*Doing the Donald in 2010* Jan. Half Marathon Support Thread!

[Ronda93]

i just wanted to say that i've been following this thread and will be eager to hear your reports after the race. i've been running for the past two months (after not running for over eight years). i'm almost done with the c25k program. my goal is to run the donald next year!

It's a great time to start planning for 2011. I started C25K in late January. I continued to run 3 miles, 3 times a week until the Marathoning for Mortals plan started in October. I've followed the plan faithfully and am ready for the Donald. I will be slow (12:00-12:30), but I will be there and finish. I am tapering and did five miles this morning. It was cool, but very little wind - a great run. Chatted with another runner for a few minutes. We see each other every week and this time were headed the same direction. Told her I am training for Donald. It felt awesome. I am training!

The weather hysteria machine is getting revved up. After seeing predictions come true on the eastern seaboard, we are all believers. Thunderstorms tomorrow and snow on Christmas Eve. I'll have four miles on the TM Thursday morning and then eight somewhere this weekend. It's looking like Sunday, at the Y on the treadmill - Miss Scarlett, in the Gymnasium, with the lead pipe.

what type of underpants do you wear for the race?

None. Commando under compression shorts.

Ronda

 

[dsnyfan21]

*******

JUST REMEMBER, NOTHING NEW ON RACEDAY!!!
You should test out whatever you are wearing ahead of time. You never know where a seam may end up rubbing.

-Tracy

 

[cewait]

Oh my! What a couple of weeks it has been. I finished graduate school last Wednesday!

I was scheduled to run on Sunday, but the two feet of snow convinced me to stay inside by the fire.

Tonight and tomorrow night I'll be on the treadmill. Next Sunday I'll do 10 miles outside. Then I guess I'll start to taper. I wish I could do long distances on the treadmill, but I just can't. I'm going to try to do 5 miles tonight. I hope I make it.

I wanted to get up to 12 miles in my training, but I'm not sure that's going to happen now. Should I do 12 miles on January 2 or is that too close to the race?

Thank you!!!!!! You just made me feel a lot better about only having run 8 miles so far. I'm so scared that I won't finish and all this training and misery will be for naught. Boo. (To be honest, I've been avoiding this board out of shame.) My wonderful mother told me that it doesn't matter if I finish or not.... that one should reward the effort, not the outcome. But, I feel like I HAVE to finish or else I'll have failed. I don't care what time I finish as long as I get a medal to wear and be proud of. My wonderful sister is running the race with me. It's her first race too, but she is already slim and fit. I am not, so I'm worried I'll hold her back or embarrass myself in front of her, my family and everyone at the race.

OK, enough of my scaredy-cat brain dump. I've been trying to ignore my fear and stay positive. To be honest, I can't believe I've come this far. 2 years ago I couldn't run more than 30 seconds. Now I can run 2 miles together!

I have another question: I've been avoiding running outside because it is cold. When the weather is cold I start to wheeze and cough. Is this related to exercise induced asthma? Is there anything that can help it? If I run in the cold in the morning, I'll have a wheezing raspy cough for the entire day. i've tried using my inhaler and drinking hot liquid, but it doesn't help much.

Thank you everyone!

Catching up from this AM

DO NOT run 12 on Jan 2 - Taper is better. Trying to cram for the race is actually worse than coming in undertrained.

Your issues are not abnormal with hard exercise in cold weather. If you have asthma then it can set it off. Try a loose scarf or other item wrapped around your nose and mouth to pre-warm the air. That should help tremendously. Most of us just deal with how to discharge snot roackets (sorry a little gross) in a crowd.

Oh, I know you really do not want my response - Commando! Chaffing and heat rash issues force it

 

[MapleGirl]

*******

JUST REMEMBER, NOTHING NEW ON RACEDAY!!!
You should test out whatever you are wearing ahead of time. You never know where a seam may end up rubbing.

