Marathon thread

[taz157]

I competed in my first 5K on Thursday night.  It was a mix of running and walking (more walking than running), and I finished in just over 50 minutes.  For someone who didn't train for it all, I thought I did a decent job.  Today is the first day that I haven't been in too much pain (shin splints and just sore) since it ended Thursday night.  I joked with a co-worker on Friday that I felt like a little old lady (walking slowly but got faster the more I moved).  Saturday I was still pretty sore and walked somewhat slowly.  Today is much better.

Who knows?  I may try to walk and run more as I would like to lose a little weight.  One of my friends has done 5Ks and I think 10Ks, and she's lost quite a bit of weight.  It's also something I could do with my DD while she's in her stroller or leave at home when DH is home.  We shall see! 

PS - I did it because several other of my co-workers were doing it too.

[NancysSummerSip]

Jul 19, 2015 16:59:26 GMT -5 taz157 said:

I competed in my first 5K on Thursday night.  It was a mix of running and walking (more walking than running), and I finished in just over 50 minutes.  For someone who didn't train for it all, I thought I did a decent job.  Today is the first day that I haven't been in too much pain (shin splints and just sore) since it ended Thursday night.  I joked with a co-worker on Friday that I felt like a little old lady (walking slowly but got faster the more I moved).  Saturday I was still pretty sore and walked somewhat slowly.  Today is much better.

Who knows?  I may try to walk and run more as I would like to lose a little weight.  One of my friends has done 5Ks and I think 10Ks, and she's lost quite a bit of weight.  It's also something I could do with my DD while she's in her stroller or leave at home when DH is home.  We shall see! 

PS - I did it because several other of my co-workers were doing it too.

Taz, that's awesome! My first 5K took me longer than that, BTW. Now you have a baseline time, and you work from here.

I'm doing the old lady crab walk with you today...two days of swim meet and I ran three miles this morning. Dayum. Not a great meet; a mix of good and bad. My 400 meter freestyle improved by 40 seconds from last year, and my 800 meter freestyle was 10 seconds better than projected (I did it in competition for the first time this weekend, so my entered time was a guess based on my 400 time). Everything else was so-so; close to entered time or worse. Not a surprise, given that I had 1,200 hard meters in there. Plus I did all the hospitality set up and breakdown. And it was over ninety degrees both days.

[steph08]

Over the last two/three weeks, I have been coming out of my hole from my pitiful half in May and running 4-5 miles at a clip. Now I have a summer cold and my head and sinuses are killing me!

One of my favorite races is next weekend, but I didn't sign up for it. It's a trail (like, woods, creeks, hills, single runner paths - not rails to trails flat) 15k. I just know I'm not in good enough shape for it this year. Oh well. I'm looking to do a 7k next month (rails to trails).

[NancysSummerSip]

Jul 20, 2015 14:50:45 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Over the last two/three weeks, I have been coming out of my hole from my pitiful half in May and running 4-5 miles at a clip. Now I have a summer cold and my head and sinuses are killing me!

One of my favorite races is next weekend, but I didn't sign up for it. It's a trail (like, woods, creeks, hills, single runner paths - not rails to trails flat) 15k. I just know I'm not in good enough shape for it this year. Oh well. I'm looking to do a 7k next month (rails to trails).

I admire you. I hate trail running of any kind. Just plain no good at it.

[Cookies Galore]

Jul 20, 2015 14:50:45 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Over the last two/three weeks, I have been coming out of my hole from my pitiful half in May and running 4-5 miles at a clip. Now I have a summer cold and my head and sinuses are killing me!

One of my favorite races is next weekend, but I didn't sign up for it. It's a trail (like, woods, creeks, hills, single runner paths - not rails to trails flat) 15k. I just know I'm not in good enough shape for it this year. Oh well. I'm looking to do a 7k next month (rails to trails).

Fun! I did a trail 10k back in December. Hard as balls but so fun!

[NancysSummerSip]

Jul 23, 2015 14:20:26 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Jul 20, 2015 14:50:45 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Over the last two/three weeks, I have been coming out of my hole from my pitiful half in May and running 4-5 miles at a clip. Now I have a summer cold and my head and sinuses are killing me!

One of my favorite races is next weekend, but I didn't sign up for it. It's a trail (like, woods, creeks, hills, single runner paths - not rails to trails flat) 15k. I just know I'm not in good enough shape for it this year. Oh well. I'm looking to do a 7k next month (rails to trails).

