to registering myself. BUT, I don't register for races that I don't 100 percent want to do. Because I already spend enough time + money on the races that I DO want to do.
Thanks, Maggie! I hope that the rest of our long runs and the Marathon go well for both of us, too! How is your husband enjoying the marathon training experience?
DeleteAh, Warrior Dash. I saw the discounted price and considered signing up for it, too - but I'm like you in that obstacle races are not really my thing either. Maybe someday in the future when it's time for a change...
Hooray! I'm so happy your long run went well.
ReplyDeleteNow, go do your yoga :-P
Thanks, Erin! It sounds like your long run with Kim went very well this past weekend, too! Woo hoo!
DeleteYes, time to do my yoga. =D Will have to talk to you more about where you go swimming, too, the next time we get together.
Way to go! A new PDR! I remember that running more than 15 was a big mental block for me during my first full training cycle. If you've done 15, trust me, you can do 26.2.*
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy! I remember you sharing with me before that marathon training is just as much, if not more, about mental training as it is the physical training. You are so right! Thanks so much again for the great advice and support!
Delete15 miles! Wahoo! So glad you had such a great long run! (and that you took so many lessons home from it - I remember when I finally figured out your last bullet point, and that will serve you well to remember in the future. Just because you feel like crap at some point in a long run (and you usually will) doesn't mean the rest of your run is doomed. I still remind myself of that one often...)
ReplyDeleteoh, and ZOOMA GL - do it!! :)
DeleteThanks, Bobbi! Indeed, note to self knowing that things don't always head straight downhill during those dark moments in a long run. Thanks for helping to put this realization into a succinct format and I will SO be reminding myself of this on a frequent basis, that's for sure!
DeleteThe ZOOMA GL, ahhhhhh!!!!!!! Big sigh on the timing just three weeks after Chicago!!!!!
Congrats on the distance record! In March I went on a race sign-up spree, in order to get early registration discounts. Then I got injured in April, and had to miss three races due to an injury. There went all those $'s down the drain! Sometimes signing up too early isn't worth the few bucks you save.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pete!
DeleteI totally, totally hear you on the early-registration discount spree. I've been very tempted to sign up for races a good year or more in advance to take advantage of the good prices. In fact, I signed up for RnR Pittsburgh 15 months in advance! But I do get nervous about injuries and things that might come up, especially since I have lingering knee and hip issues. You make a very good point that a sense of certainty about race readiness can be worth the extra few dollars!!! (Translation: I can still sign up for the ZOOMA GL Half if I'm feeling good after the Chicago Marathon, woo hoo! =D )
Sorry to hear about the knee and hip issues. Hope they resolve themselves soon. Yes, if you rock the Chicago Marathon and are feeling good afterwards, then you can always pull the trigger on the ZOOMA Half at that time.
DeleteI am sorry also to hear about the injuries you had back in April that caused you to miss three races. That is so frustrating! What injuries did you have? Regardless, I am glad that you are back up and running (literally and figuratively) now! What future races do you have on the calendar?
DeleteI rolled my ankle (partial tear of the Achilles tendon) on an easy run right before the Boston Marathon. The doctor told me to take four weeks off. Luckily, he was right, and it got better. Problem is that in taking four weeks off from running, it took me an additional two months after my layoff to get back my race fitness. Coming up I have the Chicago Half in September and then the Chicago Marathon in October. Fingers crossed that I will be 100% for both of those!
DeleteYesss I'm so glad that you like the running pouch!!! It's so comfotable right? And everything fits :) Yay!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 15 miler!!! Amazing. I haven't run more than 1 mile since the RnR half and I miss running so much :( My legs need to heal though, so no regrets. Unfortunately, I won't be able to run until late August when I return from Russia, and then I'll hit the ground running...literally.
I do that all the time...reach the 'Confirm' page but wimp out and not register. But the Zooma half...oh man...I'll register if you do!!
The iFitness pouch ROCKS. It is SO much better than my SPI belt. And you are awesome for clueing me in to it as an option!
DeleteI totally understand the feeling of wanting to run, but also wanting to heal aches and pains. It's a very frustrating feeling but it does also feel really good to run pain-free! And it's great that you have your trip to Russia to keep you busy during this time, too!
Oh man, more incentive to sign up for the ZOOMA half!!! To be continued... let's see how things feel for both of us come October!!! =D
Congrats on the PDR! Also really happy you were able to find a better pouch to hold your gu. The fueling thing is tricky- for training runs I'll take 1-2 max for up to 22 miles, but in a race, I'll take one every 4-5 miles. And you're right- they add up quickly in price! Seems like you figured out a good nutrition plan.
ReplyDelete2 months from yesterday is the Chicago Marathon!! Woot woot! You've totally got this :)
So happy that your new PDR went so well! I bet having a different route really helped! And getting that second wind! Impressive!
ReplyDeleteI am very familiar with the sign up high after a decent run. A lot of people are doing Chicago and ZOOMA. Here is why you should do it: a ton of us (10-12 women) are renting a house for Friday and Saturday and hanging out after the race; cooking, eating, chilling. It's going to be a blast. We have space for two more people to stay there (I think about $75 for room for the whole weekend). It's going to be a blast... :) :) :) Let me know ;)