Marathon Training Thread- 12/13-12/20

[Rachael Q]

Everyone is doing so well.

Karen, I had the same problem you did. My body really didn't want to go out there and run/walk. I couldn't work out whether I felt lazy or if my body really was sending me warning signals.

2 weeks ago I was really feeling the "don't go out there, don't run" feeling. But I kept going. But I did notice that when I was done my run/walk that I really felt bad. Not just I have been for a 8 mile walk bad, but all over bad. Last week I still didnt feel 100% so I didn't walk/run at all. I din't go on Monday, or Wednesday for my short walks and I didn't do my long walk (6 miles) on the weekend.

By the end of the week I was feeling much better, and by today I was actually missing running! I was scheduled for a 45 min run - run 4 mins/walk 1 9 times. I was planning to head out slowly and walk more, run less if necessary. But once I was out there and moving I felt good. I ran/walked as scheduled and covered just over 3 miles!

I think my body just needed the rest. I wasn't sure that taking a week off at this stage would be a good idea, but it was a gamble that for me paid off.

Keep up the great work everyone.

Rachael

 

[Tinks]

Rest day today for me! Hurray! I just have way too much going on right now with the Holidays. I need a rest day. I wish I could schedule in a nap somehow as I feel a mild cold coming on. Oh well...

Happy training Thursday! (rats, no survivor tonight!)

 

[TriMom]

There was no running for me this week, I was tired and achy and I just wanted a nap. So I took Monday off, Tuesday was a rest day, and then the horrible thing happened yesterday. I was cooking dinner, barefoot, on my hard tile floor, and all of a sudden the ball of my foot started killing me.

It still hurt this morning, so I went to the Dr. It's Metatarsalgia. Which is not the worse news I could get. NO RUNNING (or walking and try to limit standing) for a few days, and a gel insert in my shoes. The part that really worries me is I miss my last 18 miler, plus I will not have run in almost 2 weeks. That's a long taper.


Lisa - I hope you get your back issues worked out, and I just reread your post about if you are consistant all training a few long runs won't make or break a marathon. It made me feel sooooo much better. Thank you!!!

 

[Auntmeme]

Congrats Cheryl - yeah 10 miles

Sorry to hear about the school Dawn, sending well wishes your way

I walked 2 miles on tm yesterday and made it outside today for 4 miles. I definitely know what I'm not wearing. Off to check the other threads.

Keep up the training

 

[ohMom]

quickie -- just literally just in from my 11 miles today -- 2 hour 40 mins. feels good to do that longest walk -- my cheeks are very chilly must focus on the holidays and clean my house and bake cookies! taper here i come!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Hi all! I'm back!
Trying to catch up. I have read the posts up to this week. I am about half way through it. I thought if I was to wait any longer, you may all forget about me.

Everyone is doing a tremendous job! I am so proud of us--all of us!

I did a little bit of my workout while at the World, but not as much as I anticipated. I let vaca get in my way. We did tons of walking as we all do when there.
I went to the gym and did a workout there yesterday. Not sure what the rest of the evening will hold. I am in with everyone having so much to do just now.

Hope everyone figures out how to get/stay healthy and injury free.

Keep on keepin' on.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There was no running for me this week, I was tired and achy and I just wanted a nap. So I took Monday off, Tuesday was a rest day, and then the horrible thing happened yesterday. I was cooking dinner, barefoot, on my hard tile floor, and all of a sudden the ball of my foot started killing me.

It still hurt this morning, so I went to the Dr. It's Metatarsalgia. Which is not the worse news I could get. NO RUNNING (or walking and try to limit standing) for a few days, and a gel insert in my shoes. The part that really worries me is I miss my last 18 miler, plus I will not have run in almost 2 weeks. That's a long taper.


Lisa - I hope you get your back issues worked out, and I just reread your post about if you are consistant all training a few long runs won't make or break a marathon. It made me feel sooooo much better. Thank you!!!

Hope your foot gets better.

Yes--me and two other teammates are looking at crosstraining options due to injury/ailments. We were told Elliptical/swimming would be good--anything non-impact. If I'm still not doing any kind of running by Saturday, I am joining the gym pronto.

 

[MelanieC]

I walked/ran (a few 2 minute running bursts-mostly walking) 8.25 miles today. I started out a little slower today but after 1 1/2 miles my muslces got warmed up and it was much easier. I was under 16 miles an hour but I am not sure exactly what it was because the treadmill stopped at about 1 1/2 hours or maybe it was 2. I'm not sure or why it did that.

