Marathon thread

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 23, 2015 16:42:13 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

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.

Good for you for even attempting that. I hate trail running. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

For me, it's back to the track tomorrow; our local high school has a nice new running track. Soft, bouncy surface, well lit, restrooms. I know...I hate trails, but I like the track. Go figure.

[HoneyBBQ]

I <3 trail running!

There's a sprint Tri in 3 weeks. I think I can do it even though I've fallen off the training wagon for 2 weeks since my Oly. The bike is supposed to be hilly which is my weak spot. Maybe it'll be a good challenge.

[NancysSummerSip]

I wish I could learn to enjoy trail running. But I look like the Pillsbury doughboy on a trail run. Just doing the wibbly-wobbly, trying to stay steady as I avoid the uneven ground.

Looked at the weekend weather, and it looks like it could be trouble for Sunday, with TS Erika possibly heading this way. It will be a Cat 1 hurricane by the weekend. I need to do one more bike to run transition Sunday morning and get my bike in for service.

[flamingo]

I'm so tired. ALL.THE.TIME. I am sure it's because I've increased my running/training in prep for my Nov. 1 marathon and I didn't sleep real well last weekend. But, I'm officially tired of being tired! Labor Day weekend is a rest/no run weekend for me, and depending on how I feel after 16 miles this Saturday, I may take most of the week leading up to Labor Day off, too. I mean, I got up this morning, and ran 1.5 miles, did my hill work out, then ran 1.5 miles home, so it's not like I'm slacking. I'm just SO.TIRED.ALL.THE.TIME! 

Ok, whine over. 

[Cookies Galore]

You can whine. HAVING to run blows.

I should be running today but I'm meeting up with my sister instead for a happy hour before she moves back to Baltimore. I'm going to just walk to the brewery (1.5 miles away) and call it a cross-training day.

[steph08]

Marathon training is rough! The drastic increase in mileage and time spent on your feet starts to wear you down.

I am halfway through week 2 of half marathon training. So far, so good. Hoping to sign up for a race soon since that 7k seemed to give me a boost when I was slacking.

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 26, 2015 7:41:19 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Marathon training is rough! The drastic increase in mileage and time spent on your feet starts to wear you down.

I am halfway through week 2 of half marathon training. So far, so good. Hoping to sign up for a race soon since that 7k seemed to give me a boost when I was slacking.

Steph, you are planning on a Disney half, right? Or something sooner? Sorry, I cannot recall.

[steph08]

No Disney half in my sights right now (though they just came out with a Star Wars race in April in Florida and I desperately want to do it). I have to first see what my life is like when sign-up happens next month. I might register and then defer if I have to.

Right now just training for a local half in November - I ran my PR at this race in 2013.

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 27, 2015 20:09:12 GMT -5 steph08 said:

No Disney half in my sights right now (though they just came out with a Star Wars race in April in Florida and I desperately want to do it). I have to first see what my life is like when sign-up happens next month. I might register and then defer if I have to.

Right now just training for a local half in November - I ran my PR at this race in 2013.

OMG...this morning, the little tyke next door had his full Star Wars regalia on! Too cute! You reminded me of it when you mentioned the race.

I've planned out my competition year through next June...got some interesting stuff on the list.

[flamingo]

I finally got a really good nights sleep last night. This is making me feel much better about having to run on a schedule for the next 8 weeks.

The local running club here is having a 20 mile training run that mimics race conditions the weekend I'm supposed to do a 20 miler. So, even though it cost me $65, and my race isn't in my home town, I signed up. I figure 20 miles is going to suck, so I may as well do it with 400 others, on a course that has hydration stations, bathrooms along the course, and if I want it, food at the finish line. The struggle will be to run it SLOW and not at race pace. But I'm excited for it! 

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 29, 2015 15:34:44 GMT -5 flamingo said:

I finally got a really good nights sleep last night. This is making me feel much better about having to run on a schedule for the next 8 weeks.

The local running club here is having a 20 mile training run that mimics race conditions the weekend I'm supposed to do a 20 miler. So, even though it cost me $65, and my race isn't in my home town, I signed up. I figure 20 miles is going to suck, so I may as well do it with 400 others, on a course that has hydration stations, bathrooms along the course, and if I want it, food at the finish line. The struggle will be to run it SLOW and not at race pace. But I'm excited for it! 

