Official 2011 Princess Half Thread Part II!!!

[JDruns]

So fun! You look great!!!

 

[JDruns]

After a 9 day sickness with literally no running going on, I finally felt better today and decided to try for a long run. I made sure to stretch out very well and ran 8 miles. I felt good, had a good pace (for me) and finished strong. That is my mantra - always finish strong. I have that fear creeping up on me, too. Unsure how my training is going (I know I am not getting my weekly miles) and if I can get my endurance to where it needs to be. But thinking back to June when I could not even run a 1/2mile, I am so happy with where I am now!

That's the spirit: Celebrate every victory! Be proud of the effort you've put in and the progress you've made!

You've got this!

 

[JDruns]

Made 12 today, but the REALLY HARD WAY! I don't get it - I fueled up, hydrated, it's a BEAUTIFUL day...just could not get in a groove and find my pace. Was feeling really tired way too early. Finally, got a side stitch at mile 8 (this has NEVER been a prob. for me) that made me completely stop - it hurt so bad to even walk. Julie, you talk about getting emotional - I was standing on the bridge over the river about to burst into tears!!! I told myself that I would just make it 'til 10 today and be okay with that. Well, the oddest thing happened - at 10, something FINALLY kicked in and, while I would not say I got energized, I finally felt like I had some kind of pacing going and a bit more left in me. Made it to 12. On the cool-down walk back to my car, though, I swear I thought both knees were going to lock up on me! Blisters a-plenty. Need to remember to pack my moleskin for WDW! Hang in there, princesses! With the adrenaline going on race day, I'm sure we'll get that extra boost we need!

Some days the running juju is just not with us.... Hang in there. (I'm near tears at least once a week ) Take care of those tootsies! (Is it new shoe time?)

 

[JDruns]

Sure I don't want to be swept but if I am I know it is not because I didn't try!

As my dad said, that is all you can do is give it your best, no failure in that no matter what the outcome.

Amen!

I saw something perfect for all of us Princesses on a church board recently: "Triumph" is just "try" with a little "umph" behind it.

We've all showing the "umph" every day. Yay, us!!

 

[saysay]

longhorns52-- love the bondi band! And the baby bump! Almost makes me wish I were pregnant again, lol

I am going to have to give up my 12 mile run for this weekend. My foot has been killing me. I had PF in my left foot that was getting better until a couple of weeks ago when I did a half marathon. Since then it was nagging a little, so I just kept icing and stretching but still training.(I know) We took the kids to the zoo today and the entire time, my foot just hurt. So I am going to lay low for the next three days and hope it gets better. Part of me is so tempted to just go out and run, but I know I can't and shouldn't

So I am trying to figure out how to map out the next few LR if I miss this one. I was thinking 10 miles next week and then 8 miles and then 4 and then the race. Is that too long of a taper? I feel comfortable taking it up to 10 since I did the half just recently and I don't want to aggravate my foot any more than necessary.

I am in your shoes also. My PF flared up 2 weeks ago. I saw a doctor and am seeing a PT to treat. After the LR yesterday, kind of a disaster, I might just hold off myself on another LR. At this point, I am just wanting to finish the race, which is a bummer as I know it might not be "easy". I have had 2 people...not doctors...tell me I have trained long and hard and I should just focus on healing and not go for any more LRs until the race. Um yeah easy for them to say.

Anyhoo, good luck with your training! My PT suggested a slant board for stretching. 5 minutes a day standing on it with both feet is supposedly great for the calves. This PF sucks.

 

[JDruns]

As for the fear... Think about the good parts of the race. The feeling of finishing, getting that medal around your neck, etc... For me, endurance sports are mostly mental.

I second this. It's obvious from everyone's posts that we've got the commitment and the will. Positive visualization is great technique. Rehearse the race: see yourself in your corral, talking to the people around, enjoying the great costumes, being complemented on your outfit; see yourself crossing the start line, feel the thrill of it; see yourself passing mile markers with a smile on your face; see yourself at the photo ops, having a great time; see yourself finishing the race with a huge smile; feel that medal slipping around your neck, feel the weight of it on your chest.

On race day, your body will "remember" and repeat.

, Princesses: You're doing great!!

