Marathon Weekend 2016

[AThrillingChase]

Well, I was one of the wine and dine half-halfers. It was chaos essentially. Evacuating thousands into the stadiums (I was held on my bus and couldn't stop laughing telling my brother it looked like the stampede that killed Mufasa...too soon?), most not hearing any information for an hour, and then sending everyone back out. Corrals were a little messed up, some didn't know if they got into the right one. I was in H and we heard the announcement of the course being modified as we walked towards the corrals. But it wasn't until the corrals were actually starting to go that we heard it was cut down by 6 miles. We had no idea what portion was cut out until we skipped from mile marker 2 to marker 8. They left the important portions of the course in though like the Osborne lights and Boardwalk. So, at least they mostly cut out the boring portions on Osceola only. A lot of upset runners, feeling as though they only cared about getting everyone to the after party and not about the runners serious about the distance. On the plus side, it was definitely hot and as it turned out, I was coming down with something, so I still felt exhausted afterwards. It wasn't my first half so I wasn't all that upset by it. But, I can see how others would be. I can't imagine training that much only to be told you couldn't complete your goal.

In other news, wine and dine weekend is pretty much cursed.

I was at Disney until Wednesday. I came down with a cold the day after the race that I am still dealing with. So no running for now. I am going to start back up next week hopefully training for the half. My races are usually very spread out and I end up taking long breaks between them and having to almost start from scratch. So I am looking forward to being in half marathon shape already this early before the race and just working on upkeep and speed. Hoping to get a good time to use for the Dark Side challenge in April. Thankfully it isn't snowing in Ohio yet, so I might just make it through until taper time without having to resort to running hundreds of laps around my college indoor track!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Ok, I am such a dork. As I am reading responses to IamTrike, all I can think is "wow, lots of folks are doing long runs on Saturday and I am doing mine on Sunday... Am I doing something wrong? Long run tomorrow is 19 miles and is on a favorite route. Going to get up early and try to be on the road by 5:30. It always feels cool to leave the house with a headlamp on and sunglasses in my pack, knowing I will likely need both before I get back! Tomorrow is long and slow; ok, now I am stoked.

I run long on Saturday and Sunday since I am running the Dopey. For example, my long run the weekend coming up is 10 miles on Saturday and 20 miles on Sunday.

 

[WhereInFlorida]

18 this morning, and 14 at marathon pace+20 seconds. Hard but got it done and ready to relax the rest of the day.

 

[Mickey Momma]

Ok, I am such a dork. As I am reading responses to IamTrike, all I can think is "wow, lots of folks are doing long runs on Saturday and I am doing mine on Sunday... Am I doing something wrong? Long run tomorrow is 19 miles and is on a favorite route. Going to get up early and try to be on the road by 5:30. It always feels cool to leave the house with a headlamp on and sunglasses in my pack, knowing I will likely need both before I get back! Tomorrow is long and slow; ok, now I am stoked.

I have been doing my long runs on Friday! I have learned to get the bulk of my running in during the week because something always comes up on the weekend. I am thankful for the ability to do so since I know most runners don't have the luxury of long runs during the week

 

[SunDial]

Hope to get out for a few this afternoon. Make up the mileage as I go. Most all the long runs have to be in the evening since everything else prevents morning and during the week daylight runs.

 

[opusone]

Ok, I am such a dork. As I am reading responses to IamTrike, all I can think is "wow, lots of folks are doing long runs on Saturday and I am doing mine on Sunday... Am I doing something wrong?

No, all training plans should be adjusted to fit your schedule. If Sunday is more convenient for you for long runs, then that is perfectly fine. You just shift all training plan runs to get the long runs on the best day of the week for you.

I run long on Saturday and Sunday since I am running the Dopey. For example, my long run the weekend coming up is 10 miles on Saturday and 20 miles on Sunday.

Ouch, this hurts me just thinking about it. I did a 12 miler yesterday and can't imagine another long run today. I really respect all you Dopey runners.

 

[margitmouse]

I am so far off training I'm not sure how I'll get back! I might have to find my own balloons!!
decided yesterday to at least one try to walk the miles I'm supposed to be running - at least it will keep me from feeling totally off track and out of the loop.
At least reading everyone's training plans keeps me feeling somewhat plugged in!
Please keep posting !!

 

[Z-Knight]

Just finished my La Porte Bridge Series Half Marathon (Texas) in 1:49:55 (PR)...finally under 1:50! And this was a tough run with the 2nd highest (i think) bridge in Texas...it was uphill for like 1.5 miles - both ways, in the snow, with a headwind, alligators on both sides and ill tempered pelicans!

