If it makes you feel better there are plenty of people I know personally that make me feel like I'm pulling a car behind me! You just work as hard as you can with what God has given you, not much more you can do than that!
I'd be curious as well to see who's following along the thread and not joining in...I was a lurker for a long time on these boards before dipping my toe in the deep end. If you are a lurker you should pop your head up even if it is just to say hi
Who do you know personally, Meb Keflezghi? Just teasing. I am just excited to be a part of a thread with so many people of different levels. And there are many others on here that impress me, you just make it seem so easy.
Be careful out there! Down South we have the advantage of having eased into it over months of progressively hotter weather: still feels awful, but our bodies do acclimate to it over time. No exaggeration, I go through 4-5oz of fluid per mile, even on short runs!
I cranked the AC and made hot cocoa the other night!
Sadly it won't be an issue. It was my last run before my surgery, which was today (technically yesterday now that it's after midnight). I didn't feel good all day after the run though. I was obviously dehydrated.
Hi All! I think I could be categorized as a fairly new "lurker," but I did post 1 time a few days ago.
I discovered my love of running in college, took too long of a hiatus, and am back! I have been running consistently since February of this year and recently signed up for my very 1st half marathon... The Princess Half!! It will be my hubby's first time to WDW, so that makes it even more exciting!
Even though you posted before, welcome and hopefully you will become a regular now.
ATTQOTD:
I've been fortunate enough to have finished all my races so far. So from that perspective I have nothing to be too disappointed about.
My toughest race was my first marathon. It was the 2013 WDW Marathon and the hot weather and increased mileage killed me. I had run my first half the previous year in 3:20 and had run another one in October 2012 as a training run/viability test and finished under 2:45. I was prepared for a long day, but I felt I was in better shape than October and thought six hours was a realistic goal. I crossed the halfway point in over three hours and I was so angry/disappointed in myself as I was walking through Epcot that I couldn't even appreciate the people cheering or my accomplishment. I summoned up just enough energy to jog across the line in 7:11. It was pretty emotional, but it didn't take long for me to put into perspective what I had done. There would be other marathons to worry about time and all those quibbles, but finishing was really awesome.
I don't think I've felt burnt out in awhile, if ever, so not much there, but I can talk about worst race EVER!
This years Disney Marathon, my trip report has more on it, but basically I was sick from food poisoning/illness the night before & up all night so was a mess come race time. What I learned was don't eat anything from condiment bars before races & stick to safe foods! During the race what I learned is truly how mental running is. Physically I was checked out with nothing in my system and nothing staying down, but mentally I was determined to finish under the 7 hours (16 min pace) - - so Mind over Matter is so important in running and I finished in 6:50, everything hurt & I didn't even sweat I was so dehyrated. Worst race ever but maybe my proudest if that makes sense.
My worst race was this years tobacco road marathon. I was slightly undertrained, but 2 or 3 weeks ahead of the race I had done a 19 miler on the race course just slightly ahead of goal pace, so I thought there was still a reasonable chance of hitting my goal. The day of the race came and it was much hotter than expected. I went out with a pace group, but the pacer started out 15- 20 seconds ahead of the target pace. By mile 4 I knew I something was wrong so I dropped away from the pace group and everything fell apart. I tried pushing on at an adjusted pace, but I think I got dehydrated and then my body flipped out. From mile 12-about 20 I had to visit the PoPs 5 times and wound up walking and drinking everything I could get my hands on. I wound up finishing almost an hour behind my goal pace and I hope no one ever has to go through a race like that.
ATTQOTD: I guess my worse race experience was a triathlon that I did as part of a team with my husband's cousin (she did the cycling), his uncle (he did the rowing), and myself (I did the running). It was about 5 miles of running from what I can remember and it was very chilly and drizzly (and I'm a baby about being too cold when I'm not dressed for it) and EVERYONE there at the race ran really fast! I'm usually OK going my own speed and not caring, but because I was part of a team I felt some pressure. I found out later that usually these relatives win first place every year, but with me we did not haha
Bit of a lurker and also newish to running. Though I would finally intro myself! I started about a month ago and already have run my first 5k. Really hoping to run the Dark Side 10k this coming April.
Welcome. Why are you only hoping to do the 10K at Dark Side? Why not decide to do it and make it happen?