Fun! I did a trail 10k back in December. Hard as balls but so fun!

<<Goes off into corner, grumbling at the trail bunnies around here>>

This weekend, I need to sign up for:

August swim meet
September triathlon
September 5K
October swim meet

Oh, and make hotel reservations for our trip. Notice how all the other stuff went first.

I think Sunday needs to be a rest day, I have not taken one in awhile.

[NancysSummerSip]

A shout-out to a runner and plus-size model who made it to the cover of a running magazine. And about damned time, too.

womensrunning.competitor.com/2015/07/inspiration/meet-our-august-cover-model_43818

[flamingo]

Ratchets: The course was only ok. It started in Grant Park (cool), went north about a mile so we crossed the river twice (cool), ran through the financial district area, then along the touristy part of State Street (cool). Then, as we continued south, it sucked. We hit State St at 4.5 miles, so starting about mile 6.5 was BORING! I wish the course had gone farther north.

I say all this as someone who lives along the course (which is partly why I did it, because the course had me running right past my place). It was cool to run in the streets of Chicago, which are usually clogged with traffic. And I get why the course went South, because it's less crowded, and easier to close those streets. But overall, I was slightly disappointed. I was also disappointed in the "rock and roll" part. Very little music, except at the beginning and end. I like to run with music, and I used my headphones the entire race until mile 12.

Also, I realized when looking at my GPS late, part of my "slow" time was that I ran 13.7 miles!!  There were so many people, I was weaving around slow folks and not sticking to the center line, that I added some distance. I'm still not 100% happy with my time (I always run a little over 13.1), but now I feel even more accomplished for running even farther than necessary! 

[flamingo]

I really want to do the Vegas one. I think running down the strip would be awesome! If you do it with your friend, I'll be interested to hear how it goes.

Yeah, Chicago's would have been much cooler if we'd been on the lake front for last few miles. But NO! We were like a block away. So we got a great view of the convention center and it's parking garage, but not the lake. 

[NancysSummerSip]

I have to say (not as a complaint) that training sometimes gets old when you're old(er).

Stupid aches and pains.

Coming up: a swim meet in 2 weeks, triathlon on Labor Day weekend, possible swim meet in September (depends on the weekend it's scheduled), and a 5K at the end of September.

[flamingo]

Well, I officially did the unthinkable. I registered for my first marathon. Yep, that's right, the full distance. It's paid for and everything, so I can't back out. Wouldn't want to waste that 100 bucks!

Based on the training plan I decided to go with, I have to run 10 miles tomorrow and 5 miles Sunday. I'm pretty sure I'm up for that, but seeing the 20 mile run looming in a few weeks is freaking me out. 

WTH was I thinking?!?!?!  

[steph08]

You can do it!

It will be tough, and make sure you reign in your pace on the long runs.

[NancysSummerSip]

This is my taper week (I have a swim meet Saturday), so I went back to the high school track and just did three miles. I kinda missed that nice squooshy surface over the summer.

I will ramp it up a bit prior to my triathlon Sept. 6, then get geared up for running season. I will do my first run, a 5K, Sept. 26 while out of town.

[steph08]

I'm having trouble with motivation.

Last week, I did good. I did two 4-mile runs outside and then a 3 mile on the treadmill. 11 for the week - not bad, but nothing like before I had the baby.

This week, I've done nothing. I'm sitting debating on whether to go run at lunch, but it looks like rain and for some reason, my eyes haven't accepted my contacts the last two days and I am wearing my glasses. Running in glasses is just not fun for me. (I know these are excuses.)

I have a 7k on Saturday. I want to place in my new age group (30-34, egads). I'm thinking of starting half marathon training next week and doing one in November.

But it just doesn't excite me like it used to. I think because I used to have no responsibilities (besides work and DH and dogs) and I could just go to the trail whenever I wanted for a long run without any consequences. Now I see long runs as more time away from my kid and more of a burden on DH (not that taking care of DD is a burden for him). Then I won't be able to just lay around for two days after them either with the kid.

I do good one week, bad the next, and have fluctuated like this since the beginning of the year when I got back to training.

I just don't know how to get that motivation back. I might do something like 21 day fix to maybe get me excited about exercise again and mix it up a little.

Also, I have fallen asleep on the couch the past two nights before 9 pm. I might be suffering from post-30th-birthday depression.  