 

[saysay]

I have not been training either like I should.... after the stress fracture, then having strep and January being beyond busy at work for me - i haven't gotten nearly enough time under my belt. I'm so filled with fear that I'm now going with the hopes that the excitement will carry me. I am so afraid of failing, but I'm trying my best to see how far I can get.

I can relate different reasons, but SO there with you. All we can do is try our best. The fact we are trying coming off injuries, says alot about our perseverance...no shame in that at all. Here's hoping we make the finish strong...or heck, I will take a slow walk at this point!

I was told to find a fast walker in the corral and stick with them!

 

[JDruns]

all I can do is my best without hurting anything. Foot is sore now, but nothing snapped or no new pains.

Sorry for the whine, I am bummed.....did 9.8 total. Weather was nice though, started at 43 ended at 63. Thinking that will be similar to princess conditions.

I hate this PF!

Whine away. We got shoulders aplenty to offer you.

I am very conservative when it comes to risking injury. I would rather make a decision to sit out this half (GASP!) rather risk an injury that will require months of recovery or potenitally affect my running for the rest of my life. So I applaud you (loud and long!) for keeping your health and well-being in mind.

9.8 out of 10 is not bad at all. And there's still time to add some miles. And good on ya for finding the positive in the run: the weather.

Hope you're feeling better!

 

[JDruns]

I'm really dizzy. I've never had that before and it's kind of freaking me out. I feel like I'm on narcotics, loopy and like the room is spinning. So I'm thinking that running is probably not a good idea. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow, but I'll have to so it on the treadmill because dh will be at work. Joy.

How are you feeling today? Sounds like maybe congestion was affecting your inner ear...? Wishing you well.

 

[JDruns]

I finally went on my first run yesterday since getting over the flu. It had been more than a week since my last run. I tried for 10 and settled for 8.

Great job!!!

 

[JDruns]

Cool video!

Just a friendly runner reminder for those of you with large groups... Please try to run no more than two by two so that others can pass you as needed. Nothing is more frustrating than being behind a group of (in some places 3) 4 or more spread out side by side blocking the course. Be a courteous runner and keep your partner running to two by two, switching up if necessary. It's just good running etiquette regardless of where you are running.

Amen to that! This is my biggest complaint about a lot of the races I've run.

Hubby said the most frustrating part of his WDW Marathon in January was the groups who often blocked passing, especially in places where the course narrowed to just 4 or 5-runners-wide. (Second most was the loooong walk to the corrals/starting line.)

The bobbing and weaving to pass is tiring enough; being trapped behind a wall o' people is enough to make a princess wanna cry!

 

[JDruns]

I race for the fun of it. Just keep on running

Me, too! But I don't even call it "racing" cuz I'm so pokey!

 

[saysay]

Whine away. We got shoulders aplenty to offer you.

I am very conservative when it comes to risking injury. I would rather make a decision to sit out this half (GASP!) rather risk an injury that will require months of recovery or potenitally affect my running for the rest of my life. So I applaud you (loud and long!) for keeping your health and well-being in mind.

9.8 out of 10 is not bad at all. And there's still time to add some miles. And good on ya for finding the positive in the run: the weather.

Hope you're feeling better!

Thanks surprisingly today, I am not near as in pain as I thought I would be. I did see a sports doc so I feel good in my quest to continue on. He gave me the go ahead and I have cut back so its all good. Now I just want to be able to finish. Aerobically I am ready, so I need to be careful to get my feet as good as they can be. Also seeing a PT, so I am doing everything I can AND I am willing to stop if its too much.

Thanks for the encouragement ! I need it.

 

[JDruns]

loaded up the ipod with the music of my youth (80's, with a little 70's thrown in)

They made music after the 80s?!?!?!

My friends laugh at me because all I listen to is the 80s channel on Sirius.

But it gives me happy feet, so...Rock on!

 

[JDruns]

wanted to make full use of the balmy weather (it was 30 degrees) and snow/ice melting off the roads.

<snort> Too funny!

[/QUOTE]So, the original 6 miles very unexpectedly turned to 11 this morning.[/QUOTE]

Wowza!!!

[/QUOTE] No GU or gatorade, I had left them accidentally in the car. I needed them right around 9.5 miles (that is when my pace started taking a nose dive- although the icy street corners didn't help that either)..[/QUOTE]


Wow, lady! You really impress me! Way to go!!!

