Week of July 17 - 2006 Half-Full Marathon Info/Training Thread

[littlegreydonkey]

okay so I know it's kind of sad to be internet surfing on holiday, but need to check it for work and what else I am going to do with my extra 5 minutes but come on here. Anyway, just wanted to say I want Sunny's map - admittedly, not sure I can make the around 20,000km journey between now and jan no matter how hard I run but I could still try! Helen

 

[Calcio]

Mel

That's a really nice result on your 5K. You should be very pleased with that one.

I do technically have the entire summer off, as classes don't begin again until August 31. I have a bunch of work to get done before then, but I have the luxury of doing it when I want and where I want. Thus my occasional comments of having a phony-baloney job.

Sunny

Glad you're committed to the race. We'll also go down on January 5 for one week, staying the nights before the runs at POFQ. What airline did you select for the Boston-Orlando trip?

I was able to do 6.25 on Saturday morning. I'm travelling again this week (phony-baloney ) and hope to run a few times during the trip. Next week when I return I hope to begin to build from the 6-8 I've been doing on the long days.

Happy training all. Less than 6 months to go. I cannot wait.

Craig

 

[KeenHo]

I probably did something awefully stupid today, but I am alive and (somewhat) well. I went to the local state park that has a dirt & cinder fitness track and did some running and walking. The track is 1.25 miles long and very large/wide, long, etc. I ran in the blistering heat of the day starting at about 9:15 a.m. and finishing around 12:45 p.m. The temps were in the 92-94 range with ultra high humidity. The heat index on the track was probably easily in excess of 100 degrees. I managed to complete 12.5 miles alternating running and walking as needed and taking breaks for water and pit stops. I could have easily finished the other .6 miles but it would have left me further away from my car and I was in no position to want to further expose myself to the heat and the pain(s) I was encountering.

I have some good news, I didn't encounter any shin splints or associated pain to speak of. I did get a small blister on my pinky toe (TMI, right?) and overall sore feet that felt like they were on fire at certain points during the run/walk.

The miles I logged today were by far the longest distance I have done since taking up running back in 2001. The most I've done is a 5 miler. You may be asking yourself "why did he do this?". Well, I wanted to get a time and a feel for the distance, the effort needed to do a half (or close to it) and to push myself as far as I could, just to see how much I could endure.

I developed a migraine/headache about two hours after running and have had it all day despite several rounds of Motrin and Tylenol. Tomorrow I am sleeping in and taking it relatively easy. I might do some mild crosstraining and lifting, no running.

Have a most excellent Tuesday.

Howard

 

[MelRhoads]

Just went running with my husband! I actually did a 7:59 mile (for the first mile. The next 1.5 was 9:00 and last .4 was 7:57! I cannot believe I did an 8 minute mile! Now I'm kindof excited about the thought of starting speedwork. I generally run a 10:30 - 11:00 on my long runs. I didn't know I was so fast

 

[kaf7878]

Hey everyone! Sounds like you are all busy!!

I have 4m scheduled for the TM today--actually looking forward to it! I just ordered an ipod too which should definately help on long runs--can't wait to test it out!!

A couple q's for you runners:

1-At what distance do you start adding "food/drink (not water)" into your runs. DH and I did the 1/2 last year and we never trained with gels or bars at all. Really just water and occasionally sports drink. But I know for the marathon I need to add some type of energy/nutrient. So when do you use them and how often. Any recommendations??

2-How many days a week are you training for the marathon (running)?? I workout 6 x week but I only run 3 of those days. The training schedules I've looked at are all 4 or 5 running days each week. Just curious what everyone does.

 

[pollioni]

I developed a migraine/headache about two hours after running and have had it all day despite several rounds of Motrin and Tylenol.

Hey Howard,

It looks like you may have dehydrated. Headaches are a common occuance with dehydration.

To quote the website http://www.runchuckit.com/nutrition_water.htm "Signs of Dehydration
Early symptoms of dehydrations include decreased energy or fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. Other signs are dry lips and mouth, nausea, dark colored urine, infrequent urination, constipation, increased body temperature and
labored breathing".

With that said try not to over hydrate. This can cause your electrolites to become out of balance. http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2003/0703/news0703.htm is an article about this subject.

 

[agotta]

Ok, so it is definitely time for new shoes. I ran about 1 mile this morning, actually more of a walking/running combo, but my feet are killing me. I have had enough of my Target walking sneaks. Can you recommend something with good arch support??