I booked my hotel and air today!! WOO HOO I'm staying at the Caribbean Beach and coming in on 1/7 and leaving on 1/11. I'm so excited and I feel that I can definately do this now.

Molli- WAY TO GO!! Your there with 11 miles! I bet it feels good to get those 11 behind you and know you can do them.

Tri Mom - I hope your foot gets better real soon!!

Tinks- Sending Pixie dust your way to ward off any colds.

Dawn- I hope things get better for you. Sending you pixie dust as well.

Lisa- I hope your back gets better real soon!! Your doing terrific!! You are such an inspiration.

Everyone is doing such a great job! Keep up the great work and I am so glad that I am going to get to meet everyone!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Back update:

Well the pain now is covering a much smaller region of my back--pretty much narrowed down to the base of the spine. The muscles are starting to behave!

This is my true dedication: I have been walking around, sitting, driving, lying down with a gallon back of ice in the back part of my pants. Plus Ibuprofen 3x daily--but tomorrow night I have to switch to Tylenol since you can't take anti-inflammatory meds pre-long runs and pre-marathon. Then post run/walk or whatever I accomplish on Saturday it's back to Ibuprofen. It's really cold--brrrrr...basically freezing my back periodically throughout the day and it's working!

Tomorrow, another visit to the chiropractor.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I"m getting better! I'm getting better! So perhaps tomorrow can be a walk day for me.

I'm getting better! I'm getting better!

Wahoo!!

I may not even visit the chiropractor--not sure. I might call and ask his opinion. I don't want the adjustment to cause a muscular flare up.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Lisa, hope it heals quickly for you. I am glad that you know to listen to your body. You sound like you know when to push and when to hold. You have been training really strong and your body may just really need a break.

I have found through all of this when I have given in to the cries of my body and really rested, when I get back out there it has not caused a set back and really helped me to improve.

My brother who has been quite an inspiration to me doing this has told me that he was concerned for those of you doing the full marathon as those last miles if you haven't ever tried them can really fool you. That over 20 mile mark seemed to be a threshold for many as he has experienced. It is best you try to keep you body well healed and even if you don't make your personal goal time, make your goal to get that medal by completing in time.

Everyone, continuing to WISH you all remain healthy.

We are going to the gym tonight for Friday Date Night! We have missed quite a few days lately and I am glad to be going.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I hear you Tiger Lily!

Our entire team pretty much hit the wall on Saturday for that 20 mile run.

I am very excited to be trying again today WAHOOOOO!!!!

Race Day tips--brought to you by your's truly:

Busses--do not wait to get in line for the busses at your hotel...20,000 runners...a good portion staying on property...when you get up to get in line for that bus--you could be doing so with hundreds of your friends...so try to get in those bus lines as early as possible.

According to our packet from Team in Training--they will have cash bar quick bites breakfast beginning at 2am--this is true for POFQ, PORS, & CBR. I'm unsure if this is available at other hotels and unsure if it is Team in Training sponsored--but I'm sure they won't turn you away if you want to buy a bagel.

Champion Chips--they give you a plastic tie to attach the chip to your shoes--use it...don't attach the chip with your shoelaces as they will not be able to cut the chip off and you'll have to remove your shoe and wait while they remove the chip.

Bathroom--got this as a tip on Wednesday and was told by the coach that it has been the most appreciated tip. When you arrive by bus at EPCOT--get in line to use the potty. As soon as you do your business--get back in line and go again. When you finish your business--get back in line a 3rd time and go one last time. There are no potties by the start and there are long lines at the potties in the first 5 miles of the race. Waiting in those lines adds precious minutes to your time. He said it takes that many times to void the bladder--so yes, go 3 times "even if you don't have to go". (Another reason to NOT wait for that 4 am bus!)

They start hearding everyone into the corrals by 4:30am (actually our paperwork says you have to be in your corral by 4:30am!).

For all you wishers who will be meeting up at the race--you may want to talk strategy when you are at dinner on how you will find each other...I know that you will have the scarves--but someone may just want to "journey" over to EPCOT during the day to scope out the parking lot and make a map with a precise meeting point. By saturday--the port-o-potties should be there...so you can say meet by the potty by XYZ or something.

It will be a sea of people and hard to spot anybody. Perhaps if someone has a balloon (or buy one!) that they could bring--heck, you can walk your walk with it--just tie it to you somehow--maybe even give it to a child along the course--that way you can spot the balloon on arrival and then head towards the balloon and then look for the scarves.

