In Training: Marathon Weekend 2013 (Dopey Challenge)! 1/17 - LINK TO TRIP REPORT!

[steph0808]

Too funny about the guy on your run today!

I have been bad - I haven't run since my 20-miler on Friday!

I was going to run on Monday but then got a massive headache. Then I was going to run today and decided to go play cards with some family friends instead.

Guess I will be doing 4 runs in the 4 remaining days this week!

 

[ncblum]

Steph 0808,

Don't worry about the days off. Think off it as letting your body recover so that you are ready for the big day. Be careful running 4 days in a row that you avoid injury so close to the Marathon. I had a stress fracture in July caused by running 4 days in a row. I learned that the cushion in running shoes takes 42 hours to completely bounce back.

 

[Ariel484]

Joining in! Now going back to read. I'm interested because I'm doing the Princess half this year and hopefully the full marathon next year! Now going back to read!

Welcome! And now I am heading over to read your Princess Half PTR. The Princess Half is such a fun race, I'm sure you will love it! I ran it in 2011...there's a link to my report in my signature if you want to check it out.

Too funny about the guy on your run today!

I have been bad - I haven't run since my 20-miler on Friday!

I was going to run on Monday but then got a massive headache. Then I was going to run today and decided to go play cards with some family friends instead.

Guess I will be doing 4 runs in the 4 remaining days this week!

Steph 0808,

Don't worry about the days off. Think off it as letting your body recover so that you are ready for the big day. Be careful running 4 days in a row that you avoid injury so close to the Marathon. I had a stress fracture in July caused by running 4 days in a row. I learned that the cushion in running shoes takes 42 hours to completely bounce back.

I agree, the thought of 4 runs in 4 days... Be careful!! The hard work is done, it definitely won't set you back to miss a run on occasion.

 

[Ariel484]

Week 18: Rest Day
Wednesday, December 26 2012

So today I was hoping to really clean up at the after-Christmas sales. There were some good deals, but I just didn't find very many things that I wanted. I ended up with a sweater, a pair of jeans (which need to be hemmed...I'd like to get that done before Disney ) and some shampoo/conditioner. Exciting!...??

Tomorrow I am planning on going back to work. However we're in the middle of a blizzard, so it's pretty up in the air as to whether I'm going to venture out or not. I'm set up to work from home...so we'll see. If I do end up staying home I guess I'll try to do strength training here and move my 4-miler to Friday.

BYEEEE!

Continued in Next Post

 

[creativeamanda]

I did my strength training last night and it was good to get that in. Of course, today it's cold (not blizzard cold, but cold) and I don't know that I want to run!

I'll have to check out your princess half TR.

 

[Ariel484]

I did my strength training last night and it was good to get that in. Of course, today it's cold (not blizzard cold, but cold) and I don't know that I want to run!

I'll have to check out your princess half TR.

Way to go! I was never consistent with strength training until this year and I think it has helped with running SO much.

 

[Ariel484]

Week 18: Run #3 (4 miles on the treadmill)
Thursday, December 27, 2012

17 miles completed/29 miles planned for the week
457.1 miles completed in training

Well, so much for the blizzard snowing me in. I'm back at work and vacation is officially over.

BUT, here's how the next 2 weeks stack up:

Work today and tomorrow
Weekend!
Work Monday
A day off for New Year's Day!
Work January 2 - January 4
Weekend!
Work January 7 & 8
Take Wednesday, January 9 off to pack and make last-minute preparations...
...so that I'm ready to fly to Disney on the 10th! 2 weeks from this moment I should be en route!

Man, it's going to be rough to actually go back to work on a consistent schedule after having all this time off.

Anyhoo, we decided to try to be proactive last night and snow blow the driveway. The snow blower didn't work (of course ) so we took turns shoveling and while I didn't totally kill myself doing it, I am definitely feeling some soreness this morning in my shoulders and legs. Need to get that dumb snowblower fixed!!

And then I successfully made it in to work today...and thus was able to hop on the treadmill.