Howard- Take it easy man!! We want you around and HEALTHY for January!

kaf7878- I am only up to about 1 - 1.5 miles, but we run 3 times a week with 1 day of rest and 3 days of crosstraining (swimming and POWER 90).

MelRhoads-Awesome job! That is incredibly impressive and inspirational!!

 

[pollioni]

1-At what distance do you start adding "food/drink (not water)" into your runs. DH and I did the 1/2 last year and we never trained with gels or bars at all. Really just water and occasionally sports drink. But I know for the marathon I need to add some type of energy/nutrient. So when do you use them and how often. Any recommendations??

Personally I start to take gels when my runs get up around the 15K mark. I would take the first on at around the 40min mark and every 30-40 mins after that. When I come to really long runs 30K and over I would have one before I start that way my body should not run out of fuel and I won't "Hit the wall/bonk"

Remember to drink somethink with gels to help with the digestion.

2-How many days a week are you training for the marathon (running)?? I workout 6 x week but I only run 3 of those days. The training schedules I've looked at are all 4 or 5 running days each week. Just curious what everyone does.

Here is a great article on Runners World that should help to answer this question. Looks like your on track for this training schedule.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Howard--I agree with Robb's assessment on the hydration. Even if you felt you drank enough--huge headaches post run are not the norm.

kaf7878--I start adding food/gatorade type stuff at about 8-10 miles distance. I'm on tap to have a 5-day training week...1 day of xtrain and the rest running or some variant of running (i.e. speed drills/hill work). We were told to drink water with the gels as gel and "ade" are just too taxing on the digestive system. So non-gel "stops" we'd hydrate with "ade" and then on gel "stops" we'd hydrate with water.

Agotta---the biggest shoe recommendation I have is get thee to a running shoe specialist pronto. Too close to "official" training time and the distance will start to build. Even though you are walking--you will be on your feet for a very long time. Going to a store and getting your stride assessed will help you pick an appropriate shoe. And typically if you need good arch support, you'll probably have to invest in inserts (sold in running stores). Trust me--many on here did not believe the recommendation--went to Walmart or elsewhere..and within weeks upgraded their shoe . I do have a friend that ran a marathon in $30 Nikes from Sears...which can work if you have great feet and form. I have sucky feet....so I can't go more than 3 miles in a $30 shoe.

********************************************************
I've decided I hate my treadmill---sooooo boring! Moved back to a morning run--so it must be the fault of the news . The whole--killing myself to run in the blazing sun was not working for me. Went to bed at 8:30am last night--and that made a huge difference for a morning run. So perhaps taping my evening shows for morning replay will work. Stroller training must be working---I hit the mill after warmup with a 5.5 mph pace (sub-11:00 for anybody counting).

I do need to order a pilates mat as I have concrete/terrazzo floors and nothing cushiony to work out on .

We started Kindergarten yesterday (homeschool)--so I was tired by evening--and it was soooo easy to take my sneaks off and hurl them across the room when I discovered I was too tired to run. (Can you say a little -- mad!!! ).

I can't decide if I need new shoes or not. They don't seem to have enough milage/time to warrant a new pair...but they really don't feel all that comfy.
We'll see what my budget holds. I'm on target for breaking even this month and next month I'm on a savings frenzy!!

 

[lizdotcom99]

Breezing on in to say Hello and happy training one and all! I have been a bit crazy with trying to get ready for Hawaii and all! Crazy indeed! Well, I never made my long walk this weekend. I did get out for a few short ones this week, but that is about it. Heat and humidity have been enough to kill me.

I am not sure if I will be able to check in again before Hawaii as there is SO much to do....and I have yet to decide if I want to lug the laptop 5,000 + miles.....so, if you do not see me for the next week and a half, good luck and happy training!!

Lily, come hell or high water, I am going to make it to the start line of the Chicago Distance Classic. And as an FYI....I WILL do whatever I can to make it to the finish.....a little for a little less heat and humidity on August 7th would be GREATLY appreciated!!


On that note, time to get back to work. Lunch is over and there is always LOTS to do!!

Catch you all when I get back! Have a great training week! Oh, and Mel...GREAT job!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow Liz-- 2 days...well if you can spare a dollar a day--most of the major hotels have a business center--you can log in and brag...I mean tell us about how wonderful a time you are having in Hawaii!

You must try the pineapple--we went to McD's and it was included in the value meal .

The pizza at Hilton Hawaiian village--we liked as well. My sister loved Tiki's at the ASton Resort.