Unsure of what the day holds for me training wise--but I'm very excited to be giving it a go today! I'll post when I get back

 

[Susan--Ontario]

Good tips Lisa!

I'm bringing glow in the dark (purple) necklaces. I will be handing them out at TE on Saturday night and I'll bring some that morning as well. I don't think there will be too many other people with purple glow in the dark necklaces. Since most of us are in the last corral we should be able to find each other. It's 6:00 now and I'm up doing laundry and having breakfast because MaryLiz and I are going to try and walk 10 miles this morning. No rushing, just trying to get it all in. I haven't looked yet to see if it's snowing.

Wish us luck!!

 

[TammyNC]

I am writing but not unfortunately not to say that I've done a lot of training. Everyone is so encouraging and helpful with the tips, I love them all. I am still going to participate in the 1/2 although a bit nervous since I haven't gotten into a training schedule and the time is so close now.

Keep up the great work everyone, I also appreciate the tips on clothing. I have never participated in a marthon and have no idea what to wear. I'm going through posts now to get some tips and recommendations so that I can start getting those and trying them while on the treadmill.

 

[ibouncetoo]

I am writing but not unfortunately not to say that I've done a lot of training. Everyone is so encouraging and helpful with the tips, I love them all. I am still going to participate in the 1/2 although a bit nervous since I haven't gotten into a training schedule and the time is so close now.

Keep up the great work everyone, I also appreciate the tips on clothing. I have never participated in a marthon and have no idea what to wear. I'm going through posts now to get some tips and recommendations so that I can start getting those and trying them while on the treadmill.

Tammy, My training schedule pretty much fell apart lately. I have been walking, but not matching my training schedule. Food has been an issue also and I've actually gained back some weight over the past two months. I'll be starting the race with all my WISH buddies and participating for as long as I can. Eventually I'll be jumping in the sweeper van and will be at the finish line cheering on all the WISHERS who cross over it! This weekend I'm doing race behaviour....when and what I eat today, early to bed and up tomorrow at 3AM, putter around the house and head out for my long walk at 6. Then I'll see how the rest of Sunday feels.....do I need/want a mid day nap....will I feel up to going out Sunday evening/night?

I really feel participating at this point is going to be a major boost to how I live the rest of next year. Not showing up race day would feel like giving up on myself. Being there and feeling the energy and excitement will, hopefully, spur me on to re-focusing and re-committing to race day 2006!

See you in three weeks! YIKES!

 

[maryliz]

Good Saturday morning! Wahoo ... 10 miles done and over with Susan and I started this morning, and did the 10 miles in just under 3 hours. We were not pushing for time. Just enjoying a beautiful morning out in the park! After being sick for a good chunk of this week, I did not do any other training. And it actually felt really good out there today, so obviously all of the hard work in training did not fail me when I was out of the loop for the past week. So for those of you that think you're falling out of your schedule, just do your best. Even if I were somehow not able to even make it to the race, no one can take away all of the hard work we've done! We all Rock !

So now I'm working on my plan for the next 3 weeks. I will do some shorter walks this week, and maybe even get back to Curves -- do I even remember where the darned place is? Boxing day I'm planning on one more long walk - 2.5 or 3 hours. This will have to be weather dependant - cold is one thing, but icy roads and sidewalks are something totally different - and trying to mall walk on Boxing Day I will do some more shorter walks the following week, and I figure a 5 or 6 mile walk on New Years. Then it will be only a very few really short strolls -- those probably will be in the mall. And then it's race day ! Anyone have any different thoughts?

Have a great training day! See you on next weeks thread!

Mary-Liz

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well--didn't achieve goal and broke down in tears midway---but even with my 5-10 minute crying spell, I averaged a 19 minute mile--without crying it would have been 17-18 minutes.

I signed up at the gym and will be doing cross training for the next 2 weeks! Swimming and ellipitical machine. No more running or walking for me!

I accomplished 4 1/2 out of the 6-10 miles out of scheduled 16 that I was going to try to due. Burning in the sacrum--but at least there was no radiation--and no muscle spasms or muscle pain--just the sacrum area! Coach/PT said that burning is actually a sign of healing..so hopefully that is the case for me. She said itching was a sign too--but my back was frozen cold between ice and the biofreeze. I am heading to the gym this afternoon for a light swim and then back tomorrow for a time equivilent workout to a 6 mile run (about 1h 15 minutes of swimming). No impact for me!

Race day I'm allowed to push and fight the pain within reason--like if my back is really broken or spasming (word?) uncontrollably--then I would probably have to stop!