Total time: 39:18 for 4 miles
Average pace: 9:50ish/mile

In other news...

I forget if I've posted this already, but remember how my brother is signed up to run the Goofy portion of the weekend with me? Well, it's looking more and more doubtful that he's going to run the marathon. He just hasn't done any training whatsoever...and you can't fake a marathon. (Sidenote: I don't think you can fake a half marathon either, but he did the 2011 Princess Half with little-no training, so I think he thinks he's set for the WDW Half...no comment from me on that one.) I think his plan is to run the half and see how he feels, but who knows. This is all second-hand information from my mom, by the way...he hasn't said any of this to me yet. Obviously I'd be disappointed if he didn't run, but I really think he shouldn't. It wouldn't be smart or safe. But I guess that is his decision to make.

And lastly...there's lots of chatter going on in the WISH section about whether people are going to stop on the courses for pictures...HECK YEAH I'm stopping! I mean honestly, where else can you get a photo-op like this??

Can't wait!!

Continued in Next Post

 

[steph0808]

Go you! This week is not looking good for me. I am not sure how many miles I will be able to get in because of the blizzard.

Work today and tomorrow
Weekend!
Work Monday
A day off for New Year's Day!
Work January 2 - January 4
Weekend!
Work January 9 & 10
Take Wednesday, January 11 off to pack and make last-minute preparations...
...so that I'm ready to fly to Disney on the 11th! 2 weeks from this moment I should be en route!

Quick question - January 9th is a Wednesday - the 11th is a Friday! I think you got your dates mixed up!

 

[Ariel484]

Go you! This week is not looking good for me. I am not sure how many miles I will be able to get in because of the blizzard.

That stinks. I got lucky - the blizzard didn't mess up anything for me as far as running/getting to work. I wouldn't try to "make up" all of the runs you miss though. Don't want to mess up your taper!

Quick question - January 9th is a Wednesday - the 11th is a Friday! I think you got your dates mixed up!

HAHAHA! I was totally looking at a 2012 calendar when I typed that out. That's what happens when I post here before having coffee. Thanks!!!

Okay good so it's like my day off the Wednesday before the trip just got moved up 2 days, from fake Wednesday January 11 to real Wednesday January 9! Woohoo!

 

[creativeamanda]

I faked a half marathon--my first one. I did not train for the three weeks leading up to it other than walk the path the week before the half. The farthest I had ever run was 6 miles before that. But you know what, I don't see myself trying that for the Princess half. . .or ever again.

 

[creativeamanda]

I went back and read all of your Princess race report and now I'm on the Marathon Portion. I, too, have been going through the Galloway method for this race, with a break in there. I bought the iPhone ap, and I ran my Myrtle Beach mini in a modified run/walk method (0.25 run/0.25 walk). I had ITB issues after the Myrtle Beach mini, and I've been using a foam roller leading up to this race and fully intend to take it with me.

 

[Ariel484]

I faked a half marathon--my first one. I did not train for the three weeks leading up to it other than walk the path the week before the half. The farthest I had ever run was 6 miles before that. But you know what, I don't see myself trying that for the Princess half. . .or ever again.

In his words, my brother "got up off the couch" and ran the Princess Half. You'd think he would have learned his lesson after that!

I went back and read all of your Princess race report and now I'm on the Marathon Portion. I, too, have been going through the Galloway method for this race, with a break in there. I bought the iPhone ap, and I ran my Myrtle Beach mini in a modified run/walk method (0.25 run/0.25 walk). I had ITB issues after the Myrtle Beach mini, and I've been using a foam roller leading up to this race and fully intend to take it with me.

Ugh, ITB issues are the worst. Strength training has really helped me with that but they still flare up from time to time. Gotta love the foam roller!

 

[creativeamanda]

In his words, my brother "got up off the couch" and ran the Princess Half. You'd think he would have learned his lesson after that!



Ugh, ITB issues are the worst. Strength training has really helped me with that but they still flare up from time to time. Gotta love the foam roller!

Woah, I don't know whether to be shocked or impressed with your brother.

