The Running Thread - 2018

[flav]

I did it - I am a marathon finisher! This feeling is indescribable. After totally losing touch with training the past month due to work stress, my goal was just to finish around 6 hours, and I crushed it! Don’t know my official time yet but it was somewhere around 5:35.

I will post a race recap in my journal sometime in the next couple days.

Congratulations! Looking forward to reading your recap as becoming a Marathoner will become one of my goal soon!

 

[flav]

@LSUlakes my final time for Chicago marathon was 4:54:55
I now have a new in race half marathon PR too, 2:19!!!

Congratulations!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I finished the Oregon Women’s Half Marathon in 2:02:11!! That’s a new PR and I shaved 20 minutes off my last PR! Bonus: I got third in my AG!! It was a really great race and I can’t wait to recap it. But first, beer!

I was literally saying to myself I wonder how your race went. And then I came into this thread. Congratulations and great job on your PR and the race and 3rd in your age group!

I did it - I am a marathon finisher! This feeling is indescribable. After totally losing touch with training the past month due to work stress, my goal was just to finish around 6 hours, and I crushed it! Don’t know my official time yet but it was somewhere around 5:35.

I will post a race recap in my journal sometime in the next couple days.

I look forward to reading about your race. I had some work stress that I think contributed to a less than hoped for performance in my most recent race so it will do me good to see how others deal with these things when they impact training and/or races.

 

[Slogger]

RACE RECAP-Freedom's Run Marathon, Saturday, October 6, 2018, Harper's Ferry, WV

Got up at 3:45 am and made it to Harper's Ferry National Park Visitors Center at 6 AM.
Picked up bib and shirt and went back to car to relax before 7:30 start. This is a small race, only 300 marathoners plus half and 10k with a different start time and location. We started in the parking lot, instead of anthem we had a live singer due a rendition of the "Battle Hymn of The Republic" and then we lined up outside the duct tape starting line (no timing mat) and the race began.

First 4 miles went around the battlefield and through Harper's Ferry, we ran across the bridge over the river and spent the next 10 miles on the C & O canal. It was a flat trail with rocks, roots and leaves adjacent to the river. Plenty of shade and natural waterfalls from the rocks above. Very scenic and peaceful.

At mile 15 we turned off the trail and headed for the battlefields at Antietam and Sharpsburg. Lots of hills! Serious hills. Ran right by a cannon firing ceremony at the battlefield so that was cool Last 6 miles were through small town and on rural roads before finish line at 50 yard line of the Shepherd University football stadium. Nice after party at the Bavarian Inn with free massages and cold beer. Tried compression leg boots therapy that were supposed to help with recovery.

The race director advocated for not overhydrating. Water stations were sparse, sometimes nearly 4 miles apart. No mile markers from mile 5-15. No timing mats except for the finish line. This was first race that I carried a small water bottle and only ate e-gels and drank water. I did not drink any Gatorade. The strategy worked as I had no bathroom stops or stomach issues.

The weather was great, mid 60s to low 70s, overcast all day, winds 5-10 mph.
I had planned on running 2:09-10 each half (2:08:50 first half) and did great through first 14 miles. Quads did not feel right and finally forced me to slow down and walk some of the steeper hills. Pretty uncomfortable throbbing pain in my left leg that wouldn't go away and didn't want to risk overdoing it.
Finished the second half in 2:42 with overall time of 4:50:10. Not the result I had hoped for, but finished and enjoyed the day.

It's a beautiful, peaceful course through historic towns and battlefields. No dj, no bands, not much crowd support, but still enjoyable.
Finishers get a handmade medal from a local artist made out of pottery.

If you ever want to run a smaller race with lots of scenery and history, you might want to give this one a try.

 

[Waiting2goback]

I did it - I am a marathon finisher! This feeling is indescribable. After totally losing touch with training the past month due to work stress, my goal was just to finish around 6 hours, and I crushed it! Don’t know my official time yet but it was somewhere around 5:35.

