Marathon Weekend 2016

[AThrillingChase]

Thanks I'm hoping I get it but at the same time I'm trying to not set myself up to be discouraged if I don't get it, trying to keep it all in perspective as my training has switched focus to the marathon. and as much as I want that sub 2 it may not make that much of a difference as far as corral placement so even if I don't get it this race I may get it before the year is over which was my original goal




along this same line ive heard of people sleeping in their running clothes so its just get up and go and then you don't have to even think about it. on a side note if you need a little extra push try watching this video ( I wish I could set this as my alarm for my early morning runs)

I'm so pumped now! Haha. And then I remembered that I have the flu. Blah.

 

[kevdad]

So life right now is crazy busy and of course my training plan is beginning to build. I really want evening time for my family on the few days I can leave work at a reasonable time. This is leaving me with the dreaded early morning runs. Alarm goes off and it is still night time dark, my bed is warm and comfortable... I have missed a few runs. How do you early runners make it happen? Any good tips?

Listening to music works well for me. I'm partial to Adult Alternative, Heavy Metal and 80s Hair Band stations on Pandora. Classical Music post-run.

Sitting outside with a cup of coffee also might work. That would also give a good idea for what running clothes to wear.

 

[Castle2Castle]

So life right now is crazy busy and of course my training plan is beginning to build. I really want evening time for my family on the few days I can leave work at a reasonable time. This is leaving me with the dreaded early morning runs. Alarm goes off and it is still night time dark, my bed is warm and comfortable... I have missed a few runs. How do you early runners make it happen? Any good tips?

How long and how frequent are your weekday runs? Think the advice about the clothes is good, but if you're logging a lot of time you might look into some of the 3x per week plans for some more run/life balance.

If you're already doing something like that, then I'm there on the clothes ready with the alarm and coffee!

 

[Ariel484]

Totally forgot to post this after my run this morning.

I have a question for my fellow run/walkers. Do you use the same intervals for all runs, regardless of distance? Or do you vary your intervals for different distances.
For me - I've been doing 3/1 for long runs and 5/1 for shorter runs, and the 5/1 is a little hard sometimes. I'm trying to decide whether to go to the 3/1 for all runs or try 4.5/1 or 4/1 for my short runs.
I'd love to hear what everyone else does!

Normally I do 4/1 for all of my runs, but I'm trying to build back up to that right now after injury. Definitely mix it up and see what you like!

So life right now is crazy busy and of course my training plan is beginning to build. I really want evening time for my family on the few days I can leave work at a reasonable time. This is leaving me with the dreaded early morning runs. Alarm goes off and it is still night time dark, my bed is warm and comfortable... I have missed a few runs. How do you early runners make it happen? Any good tips?

I agree that it helps to have everything ready the night before. My lunch is packed, running clothes laid out and work clothes laid out before bed the night before...so I just get up, get dressed, grab my stuff and go. I run in the gym at work and shower/primp in the locker room. And I leave packets of oatmeal in my desk for breakfast.

The worst/most difficult part of being a morning runner, in my experience, is actually getting myself out of bed. Once I actually get up it's good - I like getting it out of the way and I think it really helps to wake me up. I don't think I could ever go back to running after work now that I'm used to getting it done in the morning.

 

[AmynVal]

I don't have any science to back this up, but early on I read that if you always do the same interval you can trick yourself into thinking that you need that interval even after developing the cardio and leg strength to run without them. To try and stave off these mental dependancies I varied my intervals when I was doing them.

I have started to feel that is one of my problems. I'm a 2/.5 interval person when running anything over a 5k. I always find myself waiting for that timer to go off. I also don't run with purpose enough. I kind of just go out and go with what I feel. Some days are faster than others but I'm not really trying to go faster I'm just on a run I guess you can say. I'm trying to change that and I've started to skip my walk breaks every so often. This will sound awful but I want to get faster because I'm lazy. People think I'm crazy when I say that but it's true

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I have started to feel that is one of my problems. I'm a 2/.5 interval person when running anything over a 5k. I always find myself waiting for that timer to go off. I also don't run with purpose enough. I kind of just go out and go with what I feel. Some days are faster than others but I'm not really trying to go faster I'm just on a run I guess you can say. I'm trying to change that and I've started to skip my walk breaks every so often. This will sound awful but I want to get faster because I'm lazy. People think I'm crazy when I say that but it's true

When running you should never think about when/where your run or interval ends unless doing speed work. Your mentality should be that you are going to run longer than you have scheduled. Yes, you know that you are going to walk intervals, but never think about them.