Some of the clubs here do the 20-mile runs, too. Even in the summer. I like the heat, but that's just killer.

I did my last pre-triathlon transition yesterday, before the rains came. Cleaned up my bike and put it away. I'll start laying out my gear tonight. Race is next Sunday.

[Cookies Galore]

Aug 31, 2015 13:16:46 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Aug 29, 2015 15:34:44 GMT -5 flamingo said:

I finally got a really good nights sleep last night. This is making me feel much better about having to run on a schedule for the next 8 weeks.

The local running club here is having a 20 mile training run that mimics race conditions the weekend I'm supposed to do a 20 miler. So, even though it cost me $65, and my race isn't in my home town, I signed up. I figure 20 miles is going to suck, so I may as well do it with 400 others, on a course that has hydration stations, bathrooms along the course, and if I want it, food at the finish line. The struggle will be to run it SLOW and not at race pace. But I'm excited for it! 

Some of the clubs here do the 20-mile runs, too. Even in the summer. I like the heat, but that's just killer.

I did my last pre-triathlon transition yesterday, before the rains came. Cleaned up my bike and put it away. I'll start laying out my gear tonight. Race is next Sunday.

Oh don't give us that bug eyed face! You'll do great!

We volunteered at the Philly 10k (great race, fyi, though it is a hoy one) on Sunday. It was so nice to be on the other side of the course and cheer for all the runners as they finished. We were at the finish line and we had to make sure runners kept moving after they crossed the finish line and make sure spectators stayed out of the way. I loved it; give me a little power and I take control! One thing I didn't anticipate: So. Much. Vomit. I assume it was a combination of heat, humidity, and going balls out. We did stay until the final runner crossed and everyone left gave her a big cheer.

[steph08]

flamingo - during my marathon training, I did a 12-mile training run with my local running group, even though I wasn't doing the half marathon that they were all training for!

Meghan - Glad you had fun volunteering and stayed until the last person finished!

As for me, I didn't do my long (only 5 miles) last week. I don't know what I did to my knee but bending it and having it hold weight (like going up and down stairs or kneeling down to put things in my dresser) makes it hurt very badly and then buckle. I am going to try running today, I don't think it will be an issue since it is fine except for the kneeling/bending thing. No idea what it is or what I did to it!

[NancysSummerSip]

Oh, ducky. Another swim club scheduled a meet for 9-13. It's a one day meet, but I might just go sign up and do a few events. Good practice for my October divisional meet. I figure we will be traveling on the 19th and 20th, so those will be rest days, right?

[NancysSummerSip]

As of today, with the triathlon set for Sunday....there are four women in my competition class (Athena group, which is an age and weight class). Three of us are doing the triathlon, one is doing the run/bike duathlon. So as of now, worst I can do is third place. In my regular age group classification, there are nine competitors.
Not sure if I did the right thing picking the age/weight classification, as opposed to just age. I have mixed feelings about it when it's offered. On the one hand, I think it makes the competition more even among those of us who are not your standard skinny competitors. We're not competing against the very experienced, very good triathletes; just against people we look like. On the other hand, it singles us out as being different.

Anyhoo, I figured I'd try it once and see how I felt about it.

[NancysSummerSip]

My first sprint triathlon (and second triathlon ever) is done. Second place in my age/weight class, time of 1:44. Not fast, but with temps at over 80 degrees at the start, not unexpected. Thank goodness for cloud cover! It was a very well-managed race; the staffing was excellent, water stops numerous and everyone seemed very concerned about athletes' welfare. I had stomach cramps when it was done, though I felt fine throughout the event. A few minutes of walking and some plain water took care of them - Gatorade, even watered down, seemed to make them worse (?). I did not risk food until I got home, and then just a whole wheat bagel and a hard-cooked egg.

Very funny thing happened at the start. Three waves for the swim; I was in the third one. A gorgeous and very fit gal came running up to the starting area and she said to me, "So tell me about how this triathlon thing works."


Wait, it gets better.