-Tracy

Yes. I will definitely test whatever I decide upon. On Saturday I'm hoping to go to the gym with my sister while we are both at our parents for Christmas. I need her to watch me run in my running skirt to make sure I'm not mooning anyone! I'll get a new tank top tonight and bring that too.

I tend to get blisters even with my super running shoes (they were fitted at a specialty running store). I made the mistake of tearing them off in the tub a few weeks ago. Now I'm getting blisters on top of blisters. I don't mind too much, but are there some special socks or something that I should look into? I need something super cushy!

Think I'll buy more body glide at the store tonight. I use it on the inside of my legs when I wear skirts.

 

[MapleGirl]

Catching up from this AM

DO NOT run 12 on Jan 2 - Taper is better. Trying to cram for the race is actually worse than coming in undertrained.

Your issues are not abnormal with hard exercise in cold weather. If you have asthma then it can set it off. Try a loose scarf or other item wrapped around your nose and mouth to pre-warm the air. That should help tremendously. Most of us just deal with how to discharge snot roackets (sorry a little gross) in a crowd.

Oh, I know you really do not want my response - Commando! Chaffing and heat rash issues force it

Thank you. I will run 10 miles on Sunday or Saturday, then taper off until the race. I will arrive in WDW on 1/5. Should I do light runs that week (1-2 miles) or should I just tour the parks like I normally do?

Re Snot Rockets: I've been running with a tissue in my pocket or in the front of my shirt that I use for sweat and snot. It's gross, but it works. I need to start bringing a bandanna or something as the paper towels get gross pretty quickly.

Re Underpants: For all you commando girls: Do you experience any riding up? I'd also be nervous of my shorts displaying more of my anatomy in the front than I would like.

 

[Ronda93]

Re Underpants: For all you commando girls: Do you experience any riding up? I'd also be nervous of my shorts displaying more of my anatomy in the front than I would like.

No. Luckily they don't ride and I don't hike them up too far. Just enough to stop skin on skin contact. I think riding up is a function of loose legs. Snug around the legs should keep them in place. They have more cotton content than tech fabrics, but the Champion shorts at jms.com have been great for me. I'd post a direct link, but my work filters take offense

Ronda

 

[mla1977]

Maplegirl make sure to get moisture wicking socks. I have a couple different kinds, but my personal favorite are pairs made by Nike that are cut for left and right feet separately. I didn't think much of them until I went back to socks that weren't foot-specific. I noticed that those socks would bunch up a bit around my little toe which would lead to more hot spots even with Body Glide. The Nike socks seem to have good cushioning in them too.

 

[cewait]

Thank you. I will run 10 miles on Sunday or Saturday, then taper off until the race. I will arrive in WDW on 1/5. Should I do light runs that week (1-2 miles) or should I just tour the parks like I normally do?

Hmmmm - Can you avoid the parks on Firday, or at least stick with AK or DHS? i.e. smaller and less walking. I would run 1-3 miles on the Wednesday and Friday in the morning. It will serve to acclimate you and to keep you loose

 

[mla1977]

Just an FYI - DHS is the recommended park on touring plans for Friday. I'll be there in the morning.

 

[MapleGirl]

Excellent tip! I'll tour HS on Friday.

 

[dislvr74]

Maplegirl,
My compression shorts are tight, like bike shorts, so they generally stay in place. I put a little bodyglide under bottom edge to help hold them in place.

 

[JoanneNC]

I know I am hoping for shorts weather as undergarments issues is resolved......

Oh well - it will be what it will be.... Guess I will just pack a little bit of everything.....

 

[corinnak]

Oooh, I'm here to talk underwear! I have some "running underwear" but in general am not that thrilled with it. The things that work best for me are:

1. looser-style running shorts with the undies built in. If you have some leg rubissues, these can ride up a bit, though, it is true. I would personally not go commando in shorts that didn't have built in briefs. Is it commando if the briefs are built in? I guess it's probably technically not.

2. Running shorts with compression shorts underneath - no underwear - this is a pretty good solution, but can get warmish. The shorts under the skirts tend to be too loose around the legs on me.