Running is a mental sport. If your mind thinks that you only have to run a certain distance, that will be your limit- even if you are conditioned to run much further.

When I was in the military we proved this to every class of new recruits that came into our unit. We would go on a run and tell them that we were running a given distance - generally 4 or 5 miles. We would mark the miles on the course so that the new recruits could clearly see how far they had run. When we hit mile marker #5, we would announce that we were going to add 2 more miles to the run. None of the recruits ever finished the last 2 miles - EVER. 3.5 years of doing this with dozens of kids in amazing condition and NONE finished.

The next day we would take them all out for a longer run than they had failed to complete the day before. We would run the same pace. Almost every one of these kids completed the second run. Their failure in run #1 was in their minds. Because they didn't know if we were messing with them or not, they all planned to just keep on running on day #2. They mentally fortified themselves and made it.

That is how you successfully run distances - even with intervals of walking planned.

 

[Waiting2goback]

So life right now is crazy busy and of course my training plan is beginning to build. I really want evening time for my family on the few days I can leave work at a reasonable time. This is leaving me with the dreaded early morning runs. Alarm goes off and it is still night time dark, my bed is warm and comfortable... I have missed a few runs. How do you early runners make it happen? Any good tips?

I also get my stuff ready the night before. When my alarm goes off if I don't feel like running I just remind myself how screwed I will be if I don't get my butt out of bed and do the training. I am already in trouble before of my foot injury so I can't miss any more workouts. I was just looking at my training plan and I am supposed to be at 20 mile long runs and I am only at 11 so far. Tomorrow I am shooting for 13. I am so screwed for October. In other words, fear gets me out of bed.

 

[Z-Knight]

Marathon is still 4 months out...are you training for another that makea you say you should be at 20 mile runs at this point?

 

[GrandAdmiralStrife]

scheduled for 9 miles today, ran 10 instead. Still fiddling with pacing, to see what's going to work best for me as I build endurance for the Dopey. Didn't help it was humid and 85 from 7:30-10 this morning.

Haven't secured room/park tickets yet (waiting for the Stay/Play/Dine deal, assuming they issue it the first week of Oct) but I've started getting my ADRs set up. First up, Chef Mickey's for breakfast on Wednesday (need to get DS3 birthday breakfast with Mickey). Going to be hard juggling ADRs around the race days.

 

[SarahDisney]

Thanks for the great info/advice, everyone!
I think I am going to continue to vary my intervals. I did a 30 minute run this morning at 4:30/1 intervals, and it would have been great if I hadn't tweaked my back a bit and needed some extra walking time to help with the pain (yes, I'm taking it easy for the next few days). I'm going to try 4/1 intervals for my 40 minute run later this week (back pain permitting) and hopefully I'll decide from there which interval I like better for the shorter runs.
We'll see after a few weeks how this works out.

I really appreciate all the advice/info/input!

 

[MRS AR]

So life right now is crazy busy and of course my training plan is beginning to build. I really want evening time for my family on the few days I can leave work at a reasonable time. This is leaving me with the dreaded early morning runs. Alarm goes off and it is still night time dark, my bed is warm and comfortable... I have missed a few runs. How do you early runners make it happen? Any good tips?

For me I started running in the early morning to be sure to get my runs in because of the heat 2 years ago. After the first 3 hard to convince myself to get out weeks I've not turned back. I lay out my running clothes out the night before like a lot of others. Once I'm out the door I love the quiet and peace of the early hours.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Marathon is still 4 months out...are you training for another that makea you say you should be at 20 mile runs at this point?