 

[JDruns]

Thanks surprisingly today, I am not near as in pain as I thought I would be. I did see a sports doc so I feel good in my quest to continue on. He gave me the go ahead and I have cut back so its all good. Now I just want to be able to finish. Aerobically I am ready, so I need to be careful to get my feet as good as they can be. Also seeing a PT, so I am doing everything I can AND I am willing to stop if its too much.

Thanks for the encouragement ! I need it.

Glad you're feeling better about it and have the doc's okay. Sounds like you're covering all your bases and being very smart about training. It'll pay off!

See ya at the finish line!

 

[JDruns]

I feel your pain...well not your knee pain, but the tear stained tutu remark. I had hoped in my training plan to be doing 11.5 or 12 miles this weekend, but with my Plantar Faciitis, I am scared to be honest. I am in the care of a sports doctor and PT and was given the OK tor train and do the race but am so afraid I will not be able to do the minimum 10 miles. I know if I start to feel pain anywhere I need to walk and if it continues to stop. My last long run was 10.5 and when I had the issues come about with the foot.


I have trained so hard this year and was doing well until the PF kicked in. It doesn't help I am 46 so according to PT, things don't bounce back like they used to - well not as quickly. I have to just go out and do my best and know I don't want to screw up being able to run for a year...or forever....its just a little pressure and now gotten totally mental in that I am as slow as I was when I started and questioning IF I can get through the training and the race. BUT all I can do is train do my best and listen to my body. I cut back my run times in my intervals in half, and am willing to walk if need be, though I tend to drag in my walking!

You're right; it's much more important to safeguard against injury -- and taking a day off and stretching all week seems to have helped. Venting to like-minded ladies also helps

I am doing run/walk intervals: 4 running to 1 walking. That's how I'm training and that's how I'll run the half. Just a bit faster I hope. Not quick-like-a-bunny, just a tad faster than my training pace.

Thanks for the support!!

 

[JDruns]

That's an awful lot of pressure to put on one run (and on yourself).

I completed the January half on a long run of 10 miles period. Not a problem. I know you want to run, but... I did my entire training generally uninjured because I followed the rule in Marathoning for Mortals (from whence came my training plan) that if something hurt, I took three days off. Maybe did some stretching on days two and three, but NOTHING like running for three solid days. That was enough to let whatever inflammation die down, but had it been more serious, the three days off would help decrease the inflammation to the point where it could be easier to pinpoint what was wrong. Running through a possible injury is one pretty good way to ensure that if it truly IS an injury you'll just make it worse.

Just some food for thought...

Thanks for this. I am pretty conservative and will also sit out a few days rather than risk injury. I use the word "run," but really I'm doing run/walk intervals, 4-to-1. That's the way I've trained and that's the way I'll approach the race day. "Ain't broke" and all that.

Taking one run off and stretching seems to have helped. I had some aches during Saturday's long run, but was able to complete 13. Had been aiming at 12, but felt good enough to go on. So that's one physical challenege met and one mental hurdle leapt! Huzzah!

 

[JDruns]

I am sooo nervous about tomorrow's long run. I want to do at least 11 (did 10.3 last week), might eek out 12 if the run goes well, but I've had knee issues all week. Even skipped yesterday's 3-miler hoping the extra rest will help tomorrow.

The run went well! I managed 13!! I am so glad. I have proven to myself that I can finish this--barring a lightning strike or other twist strange twist!

I was running 4:1 intervals as planned and managed to stay near training pace the majority of the run. Did push pace sometimes but Hubby would remind me and I'd rein myself in again.

Hubby was running with me but had to call it quits at 10 -- his running mojo was off that day. We had planned to run 1 out and back for a final leg to get to 12, but when he bailed on me, I thought "why not try 1.5 out and back? If I have to, I'll walk the whole way back."

The last mile was tough, physically but not mentally. I was tired but not in pain and I was upbeat and sure I'd be able to make it. I did have to walk half of one run interval in the last 3/4 mile, but I am a-okay with that. Hubby said I looked good running in, which I was glad to hear; I was afraid I was half-doubled over and shuffling more than jogging.

It was not easy, but I did it!! And I know I can do it again in a few weeks.

Hang in there, Princesses. We got this!

 

[ufwendyo]

Me, too! But I don't even call it "racing" cuz I'm so pokey!

I won't even call it running!