[flamingo]

Steph: Does signing up for races help your motivation? As in, hey I paid good money for that race, I better get out there?

If not, maybe you need to look into something that isn't as time consuming. I have no kids, so I can spend as much time on running as I want, but I promise after my marathon, I'm taking like 3 months off of running. I'm so over it!!

There's nothing wrong with not running if it doesn't fit into your current life. There are lots of ways to stay fit that aren't so time consuming. When I didn't have easy access to outdoor running trails, I did 30-45 minutes on the elliptical or a spin class as my go to workouts. It kept me feeling fit, but took half (or less!) the time running/training did.

Good luck!

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 12, 2015 10:56:45 GMT -5 steph08 said:

I'm having trouble with motivation.

Last week, I did good. I did two 4-mile runs outside and then a 3 mile on the treadmill. 11 for the week - not bad, but nothing like before I had the baby.

This week, I've done nothing. I'm sitting debating on whether to go run at lunch, but it looks like rain and for some reason, my eyes haven't accepted my contacts the last two days and I am wearing my glasses. Running in glasses is just not fun for me. (I know these are excuses.)

I have a 7k on Saturday. I want to place in my new age group (30-34, egads). I'm thinking of starting half marathon training next week and doing one in November.

But it just doesn't excite me like it used to. I think because I used to have no responsibilities (besides work and DH and dogs) and I could just go to the trail whenever I wanted for a long run without any consequences. Now I see long runs as more time away from my kid and more of a burden on DH (not that taking care of DD is a burden for him). Then I won't be able to just lay around for two days after them either with the kid.

I do good one week, bad the next, and have fluctuated like this since the beginning of the year when I got back to training.

I just don't know how to get that motivation back. I might do something like 21 day fix to maybe get me excited about exercise again and mix it up a little.

Also, I have fallen asleep on the couch the past two nights before 9 pm. I might be suffering from post-30th-birthday depression.  

Well, heck....it's not like you're not busy or anything, you sluggard, you. I mean, a baby requires no time or energy or anything (says the person who still wonders how anyone pushes a 10 or 20-pound human in a stroller and runs at the same time. )



I'm thinking of going back on my no more half-marathon vow. I want to run the Race For The Bay in October. A seven-hour drive for a 10K does not make a lot of sense, and they do offer a half, as well as a full and an ultra. I have an off Sunday this week (well, I have a swim meet Saturday, and I'm washing the car and doing yard work Sunday). Next weekend, I will test myself on a long run, and see how I do.

[steph08]

It's okay, y'all, I made it out for 4 miles today.



I think I just do need a change-up.

[steph08]

7k is in the books. I ran 38:02, which is about 8:41 miles. I was aiming for 9 minute/miles, so I was happy.

Until the results came out. I came in 4th in my age group, only 5 seconds out of placing.

Then the one girl that I passed at the end came in 1st in the age group that I just aged out of a week before (25-29). I was pissed because they give out railroad spikes as age group prizes and I have a silver and a bronze and I wanted a gold one, dammit!

[NancysSummerSip]

<<Hands Steph whatever spike she wants and runs>>

Finally got to see the revised results from my Saturday swim meet. Not bad. Twenty seconds faster on my 400 free, 12 seconds faster on my 200 IM, 9 seconds faster on my 100 fly (!) and two seconds faster on my 100 backstroke. Sheesh. Maybe I should have taken on one more event.

Next up: a sprint triathlon Sept. 6. Possible swim meet the weekend after that, if the host team ever gets its collective act together. Then a 5K in Delaware.

[Cookies Galore]

Great job, Steph! Though that's a pissed being that close to placing!
What 5k, Nancy?

Not much on my radar and I might keep it that way. We have a steeplechase 5k on Sunday and we are volunteering at a 10k the following weekend. I registered for a virtual bib for the Beat the Blerch 10k, so I think a friend of mine is going to organize a run for those of us who are doing the virtual. October we might register for a fun triathlon - bike, canoe, speed walk. I am also considering the Runner's World Five and Dime (5k followed by a 10k), but I might save my money. November I have a 10k and a half marathon. Then I am off to the Dominican Republic to celebrate a year of running goals met. Or at least that's what I'm calling it. :-)

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 18, 2015 13:47:45 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Great job, Steph! Though that's a pissed being that close to placing!
What 5k, Nancy?