Yes, I have a marathon on 10/18. It was supposed to be my attempt to BQ but with the foot injury that is out. So that's why my schedule has me running 20 this week. But, I went out and got the 13 I wanted. It was not a good run overall. Thankfully I had a chance to process it all before I posted because the stuff I was thinking this morning wasn't good. I was so frustrated. The good news is, my right leg barely hurt at all. My left foot still hurt but not as bad as my previous 11 mile run.

I am just so aggravated. So this is a vent post. I am sure most of you will understand exactly where I am coming from as anyone who has run for a while will know the ups and downs. I have a 1/2 marathon POT race on 9/12 for this race and if I stuck to my training plan I would be in such a good place to kill that race and get the corral I want. Instead I was out there struggling just to get to 13 miles.

So I have a couple weeks left to try and make some progress for that race but at this point I am just running to finish. My goals for this year will have to be moved to next year since I am not going to BQ. I gave into to many excuses this year. OK, thanks for letting me vent.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

As someone who has been struggling with plantars fasciitis for the last 3 months, I totally understand your frustration. The only reason that I have not taken a month or more off is the Dopey that I am running in January. I ran 9 miles yesterday and my body did the work effortlessly, but my foot hurt every step of the run.

 

[IamTrike]

So life right now is crazy busy and of course my training plan is beginning to build. I really want evening time for my family on the few days I can leave work at a reasonable time. This is leaving me with the dreaded early morning runs. Alarm goes off and it is still night time dark, my bed is warm and comfortable... I have missed a few runs. How do you early runners make it happen? Any good tips?

I set my stuff out the night before, but that's more a logistics thing it doesn't really get me more motivated to run.

My bed is always more comfortable and it's always going to seem better to stay in your warm bed than to get up and run. I think the only way to get up and start running in the wee hours of the morning is to make yourself do it. For some people this is harder than for others. I really struggle with it but there are two things I do to give myself the best chance of success.

1. I set 4 different alarms. Yes it's a pain and yes it's annoying. Yes it bothers my wife. But I find if I know going into it that I have 4 alarms I'm more likely to get up on the first or second one. Knowing the alarms are going to keep going off just makes me surrender quickly and get up rather than snoozing and going back to sleep.

2. I have friends that know the plan I am on that are willing to call me out if I miss a run. We are all friends on runkeeper so they can look at every run I've done. Sometimes I get to run with people in the morning and that's a great motivation, but just knowing that I have other people I am accountable gives me an extra push to get up.

I have found that if I start running consistently in the morning it does get easier. My body adjusts to waking up earlier by me falling asleep earlier at night.

As someone who has been struggling with plantars fasciitis for the last 3 months, I totally understand your frustration. The only reason that I have not taken a month or more off is the Dopey that I am running in January. I ran 9 miles yesterday and my body did the work effortlessly, but my foot hurt every step of the run.

Hope your foot heals. I know how bad that pain is and how frustrating it is to feel like you're being held back by one part of your body.

 

[LSUlakes]

So life right now is crazy busy and of course my training plan is beginning to build. I really want evening time for my family on the few days I can leave work at a reasonable time. This is leaving me with the dreaded early morning runs. Alarm goes off and it is still night time dark, my bed is warm and comfortable... I have missed a few runs. How do you early runners make it happen? Any good tips?

You mean watching a beautiful sun rise in the morning isn't enough motivation on it own? j/k. Try to reward yourself with something out of the norm. For example, if I have a 6-10 mile run that I need to do in the morning, that I don't feel like waking up at 4 ish in the morning for. You get the miles in, then there's a pint of whole chocolate milk waiting for you when your done. If I don't do, I wont allow myself to have it. For some reason chocolate milk is very motivating to me. If I miss a run I usually beat myself up for it all day. That feeling of disappointment has always been worse than any feeling I have after a run and has not exceeded the short term happiness of getting a little extra sleep.

 

[LSUlakes]

Yes, I have a marathon on 10/18. It was supposed to be my attempt to BQ but with the foot injury that is out. So that's why my schedule has me running 20 this week. But, I went out and got the 13 I wanted. It was not a good run overall. Thankfully I had a chance to process it all before I posted because the stuff I was thinking this morning wasn't good. I was so frustrated. The good news is, my right leg barely hurt at all. My left foot still hurt but not as bad as my previous 11 mile run.

