Official inaugural Tower of Terror 10 miler thread. September 29, 2012

[John VN]

Quick question about the Villian's Bash. Is our bib our way in? Does anyone know?

My DH and DS are running the 5k and I signed up for the 10miler so I bought 2 tickets to the bash since my ticket was already paid for. However, due to injury I don't think I'm going to be able to compete in the 10miler. I still have time and I may go for it but I'm not confident I'll make it past a couple miles so I'm thinking of signing up for the 5k but I still want to get into the bash. If I choose not to run the race how would I get in the park?

I don't want to sell my bib because it's my way into the party. I guess I could always just do the race and quit when my arches and shins can't take anymore (probably mile 3-4) and just hit the party then but on the off (likely) chance I don't even attempt the 10miler (overpasses are scaring me since hills really mess w/ my shins) how would I get in?

Even if you do not race, picking up your race packet at the EXPO should provide the band for entry into the Bash.

Do you feel that you would not be able to hold a 16mm pace for the 10 miles even by walking? Still plenty of time to get out and test your speed/reactions to simply walking. Speed walking, which is what I do, allows me to maintain a 9:00mm pace. If you can't walk that fast then just try to train by walking 12mm to 15mm paces. No way would you be swept and the motion on the legs is so much more comfortable than running.

 

[annmarieda]

Just wanted to share... I ended up taking the asics back. I was experiencing some knee pain.. plus they just felt like bricks on my feet. The store was super helpful. Went over more shoe options... and decided to give the mizuno wave elixir 7 a try. After one run in them, I think they will be great. Wasn't my best time.. but I knew I was taking it kinda easy and didn't expect that I would do as well as I did yesterday time wise. Color wise, the shoes are I can see they come in a purple color.. probably would have liked that better... but the store offered the orange/blue combo to me. It is much lighter... more airy.. Hope that this one works... 3 shoes in the last month has about made me feel like I really shouldn't be doing this.

 

[AnotherPrincess]

My shoe saga last month made me feel the same way. I was in a panic. You'll get back in the swing of things in no time though. Next time I'll start shopping for shoes way before I need to. That way I'll still have my old tried and true ones to fall back on. Lol

 

[annmarieda]

My shoe saga last month made me feel the same way. I was in a panic. You'll get back in the swing of things in no time though. Next time I'll start shopping for shoes way before I need to. That way I'll still have my old tried and true ones to fall back on. Lol

That is a good point! I think I will tuck that thought away and before I need to... I will make sure to start shopping for a new pair. Course, next time I would think I would have a better idea of what I need...or maybe I would just buy the same shoe.

 

[PrincessV]

Just wanted to share... I ended up taking the asics back. I was experiencing some knee pain.. plus they just felt like bricks on my feet. The store was super helpful. Went over more shoe options... and decided to give the mizuno wave elixir 7 a try. After one run in them, I think they will be great.

Oh shoot - the Elixir has been tempting me for a while... now I really want to try them, lol! Glad to hear they seem like a better fit - happy running

 

[PrincessV]

It just hit me... I'm only 3 long runs away from the race! Planning 10 miles this weekend, 10.5 in two weeks, and 11 in 4 weeks (I do 4-mile cut-backs in the weeks between).

 

[AnotherPrincess]

Me, too. I have 9, 10, and 11 left. And I'm still struggling with pace. I know the run/walk combo I need in order to make pace and I know the run/walk combo I can maintain for the entire race. Unfortunately the difference in the ratios is about a minute per mile pace. One is below the requirement. One is above the requirement. I have yet to try the combo I know is under the required pace for my really long runs. It's really going to be disappointing if I get swept because if so, it will literally only be by a couple minutes. I'm seriously hoping that either these next 6 weeks will help my pace enough for it not to be an issue or I'll have enough adrenaline on race day to speed me up just a bit.

 

[mickeysgal]

Me, too. I have 9, 10, and 11 left. And I'm still struggling with pace. I know the run/walk combo I need in order to make pace and I know the run/walk combo I can maintain for the entire race. Unfortunately the difference in the ratios is about a minute per mile pace. One is below the requirement. One is above the requirement. I have yet to try the combo I know is under the required pace for my really long runs. It's really going to be disappointing if I get swept because if so, it will literally only be by a couple minutes. I'm seriously hoping that either these next 6 weeks will help my pace enough for it not to be an issue or I'll have enough adrenaline on race day to speed me up just a bit.