This year I am looking at wearing compression shorts with the possibility of a skirt over, but may cut the shorts out to avoid that double layer thing. Not even vaguely sure how this would work out.


As for walking around the parks....I did the Disneyland Half this summer after touring the parks for 2-3 days and oh man, starting a half marathon with already tired feet is worrisome at best.

The thing that really helped me? Biofreeze on my feet before bed. I woke up the morning of the race and my feet felt....pretty much totally fine! Not that I would recommend 2-3 days of solid touring before an endurance event even with biofreeze. DHS sounds like a great solution for those touring on Friday.

 

[sk8ingmom]

Are there tights/capris that one can wear under running skirts?

I love Skirt Sports. It is spendy, but if you poke round the web site and the clearance page there are always good deals to be had. They have 3-4 different short length options. I like the short ones, but I don't have chafing problems. I have a tri suit, running skirt, a jacket and a skirt/long pants combo ('Tough Girl' that I got for free!). I love them all.

Here's one with capris:
http://www.skirtsports.com/products/1015-Lotta-Breeze-Capris.cfm

 

[french lady]

I just finished tracking Santa on the NORAD website and Santa is now back up north: like you can guess it is pretty quiet at work.
I am done with the long distance stuff until January 9 . My last one was on Wednesdy and the roads were snowy and badly cleaned. I was supposed to do a 20k but I stopped at 16k. I am pretty sure it is the last time I train for a race in winter... unless I decide to do the Princess in March 2011

Have a beautifull Christmas day.
Diane

 

[luvsTink]

So, is it too soon for carb loading? You should have seen that amazing Christmas dinner we had! I hope everyone is having a great day. I will try not to eat anymore...well, at least for an hour or so.

Anne

 

[cewait]

So, is it too soon for carb loading? You should have seen that amazing Christmas dinner we had! I hope everyone is having a great day. I will try not to eat anymore...well, at least for an hour or so.

Anne

Since I have the full the next day I had a carb/fat loading meal

I never would have thought of putting cheese in some of the things the outlaws do. Oh, that plaus a slice of REAL pecan pie. Not the ones you get at thestore with a layer on pecans on a bunch of super sweet gu.

Hope every one had a great Christmas.

Oh, I think we have decided to re-arrange our Friday in a couple weeks to see if we can put faces with names.

 

[luvsTink]

Now there is a winning idea....pecan pie flavored "gu"!

 

[Sandy321]

I'm in trouble.

I have a mean pain in my hip - and I have not been able to run at all. I have been doing Aleve, heat, cold compresses... but when I think I can stand to go 1 mile - sharp pain will knock me out.

I'm going to a chiropractor on Monday. I think mentally I'll be able to make it to mile 6 with the 16min per mile pace - but I'm having serious doubts on the last 7.1 mile. I was so looking forward to redeeming myself. I did a long run of 10 miles at 16 mpm - now what?

I am having nightmares

seriously.

Last night Syko was part of my nightmare - she was cheering me on - she had already finished her race, and was waiting to see who the last Dis'er was - and I got swept...

I'm just not looking forward to failure.

 

[cewait]

I'm in trouble.

I have a mean pain in my hip - and I have not been able to run at all. I have been doing Aleve, heat, cold compresses... but when I think I can stand to go 1 mile - sharp pain will knock me out.

I'm going to a chiropractor on Monday. I think mentally I'll be able to make it to mile 6 with the 16min per mile pace - but I'm having serious doubts on the last 7.1 mile. I was so looking forward to redeeming myself. I did a long run of 10 miles at 16 mpm - now what?

I am having nightmares

seriously.

Last night Syko was part of my nightmare - she was cheering me on - she had already finished her race, and was waiting to see who the last Dis'er was - and I got swept...

I'm just not looking forward to failure.

Get to a doc who has x-ray equipment and skip the Chiro unless you know for a fact this is a soft tissue injury.

if you have questions before then, PM me a little more detail on if it hurts as you sit, when it starts to hurt and how long it hurts.