Enjoy and have a safe trip!

 

[lizdotcom99]

Wow Liz-- 2 days...well if you can spare a dollar a day--most of the major hotels have a business center--you can log in and brag...I mean tell us about how wonderful a time you are having in Hawaii!

You must try the pineapple--we went to McD's and it was included in the value meal .

The pizza at Hilton Hawaiian village--we liked as well. My sister loved Tiki's at the ASton Resort.

Enjoy and have a safe trip!

The first stop after check in is to go to the Dole Plantation! Greg has one afternoon of doing what he wants to do as he will be conventioning for 2 days....and I will be sightseeing.....since we are foregoing the annual Disney Trip he said he has to get his Dole Whip fix in some way!!!Yep, they have them at the Dole Plantation....and I am sure they have LOTS of pineapple there too!!

Pizza is a good thing too!! Thank goodness he gets to expense LOTS of this trip....so I might just be able to spare that $1 and brag, I mean SHARE my trip with all of you! I am bringing my digital as well....so whoo hoo!! You may even get the pictoral story

OK, back to the grind stone....I mean work!!
Only 20 more hours of work left until I leave....whoo hoo!!

 

[keenercam]

Hi, everyone! I know I have been MIA, but I have been tending to a challenge thread and really want to keep that updated for everyone who is putting the tremendous effort into it.

Mel -- How proud you must have felt when you finished that 5K with a PB in the sweltering heat! I cannot imagine your exhilaration (mixed with exhaustion, I am sure!) Congratulations, sweetie! You ROCK!!!

Sunny -- I LOVE my Garmin Forerunner. I have been using it for a week now and I find it to be a font of information. I really haven't used it for anything more than measuring my time and distance, and I frequently look at it to see what kind of pace I am doing, especially if it feels as if I am moving slowly or if I am feeling any kind of pain.

Disnutt -- I am so sorry that your training partner is not proving to be the reliable support you are entitled to. I know it helps to have someone to help motivate you, but if you are self-motivated, having someone else in on the shindig may actually be a downer. A couple of days ago, a friend told me she wanted to do my walks with me. I simply told her where and when and if she hadn't shown up, I'd have had my Garmin and my iPod for company. Fortunately, she showed up yesterday and today and we had a great time walking together.

Krista -- Happy Birthday! WOW! You got cool gifts! Stephen is awesome! And congrats on needing clothes in smaller sizes. That is so exciting!

Liz -- We will miss you . Have a great time! Enjoy walking in paradise .
Oh, yeah, and have a Dole Whip for me!

So, I have been plugging along, doing lots and lots of walking, trying to up my weekly totals. I have suffering severe lower left back pains that keep me from standing up straight when I get out of bed in the morning, and make the beginning of my walks very painful. I have a dr. appt scheduled for 8/4, but will work on stretching it at home before I go out to walk. Maybe it will have improved by the time of the appt. My pace is back to mid 16 to mid 17 right now and I am fine with that. Last week, I was able to do a lap at a much much faster pace due to a couple of short sprints. I am going to up those short sprints, but won't rush it.

I am re-reading MFM with intense concentration and am still working on breaking this plateau (I've been in the same 2.5 pound range since 5/31). Hoping to see significant improvement soon on the WL front, which I think will translate to moving a little faster. In the meantime, having walked more than 30 miles already this month, I am enjoying seeing muscle in my calves and feeling muscle in the fronts of my thighs, so at least I know all this "training" is not for naught.

Craig -- Thank you for your kind and supportive words on last week's thread. I didn't get the chance to respond, but I really appreciate everyone's interest in my efforts. I have been enjoying lurking and reading of everyone's progress, and can't wait to share my new PB, hopefully after a 5K this Saturday.

Happy day, everyone!

 

[Disneefun]

While out for my run/walk yesterday, I ran into a neighbor with her child outside and the kid was skipping. I stopped to talk to the neighbor and ended up skipping with the kid for awhile. After awhile, the neighbor, who's a runner, says "Hey, you're really good at that. How long can you do that? I bet you could go for miles" I said I didn't know. She said, hang on, she'd drop the kid on her husband, get her shoes and come out with me and we'd find out. (Remember that here in the south many strange things begin with either "Hey, yall, look at this" or something in the vein of "Wanna bet?")

Anyway we went out and she took my watch to time me and jogged along beside me. Well, I skipped for five miles before I had to take a break. And I wasn't that winded. We tallied up the time and discovered that I had been skipping an average of 9:34/minute miles. Weird, when I can't run for more than two minutes at a time without becoming winded and my run/walk pace has never dropped below an 11 minute mile. Freaky. I guess I have a gift for skipping but not for running.