The excitement from the race will carry you through and you'll get encouragement from the other racers around you. You'll be fine!

 

[PrincessV]

The excitement from the race will carry you through and you'll get encouragement from the other racers around you. You'll be fine!

ITA - in fact, I have to really focus to slow down and stick to my plan in races, especially at WDW, because it's easy to get carried away by the crowd and excitement!

Still, AnotherPrincess, I'd try the ratio you think you'll want to use on race day for at least some of one of your long training runs; best find out before the race if it feels right, right?

 

[mickeysgal]

ITA - in fact, I have to really focus to slow down and stick to my plan in races, especially at WDW, because it's easy to get carried away by the crowd and excitement!

Still, AnotherPrincess, I'd try the ratio you think you'll want to use on race day for at least some of one of your long training runs; best find out before the race if it feels right, right?

Very true about getting carried away.

Have you ever tried a varied ratio? Instead of sticking to a must-do ratio all the time, can you just run when you want to run, walk when you want to walk? I sometimes think there is too much focus on maintaining ratios and not enough listening to your body. I sort of have to modify the ratio thing myself as most of my running is on pretty good sized hills. The ratios don't know that I'm approaching a hill and that I need to walk. I've been able to still keep within the sweeper time by doing it this way.

 

[JRM393]

Me, too. I have 9, 10, and 11 left. And I'm still struggling with pace. I know the run/walk combo I need in order to make pace and I know the run/walk combo I can maintain for the entire race. Unfortunately the difference in the ratios is about a minute per mile pace. One is below the requirement. One is above the requirement. I have yet to try the combo I know is under the required pace for my really long runs. It's really going to be disappointing if I get swept because if so, it will literally only be by a couple minutes. I'm seriously hoping that either these next 6 weeks will help my pace enough for it not to be an issue or I'll have enough adrenaline on race day to speed me up just a bit.

Usually the adrenaline during race day will carry you faster. A lot of training plans will actually have you run slower on your long runs to avoid injury anyway. You can do it and there will be a lt of people there cheering you on!

 

[AnotherPrincess]

For the local races I have done that some of the time. Like you said, I modify for hills. Doesn't seem to make a big difference either way. I think I'll try the ratio that works for this weekend's long run.

 

[Cripey]

I'm getting worried that this race is so close too...my training has been just plain not good this summer. I'll admit that there have been weeks when I haven't been taking it as seriously as I should, but the summer weather is putting a damper on everything too, which I expected. It was just sooooo flippin' hot yesterday...I'm too embarassed to post here how long it took me to get through 4 miles. (In the time it took me, my BF had time to do 4 miles, walk to the other side of the park across the street, do like 15 hill repeats, walk back and still had to wait on me for a bit. ) I was running the same 2 mile loop as my BF, but we start in opposite directions and high-five each other when we pass...I was dying and I hadn't even finished the FIRST mile when we passed and he stopped and said "are you OK??" I must have looked pretty bad. It was then that I abandoned my summertime half-mile intervals and tried quarter-mile intervals. I knew that was the ONLY way I was getting 4 miles in. I did, and it was awful. I was literally so pooped by the time I got home, I showered, shoved something in my mouth, called it "dinner", and was in bed before 9pm...and I passed smooth out!

My plan was to make ToT a fun-run for pics with the BF, but now I'm worried we won't have time for many pics with what my average pace has been lately.

 

[jeanigor]

I'm getting pumped! It'll be here before we know it. just need to find a flight home....or stay indefinitely in Orlando....

 

[PrincessV]

Have you ever tried a varied ratio? Instead of sticking to a must-do ratio all the time, can you just run when you want to run, walk when you want to walk?

I more or less do this ^. I set my app for the most frequent intervals I'll want for a run - say, 1:30/:30 - and make myself stick to that for the first half of whatever distance I'm doing. If at the halfway point I'm feeling great, I'll start skipping walk breaks; sometimes I'll do every third or every fifth - it varies depending on how I'm feeling.

It was then that I abandoned my summertime half-mile intervals and tried quarter-mile intervals. I knew that was the ONLY way I was getting 4 miles in. I did, and it was awful. I was literally so pooped by the time I got home, I showered, shoved something in my mouth, called it "dinner", and was in bed before 9pm...and I passed smooth out!