I am just so aggravated. So this is a vent post. I am sure most of you will understand exactly where I am coming from as anyone who has run for a while will know the ups and downs. I have a 1/2 marathon POT race on 9/12 for this race and if I stuck to my training plan I would be in such a good place to kill that race and get the corral I want. Instead I was out there struggling just to get to 13 miles.

So I have a couple weeks left to try and make some progress for that race but at this point I am just running to finish. My goals for this year will have to be moved to next year since I am not going to BQ. I gave into to many excuses this year. OK, thanks for letting me vent.

Running with a foot issue isn't any fun at all, and I know how you feel. What is the problem with the foot and have you seen a Dr about it yet. Odds are though, the Dr. will say you need to rest it unless your Dr is a also a crazy runner, then they will try almost anything to help you finish your training cycle. Tried dry needling yet? It's a whole lot of fun when they stick the bottom of your foot...

 

[IamTrike]

You mean watching a beautiful sun rise in the morning isn't enough motivation on it own? j/k. Try to reward yourself with something out of the norm. For example, if I have a 6-10 mile run that I need to do in the morning, that I don't feel like waking up at 4 ish in the morning for. You get the miles in, then there's a pint of whole chocolate milk waiting for you when your done. If I don't do, I wont allow myself to have it. For some reason chocolate milk is very motivating to me. If I miss a run I usually beat myself up for it all day. That feeling of disappointment has always been worse than any feeling I have after a run and has not exceeded the short term happiness of getting a little extra sleep.

Chocolate Milk is a powerful motivator. That's my biggest gripe at Disney races is that they don't have it at the finish. Midway through our 16 on Saturday one of my buddies let us know he had chocolate milks waiting for us in the cooler in his car. It made the last 8 miles just a little bit better knowing that reward is waiting at the end.

 

[LSUlakes]

Chocolate Milk is a powerful motivator. That's my biggest gripe at Disney races is that they don't have it at the finish. Midway through our 16 on Saturday one of my buddies let us know he had chocolate milks waiting for us in the cooler in his car. It made the last 8 miles just a little bit better knowing that reward is waiting at the end.

Ice cold watermelon is a close second after a long run as well. I would not recommend placing it in the same ice chest as the Ziploc bag full of cut onions though. Watermelon with a hint of onion is not very good at all. I noticed a few races around here are getting away from milk at the finish line. Maybe because it's difficult to keep it cold enough to not get people sick, or because some people have issues with dairy products. It's probably easier to hand out water/sports drinks and a lot less liability.

 

[Jaxasaurous]

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting here but I've been reading this board since it started before I finally bit the bullet and signed up with DISBoards.
I've been running for a couple of years now after taking some time off from running when I graduated High School, where I ran cross country all 4 years. I ran the half-marathon this past January at WDW, and am signed up for the Disney wine-and-dine half this November, and I am also doing the half marathon in 2016 for marathon weekend.
I have no problems or side effects when I run the long distances in training, but whenever I run a race that is 10 miles or more I usually end up with a nasty headache/migraine the rest of the day. I've tried taking medicine, drinking more Gatorade and water, and eating almost right away. Does anyone else suffer from this after a race? If so, what do you do to try and prevent the headaches/migraines after a race?

 

[Barca33Runner]

Ice cold watermelon is a close second after a long run as well. I would not recommend placing it in the same ice chest as the Ziploc bag full of cut onions though. Watermelon with a hint of onion is not very good at all. I noticed a few races around here are getting away from milk at the finish line. Maybe because it's difficult to keep it cold enough to not get people sick, or because some people have issues with dairy products. It's probably easier to hand out water/sports drinks and a lot less liability.

Lactose intolerant here, but that means I'm smart enough not to take a chocolate milk if I know it's going to do a number on me. I certainly wouldn't mind the option being there for others.

My guess is it's a sponsorship thing as well. Since Dasani and Powerade have been the drinks of choice I am assuming they are working with some division of Coke. I guess you could work on trying to get Coke to buy some dairies?