Not much on my radar and I might keep it that way. We have a steeplechase 5k on Sunday and we are volunteering at a 10k the following weekend. I registered for a virtual bib for the Beat the Blerch 10k, so I think a friend of mine is going to organize a run for those of us who are doing the virtual. October we might register for a fun triathlon - bike, canoe, speed walk. I am also considering the Runner's World Five and Dime (5k followed by a 10k), but I might save my money. November I have a 10k and a half marathon. Then I am off to the Dominican Republic to celebrate a year of running goals met. Or at least that's what I'm calling it. :-)

Center of the Universe 5K, Magnolia, DE.

[steph08]

Your racing calendar looks pretty good, Meghan!

I think everyone should take a nice vacation to the DR for meeting their running goals!

Oh wait, I had one of those time and money suckers called a child. Shit!

[NancysSummerSip]

I usually take time off in July/August to celebrate the end of a running season. But because of triathlons and swim meets, I really didn't. And the running season starts up here right after I get back from my trip. So I figure I will have to celebrate with a nice dinner after the away 5K. Brother and his wife have suggested seafood in Baltimore, which sounds good to me. Will be either Bo Brooks or Conrad's. I want those spiced steamed blue crabs and a lobster roll. Don't care about sides or dessert. Unless you count melted butter as a side dish.

[HoneyBBQ]

Well, I had so much fun at my Oly tri I had to sign up for a half Ironman.   June 2016. 

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 21, 2015 11:14:34 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Well, I had so much fun at my Oly tri I had to sign up for a half Ironman.   June 2016. 

You know, that means you had waaaaaaaaay too much fun.

I have friends getting ready for a full Ironman. But these gals are really good. One of them is a professional triathlete. She literally gets paid to do them, thanks to a sponsor. She's also a full-time teacher. Her custom bike alone cost over $7,000.00.

[HoneyBBQ]

Aug 21, 2015 11:53:17 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Aug 21, 2015 11:14:34 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Well, I had so much fun at my Oly tri I had to sign up for a half Ironman.   June 2016. 

You know, that means you had waaaaaaaaay too much fun.

I have friends getting ready for a full Ironman. But these gals are really good. One of them is a professional triathlete. She literally gets paid to do them, thanks to a sponsor. She's also a full-time teacher. Her custom bike alone cost over $7,000.00.

Yeah, I'm not that kind of triathlete. I just have a regular road bike. I don't even have tri bars and go aero. 

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 21, 2015 14:53:40 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Aug 21, 2015 11:53:17 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

You know, that means you had waaaaaaaaay too much fun.

I have friends getting ready for a full Ironman. But these gals are really good. One of them is a professional triathlete. She literally gets paid to do them, thanks to a sponsor. She's also a full-time teacher. Her custom bike alone cost over $7,000.00.

Yeah, I'm not that kind of triathlete. I just have a regular road bike. I don't even have tri bars and go aero. 

I have a steel tri bike, and my aero bars and seat are from my previous bike (I happened to like the way they fit). You should see this gal's $7,000 bike. Everything on it was custom, all carbon and titanium components. Took seven months to amass the parts and build.

[NancysSummerSip]

OK, just signed up for my vacation 5K.

Now what to do about the month of October:

Swim meet Oct 9,10,11. Done, registered and paid for.

I'd like to head up to the Panhandle for a race, but a seven hour drive for a 10K seems like a waste. There is a half-marathon at the same event, which makes more sense. Still a seven hour drive, though.
But just over two hours away, in Sarasota, there's another half-marathon on the same weekend. FWIW, I've never been to either location.

Oh, and did I mention I swore off doing anything longer than a 10K after my last half?

Then, another swim meet south of Miami (about a two-hour drive). A long way for a one-day meet, but it sure is a nice setting. And I've met some of the folks from this pool. They come up to our meets, so it seems kinda fair to reciprocate.

[Cookies Galore]

Aug 21, 2015 11:14:34 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Well, I had so much fun at my Oly tri I had to sign up for a half Ironman.   June 2016. 

Hell yeah! Kick ass!

[Cookies Galore]

We had our steeplechase 5k this morning. I "ran" it in 41 minutes, hubs in 27. He actually finished, found me on the course, and ran with me for a bit! I knew I was going to be slow and not run at my normal pace (hills, running in grass, water pits, etc.) so I am just happy I had fun! There was a lot of tall grass so my legs are covered in scratches.