 

[SarahDisney]

Awesome PR, @Z-Knight ! And great job not being eaten by an alligator!

 

[Z-Knight]

Awesome PR, @Z-Knight ! And great job not being eaten by an alligator!

Thank you.

 

[CamColt]

Another Wine and Diner just back here. I was planning on that being a long run weekend, but obviously that was a bust. So I felt I had to redeem myself, and get going with training for this full, so yesterday I did my longest run to date, 16 miles! I'm sort of blown away that I actually did that, but also blown away that I have to do another 10 on top of that.

For those of you who have trained for a full before, what was your longest run before the actual marathon?

 

[Ariel484]

Another Wine and Diner just back here. I was planning on that being a long run weekend, but obviously that was a bust. So I felt I had to redeem myself, and get going with training for this full, so yesterday I did my longest run to date, 16 miles! I'm sort of blown away that I actually did that, but also blown away that I have to do another 10 on top of that.

For those of you who have trained for a full before, what was your longest run before the actual marathon?

First time it was 18 miles...I had a 20-miler planned but never got to do it due to weather. For marathons 2 & 3 I topped out at 20 miles.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I generally run 24 miles as my longest training run leading up to a marathon, but 20 miles is enough if your weekly mileage is sufficient.

 

[jAcKs_x0]

Joining in here! I'm a 22 year old college senior running my first half! Just ran 10.81 yesterday with a pace of 8.55 min/mile for a total of 1:36. My goal is to keep my half under 2 hours! Cannot wait

 

[cavepig]

First marathon I did 16 before, for this years Disney full I did one 20 miler, a couple 16s and multiple 13/14s. Today I got in 14 or 2.5 hrs, and I think I will max out this time at 16 or 18 or 3 or 3.5 hrs not sure yet as it's based more on how I feel so I don't go into marathon weekend injured as I tend to always be hurt these days. I have been working on getting my weekly mileage up to 44 & 43.5 over the last 2 weeks, hoping to get that to 50 by taper time versus putting so much emphasize on the one 'long run' miles and for that long run I'm liking basing it on time more so than mileage. I have a very tight butt muscle I somehow I managed over the last week, which makes my back sore, not sure what too do about it, just ran slow & steady with a few walk breaks today. Sitting actually makes it worse. Ack, it's getting too close too fast! I did get to run 5 miles of it today with a friend who did wine & dine so that flew by as she told her story of the evac/shortened course, it was fun to hear about it as she enjoyed it as her first rundisney event despite the issues of it.

 

[kevdad]

A slower-paced 1:07 in the books today. We're at 9200 feet this weekend so I will definitely take it. A gorgeous day today reminded me how lucky I am to be able to participate in this great sport of ours. Heading home shortly before a storm hits tonight; conjures up memories of "Ridin' the Storm Out" by REO (the live version). Dated myself there, didn't I?

Congrats to all those with some great runs this weekend!

Answering an earlier question, my training has always built up to 16 and 20 mile alternating weekly long runs (3-4 cycles) with the last 20 three weeks before the race.

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the info everyone! This is great to go on. Before my first half I got up to 12.5 so I was sort of thinking I had to get pretty close to 26 before this. It's nice to see it possible to max out around 20 and still manage. I can't believe 8 weeks from now it will be all over with.

 

[Z-Knight]

The key is that you don't want to exceed more than 3 hours of running (during training) - in general. I realize for some slower paces you might have to. I've just read that going past the 3 hour mark can result in your body being more susceptible to injury so it is not recommended - and you don't necessarily gain anything physiologically going that long (other than time on your feet). Again, this is probably a little different if you have a slower pace, so others can chime in with more expert advice. good luck.

 

[kevdad]

The key is that you don't want to exceed more than 3 hours of running (during training) - in general. I realize for some slower paces you might have to. I've just read that going past the 3 hour mark can result in your body being more susceptible to injury so it is not recommended - and you don't necessarily gain anything physiologically going that long (other than time on your feet). Again, this is probably a little different if you have a slower pace, so others can chime in with more expert advice. good luck.

Great point.
Completely agree. My program has a lesser of 3 hours or 20 miles long-run max.

 

[MightyDuck001]

I'm usually 4 hours for the 20 miler--and I need it. Honestly, especially for slower paced people like myself, it's good to have that time when you want to quit and pack it in but you learn to fight it on the long run. So aside from just "time on my feet" it's time fighting with my brain if that makes sense. Knowing "I don't want to but I still can" is a nice boost come race day.