My worst race has got to be my first half marathon at the DLH last year. I had been training more than for any other race previously, so I thought I was ready (as in I actually did a 10 mile training run). I had not found this group just yet (seriously, that's been an ace for me), and had NO IDEA how mental running was. And one thing after another, after another happened and I fell apart before the race even started. I finished (yay), but I was not proud of myself as I felt like I should have done so much better. It took me two more tries to get the finish in a half marathon that I was looking for, so needless to say, my goals for my first half were WAY too lofty. LOL. But I KNOW that the mental aspect of running has probably been my greatest improvement.
I'm doing my first challenge at this year's DLH, so while I don't know if I will get revenge on the DLH this year (I really want a good 10k as my new POT lol), I'm pretty confident that the same mistakes won't be made.
Welcome to all the lurkers!! We love new people! Don't be shy!
You should be proud of any finish. Just because it isn't your best race or best time, doesn't mean it didn't play a role in making you better.
I've mentioned it plenty of times, but my worst race experience was the Wisconsin Marathon in 2015. It was my 5th marathon and 5th attempt at breaking 4 hours. I was using the advanced FIRST training plan with 3 days per week and 4x 20 mile runs all at a pace to suggest I was ready and prepared to run my first sub-4. Needless to say, it didn't happen for me. By mile 8, I was ready to quit, and at mile 11 I SERIOUSLY considered DNF'ing. I wasn't injured, it just wasn't going as well as I wanted it to and I was just over it. I pushed through, but instead of 9:09 miles I was hitting 15-17:00 min/miles. It was a very low point in my running career. It was my worst marathon finish at 4:58. I pointed to a lot of things that went wrong and didn't know if a sub-4 was ever going to be in the cards for me. But it became the single most important day in my running career. I made the decision after that race that if I ever wanted to get where I set my goals at I needed to make dramatic changes. The rest is history. I changed my diet, my training methodology, my running mindset, and I started running not by pace but by effort. I re-ran that race this past May and took 90 minutes off my time and ran a 3:28. Sometimes it's when you're at your lowest that you find out what you're made of. Find a new path to your goals and overcome. And it's because of that day that I developed my running mantra "If you want it, PROVE IT, by doing what is necessary to get it."
PS-
to all our lurkers! I was there less than a year ago, become a regular and you won't regret it.
I LOVED this QOTD. I love the ones where you can hear people's inspiring stories. I just quoted a few of them but they were all awesome. It's these races where you learn how strong you are. It's easy to run the races where everything goes right. It's hard running the races that I referred to the other day as nailing your foot to the floor type of races. So awesome!
QOTD: My worst race was easily Race to the Rock last year. I knew I had plantar fasciitis and that I needed to take a couple of weeks off to rest it and do my stretching. But, like this year, I wanted to get in one last race before I took my break. I was going to miss my fall marathon as a result but I figured I could handle a 1/2 with no problem. You know, because 1/2 marathons are so easy and all. I started out the race and despite the hilly course I was flying (for me anyway.) I was in the low 8:00 pace even with the hills. I felt like I was barely moving so it's not like I was trying to be that fast. About 2-3 miles in I was in so much pain because of my feet. I thought about quitting. Then I said to myself, "F--- it!!!" I was doing to give it my all and I just took off and ran through the pain. I wanted under 2 hours and I didn't make it, I think I was 2:06:03 if I remember correctly. Had I not stopped because of the injury I probably would have made it. And it was hot too. It was in the high 80's which for September around here is hot.
What did I learn? I learned I need to address my injuries sooner, for sure. While I did that this year, had I done it even sooner I would be running right now and not sitting here with this monstrous thing on my leg. I learned I am much stronger than I ever knew throughout most of my life. I learned it during my first marathon too but this race confirmed it. I learn a lot from all my races though.
I had my surgery. I didn't realize how hard this was going to be or the level of repair this was. I thought I'd leave with a couple stitches and it was no big deal. I was told by the nurse this was a pretty big surgery and now I have this splint on for 2 weeks to be followed by a hard cast once the swelling goes down. Simple daily tasks are much harder than expected from showering to just going to the bathroom (sorry if that's TMI). Getting up and down stairs and now having to have the kids carry my food around for me.
I am worried about what sleeping will be like so I am just staying up late to avoid it.
And the nerve block hasn't even worn off yet so I haven't had to deal with the pain. I promise I won't complain every day, I am just venting and counting the days down til I can get on my bike and then run again.