Yes, I did feel like a total idiot going through the neighborhood like that, but I was laughing so hard it was fun to be humiliated. Anyway, maybe I can skip my way through the goofy challenge. Only problem is, I bet that at some point during training one of my stuck up neighbors will call the cops about the girl on drugs skipping though the neighborhood. I'd probably end up in jail. Is this looney tunes, or what?

 

[keenercam]

Disneefun -- You owe me a new keyboard! I just spewed my crystal light lemonade reading your post! Thank you so ooooooooo much for the laugh! I am

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The first stop after check in is to go to the Dole Plantation! Greg has one afternoon of doing what he wants to do as he will be conventioning for 2 days....and I will be sightseeing.....since we are foregoing the annual Disney Trip he said he has to get his Dole Whip fix in some way!!!Yep, they have them at the Dole Plantation....and I am sure they have LOTS of pineapple there too!!

Pizza is a good thing too!! Thank goodness he gets to expense LOTS of this trip....so I might just be able to spare that $1 and brag, I mean SHARE my trip with all of you! I am bringing my digital as well....so whoo hoo!! You may even get the pictoral story

OK, back to the grind stone....I mean work!!
Only 20 more hours of work left until I leave....whoo hoo!!

FYI--that pineapple is everywhere! The dole whips of course only at the plantation.

You can eat the pizza on a lovely outdoor terrace with view of the beach . And it wasn't that shabbily priced for hotel pizza in Hawaii.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well, I skipped for five miles before I had to take a break. And I wasn't that winded. We tallied up the time and discovered that I had been skipping an average of 9:34/minute miles. Weird, when I can't run for more than two minutes at a time without becoming winded and my run/walk pace has never dropped below an 11 minute mile. Freaky. I guess I have a gift for skipping but not for running.

Wonder what kind of medal they'll give for that...



All I can say is WOW!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

It is just great to have a partner to get on you when you don't feel like going out and doing the training. You know my partner lives near Chicago, IL while I live near Cleveland, OH. This place rocks!

Thanks to Liz I did my training today and it wasn't bad once I got out in it.

I have been so busy. I've read and everyone is doing so wonderful in keeping on with their training.

I actually like the skipping idea. May try that one on for size one of these days. I'd say it was a little "Goofy" to do that, but oh what fun and that you actually had the help of neighbors to get you started. That is a great story.

Cam, when I read about your back all I could think to tell you is to get on the Pilates training plan. You will be so amazed at the strength you will get to help that painl. It is a miracle. Just start out slow and steady with small steps.

Definitely the running shoe store for new shoes. Everyone needs the expert evaluation of the right shoe fit. It is important.

Thanks for the Runners World link. The info is always interesting.

So, we keep on keepin' on...

 

[KeenHo]

Hi, thanks for all the kind advice and information about my post run headache. I stopped several times to go to a fountain for water, I also stopped and bought a 16 oz. Aquafina towards the later laps of my run and downed it rather quickly. I also refilled it on the next lap and drank most of it before I finished up. It was just water, there were no sport type drinks available for me to pick up there. I will keep the hydration issue in the fore front and be prepared with iced down sport drinks and water for my longer runs.

Good luck with your training....

Howard

 

[lizdotcom99]

Lily....aren't paybacks fun? Actually, I was glad to be able to give you the nudge you have given me SO MANY times!! It is amazing what a few words of encouragement can do. Glad you got out there and did it! Way to go!!

Disneefun, Skipping.... What fun!!!! Glad you had such fun and a great time. Keep up the good work! At least we will know who you are as you come skipping by

Cam, glad to hear you are doing so well....now who I am going to walk with since you have gotten so speedy?

Lisa, thanks for the good advice. I bet you can even find pizza with pineapple on it! I am really looking forward to getting leid!! That is what it is all about for me For those of you have gone somewhere else with this, I just love flowers so all minds out of the gutter!!!

Howard, sorry about your headache. I am guess the heat surely must have something to do with it!

Mel, did I tell you I LOVE your picture!! You do not look like a dork. Dork pictures will be posted after the Chicago Distance Classic.

Well, again that is all I have time for. Gonna go and jump in the shower and head off to work. Not long and I will be on my way....now what to do on that NINE HOUR flight...argh!

Happy training! Keep up the great work!!!!