The Hay is in the Barn!

[cewait]

I heard this several times in school and coming from a farming community, I knew exactly what Coach was saying. In one little phrase he was telling us that we had practiced as much as we could, we knew our mission and game plan and that we were ready for the big game.

Well folks, the hay is now in the barn. For the vast majority of us our training plans are essentially complete. All we have in front of us is a couple weeks of tapering. Take this period to reflect on how far you have come. Who in the world would think that a 6-mile run would be a short run? Did you ever think that you would look forward to getting out for a run?

Use the next couple of weeks to heal up any nagging injuries. Two weeks will do a lot to heal up a nagging chronic injury. Rest is better than following a schedule if you have an injury that needs a little time off. You still have a week to get into a doctor if that is required.

Look at your checklist and make sure that you can find everything on the list. Replenish lube and fuel if needed in the next couple weeks. Now is the time to look at things like shoestrings to make sure they are not about to fail… they will only fail on race morning for the record. I would seriously pack my race morning gear in a carry on this week if this is your first travelling marathon.

So, what do I do if things are not all right, if I failed to get all my runs in, if my nagging aches and pains fail to heal before race day? Borrowing a cliché from the late great Coach Darrell Royal, “Dance with who brung ya.” Again, simply stated he was saying do the best with what you have in the game. For us, it is all about taking a deep breath on race morning and taking off as our wave’s gun fires (fireworks go off). That is the best that you can do. Trust your training and strength and you will do so much better on race day than you think you can. Seriously, race day is a special day that brings out the best in all of us. You will feel stranger and faster on race day just from the adrenaline rush. Your biggest worry should and will be pulling in the reigns as you cross the start line. The biggest point of failure in the first half of the race is starting mile 1 too fast. Sadly, most folks will not know they failed here until looking at the race splits after the race. Your goal should be hit the mile 1 mile post at a training pace or a minute a mile slower if you have struggled through a late season injury.

Good Luck. Enjoy your taper. It will feel like you should be doing more. Do not. Follow your training plan and taper your diet as well.

We will see you three weeks

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

Thanks, Coach. Your guidance and expertise has been invaluable these last few months. When I started running in May of 2010 my goal was to complete a "once in a lifetime 1/2 marathon." I finished the Princess last February feeling so invigorated and proud that my body could accomplish such a thing. The thought of ever doing a full marathon never entered my mind. But that Disney magic just broke through and the last few months again my body has amazed me in what it can do. 3 weeks from tonight I will be celebrating with all of you!!

Relax and enjoy the last legs of the journey everyone!

 

[dreams91]

I heard this several times in school and coming from a farming community, I knew exactly what Coach was saying. In one little phrase he was telling us that we had practiced as much as we could, we knew our mission and game plan and that we were ready for the big game.

Well folks, the hay is now in the barn. For the vast majority of us our training plans are essentially complete. All we have in front of us is a couple weeks of tapering. Take this period to reflect on how far you have come. Who in the world would think that a 6-mile run would be a short run? Did you ever think that you would look forward to getting out for a run?

Use the next couple of weeks to heal up any nagging injuries. Two weeks will do a lot to heal up a nagging chronic injury. Rest is better than following a schedule if you have an injury that needs a little time off. You still have a week to get into a doctor if that is required.

Look at your checklist and make sure that you can find everything on the list. Replenish lube and fuel if needed in the next couple weeks. Now is the time to look at things like shoestrings to make sure they are not about to fail… they will only fail on race morning for the record. I would seriously pack my race morning gear in a carry on this week if this is your first travelling marathon.

So, what do I do if things are not all right, if I failed to get all my runs in, if my nagging aches and pains fail to heal before race day? Borrowing a cliché from the late great Coach Darrell Royal, “Dance with who brung ya.” Again, simply stated he was saying do the best with what you have in the game. For us, it is all about taking a deep breath on race morning and taking off as our wave’s gun fires (fireworks go off). That is the best that you can do. Trust your training and strength and you will do so much better on race day than you think you can. Seriously, race day is a special day that brings out the best in all of us. You will feel stranger and faster on race day just from the adrenaline rush. Your biggest worry should and will be pulling in the reigns as you cross the start line. The biggest point of failure in the first half of the race is starting mile 1 too fast. Sadly, most folks will not know they failed here until looking at the race splits after the race. Your goal should be hit the mile 1 mile post at a training pace or a minute a mile slower if you have struggled through a late season injury.

Good Luck. Enjoy your taper. It will feel like you should be doing more. Do not. Follow your training plan and taper your diet as well.

We will see you three weeks

Well said. I'm was feeling I hit my 20 too early, but now I'm very glad I did as I sit here very ill with a respiratory infection. I'm just thankful it hit now, and not in 3 week.

 

[cobbler]

Thanks!! This is what I need to read today and I know many people are very appreciative of your words!

 

[ironz]

Thanks, Charles!
I know I'm probably going into this Goofy undertrained, but better than overtrained and/or injured!

I thought of some race tip I was going to share with people today....but apparently that was early in my run and then I forgot. Dang!
Oh, I remembered! (looking under the Christmas tree at my Oakleys my honey bought me)...

Sunglasses! It's dark at the start of the races and you won't think about them (as in, won't think about them when you leave for the bus). Put them on your head or tuck them in somewhere, as you will want them later in the runs (esp the marathon).

Other hint...don't let the song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" get in your head on a long run. ugh. Thankfully, once my legs were getting tired, the song left my mind.

 

[DOOM1001]

This will be my first marathon and my longest training run was 18 miles along with about 6 runs of 12-16 miles and 3 weekly 4-6 mile runs in my gyms treadmill.I'm going to be so busy through the New Year that there's no way I'll be able to get another long run in or my goal of a 20 miler in.After my long runs I felt a bit sore and stiff but overall pretty good considering I had never gone out for any run over 8-9 miles before this year.I'm totally healthy and will get another couple 5 mile runs in at my gym,but I just want to go into the marathon healthy and rested,how I'll feel from mile 20 on at the marathon is unknown but I just hope to finish,hopefully in around 5-6 hours.

 

[FFigawi]

If you can, try to get some more of your runs in outside. Running outdoors places different stresses on your muscles and joints, and it's helpful to have them adapted to those stresses and that environment as much as possible. it makes life a lot easier on race day.

 

[FFigawi]

Sunglasses! It's dark at the start of the races and you won't think about them (as in, won't think about them when you leave for the bus). Put them on your head or tuck them in somewhere, as you will want them later in the runs (esp the marathon).

A perfect example of why it's a great idea to lay everything out the night before the race. Think of everything you'll need before, during, and after the race, throw it on the bed, and then start finding a home for it. My pre-race items like warm sweats get piled next to my running shoes so they're right there when I am ready to walk out the door. Post-race items go straight into the check bag so I don't have to think about them again. Stuff I need during the race goes into a small bag and then into the check bag. When I get to bag drop, I take everything out of the small bag and head on my way to the start.

 

[MikeofRose&Mike]

This will be my first marathon and my longest training run was 18 miles along with about 6 runs of 12-16 miles and 3 weekly 4-6 mile runs in my gyms treadmill.I'm going to be so busy through the New Year that there's no way I'll be able to get another long run in or my goal of a 20 miler in.

Don't try to get it in now (been there, have the T-shirt). Rest, recover some spring, and go out S L O W.

 

[DOOM1001]

Don't try to get it in now (been there, have the T-shirt). Rest, recover some spring, and go out S L O W.

Thanks for the advice,by the way what shirt?

 

[Sabeking]

The pig is in the barn too.....oh my word the Christmas food just keeps on giving



Thanks for all your direction Charles, have fun everybody!