I do strength training, but it really fell off this past year. I am do 2 days of cross training (6 sets of circuits last night) and then one day of legs only training. I hope this helps the ITB.

Thanks for all of your information and tips! They have really been helpful!

 

[Ariel484]

Woah, I don't know whether to be shocked or impressed with your brother.

I know! I have to admit I was pretty annoyed, because I'd worked my butt off and he just made it look so easy without doing anything. BOYS!

I do strength training, but it really fell off this past year. I am do 2 days of cross training (6 sets of circuits last night) and then one day of legs only training. I hope this helps the ITB.

And see, I don't do cross training...so kudos to you! I bet it would be super helpful to get in a day of swimming and/or biking here and there, just can't find the time!

Thanks for all of your information and tips! They have really been helpful!

You're welcome!

 

[Ariel484]

Week 18: Strength Training (75% of max reps)
Friday, December 28, 2012

So I had my first Marathon Weekend dream last night. It was pretty weird and not too terrifying, but I'd say overall it was unsettling. First part of the dream - the Goofy Challenge was not spread out over 2 days, it was all in the same day. So Goofy runners had to run the half and then join the full marathoners already on the course in the Magic Kingdom (Mile 5) and then make up the other 5 miles at some other point on the course. So my dream picked right up at joining the full marathoners, and I was all set to get on the course...but I forgot my camera. So I went back to get that...but I forgot to put on sunscreen. This is no good because I am super pale, so I needed to go back and get that. I finally started to run...but I wasn't wearing my shoes! So I got those...but then I came to the portion of the marathon that apparently involved jumping off of a 20-story building! Then my dream self seemed to realize that this was all totally ridiculous and started to shout "WAKE UP!!" So I did. Weird. Why can't I have dreams where I, like, WIN the marathon?

Maybe this dream is part of the reason why I had SO much trouble dragging myself out of bed this morning. I've actually been doing a really good job of getting to bed at a decent time over the past 2 nights (very unusual for me)...maybe the whirlwind Christmas weekend is catching up to me. Good thing it's almost the weekend!

So today was a tapered strength training session. This is the one area of tapering where I'm breaking a rule. I've read that runners are supposed to stop strength training 2 weeks before a marathon (next week) but I keep thinking back to when I missed strength training due to a sinus infection and how much that affected me, and I just don't think I can stop that early. So my compromise is to taper off of strength training similar to how I'm decreasing my running miles. This week I'm running 75% of my weekly max, so today my strength training reps were 75% of what I was doing last week. Early next week (Monday or Wednesday?) I'll do the same thing again, and then for my last strength training session (Friday?) I'll do 50% of my max reps. The next week - the week of Marathon Weekend! - I won't do any strength training. If I feel super tired or sore while doing this I'll stop the strength training early. Seems like a decent compromise to me.

Continued in Next Post

 

[Ariel484]

Week 18: Run #4 (12-mile out-and-back)
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Weather: low 30s with occasional snow

29 miles completed/29 miles planned for the week
469.1 miles completed in training

My last double-digit long run is in the books!

Splits:

Mile 1 - 10:55
Mile 2 - 11:15
Mile 3 - 11:45 - walk/water break at the beginning of this mile
Mile 4 - 11:07
Mile 5 - 11:39 - Gu chomp/walk/water break at the beginning of this mile
Mile 6 - 10:49
Mile 7 - 11:19 - walk/water break at the beginning of this mile
Mile 8 - 10:47
Mile 9 - 11:33 - Gu chomp/walk/water break at the beginning of this mile
Mile 10 - 10:55
Mile 11 - 10:57 - walk/water break at the beginning of this mile
Mile 12 - 10:41

Total time: 2:13:45 for 12 miles
Average pace: 11:09/mile

I woke up pretty bummed to see snow on the ground and was totally dreading this run because 12 miles is still a long freaking way to go. Once I actually got going it was fine though. I ended up doing 99% of the run in the street running AGAINST traffic - definitely not my preference, and I think I got some dirty looks form drivers, but the sidewalks were covered with snow (and who knows what was under the snow...i.e. ice, rocks, etc.) and the streets were totally clear. There was NO WIND and the snow tapered off toward the end...really not bad conditions at all!