See you at the start line!

FYI on meeting in the corral--it gets packed in those corrals, even the last ones--I still highly suggest a balloon so you guys can migrate to the balloons Or a flag like they use for the tour groups at Disney--that would be a little more compact

 

[TriMom]

Well--didn't achieve goal and broke down in tears midway---but even with my 5-10 minute crying spell, I averaged a 19 minute mile--without crying it would have been 17-18 minutes.

Oh Lisa - I am crying for you!! Listen to your PT and try to enjoy the cross training. You will get that Mickey!!!!

Oh and do as I say, and not as I do. - I did my last long run today!! 18 miles in 3:35 - I took 20 minutes off last week's run!!!! :jumping4:

I know that I wasn't supposed to run today, but my toe hadn't hurt in 2 days and I was prepared to stop if it did start hurting. I got some gel inserts to cusion my toes, but they hurt my ankles, so they came out at 1 1/2 miles. Other than that it was a great run - I pushed really hard, but it was worth it. Let the taper begin!!!!!

I did have a surreal experience today. They were having a Civil War reenactment today, and I decided to run the cotton field trail instead of the paved trail. I'm running through the woods when the cannons and gunfire started. I looked off to my left, and there are the Conferedate troops trying to flank the Union base camp. It was just really, really strange.

Hope everyone has a great training day!!! Just three weeks to go!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am a much happier camper now--went to the gym and did the time equivelant (not necessarily endurance equivelant) of approx. 3-4 miles...15 minutes elliptical and 30 minutes swimming. It felt great to not have a pain in the butt!

I could have waited until tomorrow--but my legs were screaming for a decent workout as well as my lungs and heart--so yippeee!!!!

Going to do it again tomorrow!

Trimom--NO MORE RUNNING FOR TIME ---Taper Taper Taper!!! Save it for Marathon day Enjoy your runs and say no to the speedracer! What did you put for your completion time?

 

[tw1nsmom]

Hi all!

Everyone is doing so well! Even those of you (us) who are occassionally feeling discouraged, you've come so far! If you're anything like me, you've walked/exercised more this year than you ever have before. Whatever the outcome, we have to give ourselves credit for the work we've done.

Today I walked further than I ever have before. I went to the mall and walked 10 miles in 2 hours and 36 minutes. I feel really good about that time. If I can maintain that pace on race day I should be in good shape.

The situation with Ds's school is still in flux, but we are probably going to pull the kids from the school. It's kind of a long story, but it began with DS's class being excluded from the birthday parties in the integrated class they are supposed to be a part of. It should have been a simple problem to fix, but it just escalated. It turns out that there is quite a bit of discrimination going on at the school. Self-esteem and fitting in is so important for children like DS. They don't want to be (nor should they be) treated differently. I've discovered that they never gave the 10 identified students names to the typically developing students parents. If you can follow this logic, they say that Ds is fully integrated, but that he is in a completely seperate class and not a part of the main preschool, but, they repeated he's fully integrated. They went on to say that integration is highly overated and why is it so bad for Ds to identify/be with his peers at the special needs school...the typically developing children need to bond with their peers at the main preschool. They say they have to make sure the parents of the typically developing children are getting everything they need because they are paying for their children's education, while I'm getting the state to pay for my son's (BTW I do pay the same tuition as the other parents for DD). They also enter the building from seperate entrances and have cubbies in different areas of the building...all violations of the ADA and IDA. When it comes to the birthday parties, the director said that the only solution he would offer was to ban all birthday celebrations in the building, and wouldn't it be terrible when the children found out they couldn't celebrate with their friends. I also discovered in the meeting that Ds's special ed. teacher and the main preschool teacher haven't a clue about Ds's disability.

We're looking into our options with a lawyer and I've reported them to the state. I also intend to report them to the department of ed. (federal) and any other official that will listen. However, it's going to be a long struggle that most definitely won't be resolved by June when DS's time at the school ends. I can't keep DS in a situation that could damage his self-esteem at this age and where he most likely is getting very little academically. I'll homeschool them until they start kindergarten in September and get itinerant services for their PT, OT and Speech. It's just heartbreaking to me that a place that is supposed to be helping very small children with disabilities (2-5 yrs old) would have so little regard for their well being and feelings. I'm sorry to have gone on and on about something that's off topic, but I've referred to some problems before and I wanted to let you know what was going on. I have family, but few friends in this area, and I feel really close to all of my WISH friends. Thanks for listening. I promise to stay more on topic from now on.

Dawn