I will post a race recap in my journal sometime in the next couple days.

It's funny. I always tell people running a marathon will change your life and people never believe me, until they do it. But it really does and based on your post I am thinking you would agree. Great job!

 

[cavepig]

I did it - I am a marathon finisher! This feeling is indescribable. After totally losing touch with training the past month due to work stress, my goal was just to finish around 6 hours, and I crushed it! Don’t know my official time yet but it was somewhere around 5:35.

I will post a race recap in my journal sometime in the next couple days.

Congrats Marathoner! Awesome running!

 

[Waiting2goback]

Question for those AP holders in the group. Someone told me if you have an AP you can buy park tickets at a discount. Anyone know if this is currently true?

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Post race recovery, what do you do to recover? How soon before you get your next run in?

ATTQOTD: In a perfect world I get a chocolate milk and stretch. This weekend was not that, I had a water, a coke, got in my buddys car, and cramped up. Luckily it was only for a few minutes. I give myself a day of rest for anything less than a marathon. After a marathon it's 2-3 days of no running.

 

[LSUlakes]

Race Recap"

I ran the Space City 10 Miler this weekend in Texas. I drove over Friday to a friends house in Katy. For those of yall who live in or around in Houston, I think yall deserve a award for having to drive that area. Growing up in a small town, Houston has way to many lanes and exits... and crazy traffic/drivers. We spent the after at a friends house watching LSU and eating some BBQ. Went to bed at a decent time since we had a hour drive in the morning. Race day I woke up at 4:30 and we were on the road a little after 5:00. Race day bib pick up was well organized and the race sold out. I think the total number of runners was around 500. Going into the race I knew I was not prepared and it was going to be a hard run. My realistic goal was 1:40 - 1:45 range. It was 78-79 at the start of the race and temps went up fast. They had plenty of water stops, but areas of the course had zero shade! It was very hot on those sections. They even had a part of the race that made me think of WDW Marathon as we passed a sewage treatment plant lol. I ran the first 5 miles under 10 min/mi walked the water stop to eat a GU and struggled to get going again. I think my slowest mile was 12+ range, but was able to get the last two in the low 10's. My unofficial time is 1:42:29 which is right in the range of what I figured I could do on that day. A new PW for me . We picked up some food on the way home, I ate and got back on the road for the 5 hour drive by lunch. It was a long day. Overall I am glad I did it, it's just the kick in the butt I needed to back to training properly. I got to think a lot about my training (once I was out of the hell that is I-10 in Houston) and also saw that we are getting so much needed cooler weather by the end of the week. Legs are a little tight today, so a rest day today and a few easy miles tomorrow!.

 

[Bree]

Question for those AP holders in the group. Someone told me if you have an AP you can buy park tickets at a discount. Anyone know if this is currently true?

Nope. Not true. They have had promotions a few times where you could buy a one day ticket at a discount for guests, but it was for specific days and could only be purchased that day in person.

 

[Bree]

Y’all can read the details about my dismal half in my journal. Here is the cliff notes version:

Under the Oaks Half Marathon on Jekyll island in Georgia is a gorgeous course. It loops the island. You run along the ocean, through a tiny residential neighborhood, under canopies of Oak Trees, over wooden bridges, through a historical district of mansions and back to the start. It’s just beautiful. The last three miles has zero shade. And it was miserably hot and humid even with a 7:30am start.

I was hoping to cut time off my current PR of 2:13:38. Pneumonia knocked me on my *** more than I thought and I was not nearly recovered enough. I was stubborn and saw the race through and looking back that was probably stupid. I’ve slept so much over the last few days. Anyway, it took me 2:47:13 to drag my body over the finish line.

I’d love to run this race again. I left Georgia yesterday feeling like I had unfinished business.

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: Post race recovery, what do you do to recover? How soon before you get your next run in?