So here's a story that only Disney freaks will understand. Last night my mom texted me that her childhood best friend is going to join us for part of our trip. Okay, so that's cool...except mom wants me to add her to our 'Ohana dinner reservation. If we were going from 3 to 4 I don't think that would be a problem, but going from a reservation for 4 to a reservation for 5...no small feat. There actually IS a reservation for 5 people that night, but it's at 9:40PM! That is NOT dinner time, and that's way too late the night before the marathon. So right now mom and friend have a back-up dinner reservation at Grand Floridian Cafe and our reservation for 4 at 'Ohana is still intact. I feel like a jerk, but I am NOT giving up that 'Ohana reservation. I'm going to keep checking for cancellations, and if I don't find one I guess we'll just have to beg at the podium. If they come through for us we can cancel GF Cafe. Nothing like leaving stuff 'till the last minute, huh? I did manage to add mom's friend to a different reservation with us...so that's something.

Continued in Next Post

 

[Ariel484]

Week 18: Rest Day
Sunday, December 30, 2012

Buh-bye, week 18!

I have some errands to run today - one of which is related to the trip!

For these morning Disney races (Marathon Weekend and Princess Half Marathon...and I would imagine the Disneyland and Tinkerbell races. Too lazy to look ) runners are required to catch a bus/monorail to the start by 4AM. The races themselves don't start until 5:45ish, so that's a lot of waiting around before the sun comes up. And it can get chilly! Disney suggests that runners bring throwaway clothes, which they can wear to the start and then leave in bins on the course (though most people just toss them on the ground). Disney picks up the clothes, launders them and donates them to charity.

For the 2 races I've done I haven't brought throwaway clothes. I didn't need them for the Princess Half (it was pretty warm out) and I forgot them for the marathon last year and really regretted it. So this year I'm finally going to bring some!

I've found two old pairs of sweatpants, a hoodie (which I actually bought for the Princess Half and never took with me), and 2 cheap pairs of gloves that I got for $1 each at Target. So I just need another sweatshirt and I'm set! I'm envisioning using these clothes for the half and full...not going to bring anything for the 5K since I won't be waiting around as long and it starts later in the day. Anyway, I'm definitely making a stop at our Goodwill store today to hunt down another sweatshirt.

Also, yesterday was laundry day and I have all of my running clothes for Marathon Weekend laid out and ready to go! I'll have to post a picture. I'm planning on taking these, along with my shoes, in my carry-on. Don't want to risk anything getting lost.

So that's it for today. One full week of training left!

Continued in Next Post

 

[steph0808]

Great job on getting all your runs in this week despite the snow!

I missed one 5-miler, did one during the snow, and did a 4 and a 12 on the treadmill. Bah! 12 miles is far, far too long to be on a treadmill!

 

[Ariel484]

Great job on getting all your runs in this week despite the snow!

I missed one 5-miler, did one during the snow, and did a 4 and a 12 on the treadmill. Bah! 12 miles is far, far too long to be on a treadmill!

YIKES! Way to go! I know how you feel, I did one 12.5-mile treadmill run for the Princess Half and one 8-mile treadmill run last year and they were AWFUL. I totally agree with you, way too long to be on a treadmill.

We're almost there!!!

 

[kaf7878]

I bought the $1 gloves at Target, too! Can you believe I saw those same gloves at Disney yesterday for $17!?!?! The only difference was WDW was imprinted but otherwise exactly the same.

I also found Hanes Her Way sweatshirts (bottoms were also available for the same price) near the Womens/Maternity section. There were a bunch of colors and they were only $3.74 or something. I even got hubby one since it's just a throwaway for us (they go up to XXL). The same sweats in the mens section were $8 on sale. I wear capri type pants because shorts ride up too much so I didn't bother with bottoms--hopefully I won't regret it!