Cripey, I have full faith that you'll be in good shape for the race - you've got this! Seriously, I've slowed it so far down in the heat, it's ridiculous - went back to :30 run/1:00 walk intervals even. But I did a late, much cooler, run the other day and it was totally different; I was back to 1/4 mile runs before walking and wasn't drop-dead exhausted at the end. Hang in there!

 

[Danhockey04]

Same here, getting excited. This will be the first race this season for me and looking forward to it. Just another week or so till the bib numbers are out and final race instructions should be here shortly too. And nothing wrong with staying in Orlando indefinitely. Finding a good costume for this race has been challenging, mainly cause I dont like the villain costumes much, but I'm still thinking about that and looking. Should be easier to get ideas once the Halloween stores pop up.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Very true about getting carried away.

Have you ever tried a varied ratio? Instead of sticking to a must-do ratio all the time, can you just run when you want to run, walk when you want to walk? I sometimes think there is too much focus on maintaining ratios and not enough listening to your body. I sort of have to modify the ratio thing myself as most of my running is on pretty good sized hills. The ratios don't know that I'm approaching a hill and that I need to walk. I've been able to still keep within the sweeper time by doing it this way.

For a change of pace, from my normal long run, I used a 4/1 ratio today. I did this, so I wouldn't get bored. I usually walk when I want and run when I want. As you mentioned, the run portion would come when I was approaching a hill. Normally, I would walk up a hill on a long run. After running up the hills for the first part of the run, I through the ratio out the window and walked up the hills, the later half of my run. Today's run was a local 10K course twice. I added some distance, but cut some of the course off, as well. I would say it was somewhere between 11 and 12 miles.

 

[Cripey]

Cripey, I have full faith that you'll be in good shape for the race - you've got this! Seriously, I've slowed it so far down in the heat, it's ridiculous - went back to :30 run/1:00 walk intervals even. But I did a late, much cooler, run the other day and it was totally different; I was back to 1/4 mile runs before walking and wasn't drop-dead exhausted at the end. Hang in there!

thanks

I decided that the silver lining of it all was that since I completely exhausted myself, I went to bed way early and I slept like a ROCK. The BF said he came up around 9:45...I never heard anything and didn't move a muscle. It's refreshing to get that kind of sleep sometimes...it was just what I needed! Today is my rest day so hopefully tomorrow will go a little better...I have 4 miles scheduled again.

 

[helloirishkitty]

We are getting so close! I did my longest training run ever last night... 8 miles in an hour and 53mins. I am concerned about running the 10 because 8 was a struggle. Any tips? Everyone says I will be so motivated at the race that I will forget the other 2 miles but boy do they seem daunting.

 

[PrincessV]

I decided that the silver lining of it all was that since I completely exhausted myself, I went to bed way early and I slept like a ROCK. The BF said he came up around 9:45...I never heard anything and didn't move a muscle. It's refreshing to get that kind of sleep sometimes...it was just what I needed!

We are getting so close! I did my longest training run ever last night... 8 miles in an hour and 53mins. I am concerned about running the 10 because 8 was a struggle. Any tips? Everyone says I will be so motivated at the race that I will forget the other 2 miles but boy do they seem daunting.

Funny - I felt much the same way after my first 8-miler. But I did 9 two weeks later and it felt better than the 8. I have no tips and no explanation, but I hope you have the same experience! I seem to cycle in my runs, too - like, mile 4 sucks, no matter how long my total distance, so maybe every 4th mile is my "tough" mile? IDK. I'm considering taking a couple packets of my favorite candy - Smarties - with me on my upcoming 10-miler, along with my usual energy chews. Maybe if I get a treat every 4th mile, it'll help, lol!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night was my 4th or 5ht run in my new Newtons and I'm happy to report they just keep getting better! I'm up to just under 3 miles at a time in them. My feet and ankles are definitely still adjusting to them and it's hard to imagine going a long distance in them yet, but it's crazy to finish a run with NO PAIN - no shin pain, no knee pain, no calf pain, nothing. My calves and feet just feel worked, if that makes, sense, but not painfully so. I can't decide whether to do a few miles of my long run this weekend in them or do the whole thing in my other shoes...