She registered a few minutes before the start. Forgot to pick up a swim cap, did not bring goggles (she thought they were sold at the race) and then wondered where she should stash her running shoes so she could get them when she came in from the swim.

I explained to her this was a point-to-point swim; she was not returning to this start. (There was a humongous course map at registration, mind you). I suggested she dash to swim out, put her running shoes there and get them when she got out of the water. I'll give her credit - she did indeed make the dash and make it back for the swim start -in a teeny weeny string bikini. The rest of us, mostly looking like stuffed sausages in our triathlon gear, wanted to just toss her in.

[Jaguar]

Congrats NancysSummerSip on getting 2nd place !

[NancysSummerSip]

Thanks! Three things to add:

There was a duathlon run along with the triathlon (run-bike-run). The duathlon overall winner was an incredibly handsome guy with one arm completely gone and the other gone just above the elbow. He was injured by an IED explosion in Iraq, I was told. Dude was just outstanding. Got huge applause when he got his medal.

The woman who was on the bike rack next to me told me she has MS. So far, it has left her blind in one eye. But apparently, it has done nothing to kill her competitive spirit.

I did my run portion with a father and daughter team. I do not know how old the daughter was, but the father was 75 (I could still see the marking on his leg). We kept each other going by telling jokes. 

I tell ya, if you cannot be inspired by this stuff, something's not right.

[steph08]

Awesome job, Nancy! That woman at the start - LOL! That winner and father/daughter team are indeed inspiring!

[NancysSummerSip]

Sept 6, 2015 19:58:00 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Awesome job, Nancy! That woman at the start - LOL! That winner and father/daughter team are indeed inspiring!

The father and daughter together was cool. She told me later he really inspired her. I didn't say it out loud, but I wanted to tell her to keep appreciating her dad every second, while he was still here. My dad's been gone almost 35 years now.

And Duathlon dude was one handsome guy - tanned, blue-eyed, very fit. The ladies were all just gaga about him. Goes to show that a fine man is a fine man, no matter what.

I cannot find any photos from the event yet, but I will post some when I do. The staff that ran the even is likely off today for the holiday.

ETA: a small photo of Duathlon Dude. Not good, but you can see how fit the guy is. And he's not all that young - late forties:

[NancysSummerSip]

OK, so there's another sprint triathlon coming up...it's two days after my Thanksgiving Day four-miler.

I'm nuts to even consider that, right? Talk me outta this, somebody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flamingo]

NancysSummerSip: Just think of your Thanksgiving run as your last training workout before the race You are in great shape, I think you can handle it!

I took it easy last week, so when I ran my 4 miles last night, it felt super easy. It's also supposed to be really cool this weekend, so my 18 miler shouldn't be quite so bad on Saturday. Now that I've done 16 miles without wanting to die afterwards, I'm starting to believe I can actually do this marathon thing! 

[NancysSummerSip]

Sept 9, 2015 9:06:18 GMT -5 flamingo said:

NancysSummerSip: Just think of your Thanksgiving run as your last training workout before the race You are in great shape, I think you can handle it!

I took it easy last week, so when I ran my 4 miles last night, it felt super easy. It's also supposed to be really cool this weekend, so my 18 miler shouldn't be quite so bad on Saturday. Now that I've done 16 miles without wanting to die afterwards, I'm starting to believe I can actually do this marathon thing! 

Aaaack, Flamingo! Bad Flamingo! No, no, no. You are supposed to tell me to take plates of Thanksgiving food, sit on the couch and eat until I can no longer move!

I'm going to consider it, though. It's either this one, or one in early December in Sarasota. But December already has a lot of road races (and one final swim meet for the year) going on, too.

[NancysSummerSip]

OK, my swim meet on Sunday just got cancelled - to be rescheduled at a later date.

I'm looking for a run to do on Sunday instead.

ETA: I'm just going to do a 10-mile training run instead. Could not find anything close by that was interesting.

