Training during cruise. Help!!

[goofyshell]

Okay, so I got really excited to plan out my 14 week training schedule (from the Marathoning for Mortals) book and I got out a calendar to plan out the weeks. Well, the Sat. that I do the 10 mile run (training to walk/run the 1/2) is the Sat. we sail on the Magic! And we're going down on Thurs. or Friday!
Someone please tell me this can be done. I'm totally freaked about something a year away! I just feel like to finish the race, I must train exactly right. I'll be okay, right? Do I just need to find a way to do my run in Cocoa Beach?

 

[DisneyGirl]

Here's a couple of options-

The first thing I would try to do is re-arrange days for your runs for that week, such that your day you sail is a rest day; so, what you can try to do, is to make the day before sailing your 10 mile run, and the day of sailing a rest day (if there is a workout the day before, shift it to another rest day, such that the sail day is the rest day).

I've never been on the Magic, but I know a lot of cruise ships have a running track on board-- can you do that the evening of your sailing, or shift your runs and do it the next day if sailing day is too hectic??

I know you may not like treadmills, but if you don't have a place to run outside, will the hotel you are staying at the night before have a gym? If so, you can just work out on the treadmill that morning...

If you can't, when I trained for the 1/2 this past year, I missed quite a few runs because of a bad ankle, and I still finished, so if you miss one or two runs, you should be ok. But, becuase the 10 mile run is pretty important, I would still try to shift days!

Good luck!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Friends of mine went on cruises during training for the full...they ran laps on the track on the ship--but since the track is so short, you can lose count very easily. You can switch to treadmill in side or cross train the 10 miles (equivilant time AND intensity) on a stair stepper or elliptical.

Moving days is the best bet, but since you are leaving on Thursday and returning Sunday...that could be a toughy b/c it would create too much time between your weekly long distances.

Perhaps do the run on Friday in Cocoa Beach...you could easily measure a course and for safety hubby can follow along in the rental car if you have one--or just run in daylight hours and you will be fine

Having a wrist GPS would help with this b/c then you would not have to pre-measure distance. If you have no way to measure distance--anticipate based on your records how long 10 mile should take you...and run for that amount of time

 

[ohMom]

I would just do the long one the latest possible day before you leave and then do the missed days while you are gone - easier to do 60 mins on a TM then 2 1/2 hours!

I wouldn't toss it for that reason - just re-arrange the schedule so you do a 10 miler either before you go or right away when you get home. Probably you'll be more ready for it before vacation rather than after!

 

[wtpclc]

DCL ships do have a track. I'm sure it would require many laps, though (don't remember how long it is). They also have a work our facility at the spa. So your cross training might be better on your cruise. It seemed like we had a lot of free time between the time we boarded and the time we set sail. That may be some good work out time. When you get to ports, you may be doing a lot of walking too. If you have an at sea day, that might be a good time for the track.

 

[goofyshell]

Thanks everybody! I am starting to think obssessively about this 1/2 marathon! Today is the first day I have felt like-who are you kidding, you can't do that. But I am going to ignore that little voice and just keep going. Thanks again!

 

[littlegreydonkey]

I'm with the 'do it the day before' group -mainly because I have tried to run on a cruise ship, and, it's actually hard when it's moving. One lap you're going uphill with the waves, the next you're going downhill, it's okay for about 3 miles, but after that you can get somewhat seasick (and it's even funnier on a treadmill in rough seas!). Also, the first night on ship there are people meandering all over the show and trying to negotiate your way round that many people holding maps for 10 miles could get frustrating - or, it could just warm you up for the start. I don't know cocoa beach well, but from what I remember, down by the big surf shop there is a fairly long road that's quite well travelled so maybe you could check that out when you get there and use that as a route?

 

[littlegreydonkey]

oh, and that little voice - he comes, he goes. After a while you learn to treat him like the annoying little flea he is and swat him by just putting on your trainers. You can do this thing.