ATTQOTD: Post-race recovery is basically the same as post-long run recovery for me. Get my blood sugar back up with a glass of cranberry juice (or Powerade/Gatorade/Sprite at a race), down a chocolate milk for longer-lasting glucose and protein, foam roll/stretch, shower, don compression socks and relax on the couch for a while. Next run depends on my schedule: during training, it's usually 2 days late,r sometimes 3. Post-marathon, I usually take up to 2 weeks off from running.

 

[cburnett11]

07 - cburnett11 - Chicago Marathon (3:48:xx / N/A)

@LSUlakes I finished with an even 3:44:00 yesterday, so that was a pretty nice PR.

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: Usually a Gatorade, unless chocolate milk is around, then that! I take a couple days off of running after a half and 2 weeks off after a marathon. Less than a half I run the next day.

Just wondering how many of our peeps are going to be effected by Hurricane Michael? Please be careful and evacuate if advised to! Hoping it is way less severe than predicted!

 

[AFwifelife]

Pretty sure this week is going to be a wash with training darn hurricane. Anyone in the panhandle?

 

[Wendy98]

Partially cross posted from The Chicago Marathon thread.

07 - Wendy98 - Chicago Marathon (3:10 / N/A)

Finish time: 3:07:32 (although I have seen it listed as 3:07:36 also). It took me 7 seconds to cross start, so no idea.

I had a good race for the most part. I liked the weather except for the wet shoes. It never poured and wasn’t freezing cold like Boston. The start is fun when they introduce all the elites. I was just a few rows back, but couldn't see anything--too many tall people. Huge cheering for Yuki (this year's Boston winner).

I love running through Boystown and seeing some of the entertainment. This year it was superheroes on stage singing, "I Need a Hero".

I stepped in a pothole around mile 14. I almost went down and it really shook me up. I was scared for a few moments that it could take me out, but was tolerable after a few minutes. I still had some swelling yesterday after the race, but it seems fine today. Last 6 miles were a little tough and I slowed down. My foot/ankle hurt, but I was getting tired mostly.

That course is great—so much fan support. Coolest part of my day? Walking past Mo Farrah in our warmup area—total fan girl moment. I would have said something but figured he had more important things to think about.

After a little celebrating, we hurried back to the hotel. I showered, packed up, and hit the road for the drive home. I HATE sitting in a car for 5 hours and after a marathon, it is extra awful. While I was getting done at the hotel, dh ran across the street and got my medal engraved at Nike. In all my marathons, I have never gotten one engraved but it was right there. I told him if there was a line to forget it and he was back within 25 minutes.

I will take it a little easy this week and then back at it. I have NYC Marathon in less than 4 weeks. I did walk my neighborhood for an hour today and might go do the stationary bike for a little bit. Many times I have ran the day after a marathon, just slow and short.

I won't flood this with pics, check out Chicago thread if you want to see more.

 

[Kazrak]

QOTD: Post race recovery, what do you do to recover? How soon before you get your next run in?

ATTQOTD: Nothing specific on recovery - I'll try to eat a banana or two and get some Gatorade into me, and walk around for a bit. Next run - for a half marathon, I'll take the next week off of training, probably. Might skip the next training run after a 10k.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

If you ever want to run a smaller race with lots of scenery and history, you might want to give this one a try.

I like smaller races. I'm putting this one on the 'potential' list. Well, except that I'm not running anymore marathons.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Post race recovery, what do you do to recover? How soon before you get your next run in?

I try to stay moving. Sitting too much will make me too stiff. I try to hyradte and of course eat as well. As for a run I will wait a few days before a run.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

ATTQOTD: I only have a recovery plan for races longer than 20 miles. For those races I eat high protein meals and wear compression pants after the race. I have tried both walking and resting my legs and both work equally well for me as long as I wear the compression pants. Without the compression pants I recover better if I walk frequently after the race. And then there is sleep - lots of sleep.

For running - I give myself 4-7days off after a hard marathon. No time off for shorter races.