Disneefun
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2003
- Messages
- 2,205
I'm seeking some input on something I'm considering for my last long run. I'm doing the Disney full and my final long run of 20 miles should be next Saturday. Here's the deal:
I've done the goofy twice before, so I'm familiar with the pain of "the last six miles." This year I'm only doing the full and I hope to have a decent time. I've been mostly a walker, but this year I'm transitioning to running more. Sill run/walking, but adding in more/longer run intervals to try to up my time. But I am not a gifted, natural runner. It's hard for me and I can never seem to get all the parts going in the same direction for long. I'm sure it'll come in time, but for now it's a learning process.
On my LR's to date I've walked more than run in an effort to keep the risk of injury down (last year I was hurt and the whole thing was one big ball of misery -- not an experience I care to repeat). But I have been running much more on the regular runs. I did 18 miles two weeks ago at the slower pace and it went well -- I was happy b/c I consider that a "finishing distance" as in if I get that far I know I can finish.
The problem is, this year more than in other years I've been having a harder time recovering from the LR's. I'm fine during the run, but after, everything is more messed up than normal. Don't know why -- maybe I'm getting old or maybe being hurt last year just put me back further than I realized. But it takes me a good few days to get back to "normal." So I'm a bit concerned about doing the 20 miler. I know I have 3 weeks of taper afterwards, but it still worries me some.
What I'm thinking of doing is this: instead of doing the long slow distance at 20 miles, I'm thinking of shortening it to maybe 14 miles or so, but doing it with the higher number of run/walk intervals that I do on the daily runs. In other words, the distance would be shorter, but the miles would be higher quality and go further toward my goal of running more. I'll probably still have a hard time recovering, but at least I'd have the satisfaction of knowing I'd done a longer distance with the higher speed (and if it kills me, then I know my race strategy needs to change).
What do you think? I've done marathons before so I don't think I need to do 20 to get over that mental hump. I know what it feels like to go all the way. But will not doing 20 and opting for the shorter distance, even if the miles are higher quality, do me in? If it comes down to it, I know I can walk the whole thing and finish in time -- I've done that before. But I'm trying to improve my time this year and would really like to run more. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!
I've done the goofy twice before, so I'm familiar with the pain of "the last six miles." This year I'm only doing the full and I hope to have a decent time. I've been mostly a walker, but this year I'm transitioning to running more. Sill run/walking, but adding in more/longer run intervals to try to up my time. But I am not a gifted, natural runner. It's hard for me and I can never seem to get all the parts going in the same direction for long. I'm sure it'll come in time, but for now it's a learning process.
On my LR's to date I've walked more than run in an effort to keep the risk of injury down (last year I was hurt and the whole thing was one big ball of misery -- not an experience I care to repeat). But I have been running much more on the regular runs. I did 18 miles two weeks ago at the slower pace and it went well -- I was happy b/c I consider that a "finishing distance" as in if I get that far I know I can finish.
The problem is, this year more than in other years I've been having a harder time recovering from the LR's. I'm fine during the run, but after, everything is more messed up than normal. Don't know why -- maybe I'm getting old or maybe being hurt last year just put me back further than I realized. But it takes me a good few days to get back to "normal." So I'm a bit concerned about doing the 20 miler. I know I have 3 weeks of taper afterwards, but it still worries me some.
What I'm thinking of doing is this: instead of doing the long slow distance at 20 miles, I'm thinking of shortening it to maybe 14 miles or so, but doing it with the higher number of run/walk intervals that I do on the daily runs. In other words, the distance would be shorter, but the miles would be higher quality and go further toward my goal of running more. I'll probably still have a hard time recovering, but at least I'd have the satisfaction of knowing I'd done a longer distance with the higher speed (and if it kills me, then I know my race strategy needs to change).
What do you think? I've done marathons before so I don't think I need to do 20 to get over that mental hump. I know what it feels like to go all the way. But will not doing 20 and opting for the shorter distance, even if the miles are higher quality, do me in? If it comes down to it, I know I can walk the whole thing and finish in time -- I've done that before. But I'm trying to improve my time this year and would really like to run more. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!