[HoneyBBQ]

Sept 6, 2015 12:31:29 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

My first sprint triathlon (and second triathlon ever) is done. Second place in my age/weight class, time of 1:44. Not fast, but with temps at over 80 degrees at the start, not unexpected. Thank goodness for cloud cover! It was a very well-managed race; the staffing was excellent, water stops numerous and everyone seemed very concerned about athletes' welfare. I had stomach cramps when it was done, though I felt fine throughout the event. A few minutes of walking and some plain water took care of them - Gatorade, even watered down, seemed to make them worse (?). I did not risk food until I got home, and then just a whole wheat bagel and a hard-cooked egg.

Very funny thing happened at the start. Three waves for the swim; I was in the third one. A gorgeous and very fit gal came running up to the starting area and she said to me, "So tell me about how this triathlon thing works."


Wait, it gets better.

She registered a few minutes before the start. Forgot to pick up a swim cap, did not bring goggles (she thought they were sold at the race) and then wondered where she should stash her running shoes so she could get them when she came in from the swim.

I explained to her this was a point-to-point swim; she was not returning to this start. (There was a humongous course map at registration, mind you). I suggested she dash to swim out, put her running shoes there and get them when she got out of the water. I'll give her credit - she did indeed make the dash and make it back for the swim start -in a teeny weeny string bikini. The rest of us, mostly looking like stuffed sausages in our triathlon gear, wanted to just toss her in.

CONGRATS!!!

[NancysSummerSip]

Thanks. Now I need to decide on whether or not to do one more sprint tri in November. It would be 48 hours after a four-mile race. I'm an idyut for even considering this. On the other hand, it would be a challenge.

[HoneyBBQ]

I have a sprint on Sunday, but not sure what is going to happen with it because the lake is actually closed to swimming because of dangerous brain-eating-ameoba levels (and has been for a month). The race directors are going to decide on Friday what to do (turn it into run-bike-run?)?? Or??

Even though it's "only" a sprint this will be really challenging for me because the bike course is basically 4 miles up and then 3 miles down and then two loops. So as a poor cyclist and good runner, this is going to be really hard for me to not kill myself on the bike. I've done the bike loop once, two separate times... (never twice, lol). This is not getting easier. So this will be really challenging for me.

And if they turn it into run-bike-run... ack. I don't know how to pace myself or anything for that. I'm a mediocre swimmer but I can get the job done and not tire out my legs. If I have to run 5k before the bike.... I may be walking my bike up the hill!

I am also working up to my "A" 5k race this year on 10/25, where I set a PR last year of 25:54. I ran a 26:04 5k on a treadmill last week, so I'm pretty sure I can beat my time this year, hoping for 25 maybe?? Not sure how realistic that is. It's a very fat and flat course. 

I also signed up for a 4.5k run/walk for charity for K-9 cancer. That's 10/11. I'll probably be running slowly though because I'm bringing my old dog on the run.

[HoneyBBQ]

Sept 14, 2015 13:28:43 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Thanks. Now I need to decide on whether or not to do one more sprint tri in November. It would be 48 hours after a four-mile race. I'm an idyut for even considering this. On the other hand, it would be a challenge.

For me, I wouldn't think it was too big of deal as long as I wasn't trying to PR the 4miler. But I'm a "runner". So I wouldn't be sore. You could consider it a late taper!!

I think if you're considering racing, you should RACE! 

I can only dream of getting on a podium. I'm just wayyyy too slow.

[HoneyBBQ]

PS if you haven't joined the pathetic triathlete's facebook group, you need to. It is hilarity!!!

[flamingo]

I ran my 18 mile training run yesterday. It was awful. I ran 9:40/mile, which is fabulous for me, and about 20sec/mile faster than I really want to run, at least for training runs. I was SO SORE afterwards! But, about 2 hours afterwards, I was like, huh, no soreness. So, maybe not so awful after all?? I suck at pacing myself, so I'm really glad my 20 miler will have pacers. I can zone out and follow them at 10min/mile. Then, if I'm feeling good I can speed up a little the last few miles. 

Yesterday, as I was showering and wishing for a shower chair, all I could think was, WHY did I sign up for this torture?! By the time I was eating pizza 2 hours late, I was all like, I've got this!   I'm still on the "I've got this" train today, so we'll see.

HoneyBBQ: Good luck with your tri this Sunday! I'm not a biker either, so I get your concern over the hill!! I'm sure you'll do fine!