What I learned from this last race weekend

[goofeygirl]

Bio Freeze is my new best friend in a race!

Pace Groups.

Eating oatmeal and bananas before the race was the best.

Frozen margaritas in Epcot (I happen to be holding two of them because one was for my friend)...it was nice to drink that final stretch...

My goal this year was to NOT hit the wall for the full and I did not hit that wall this year. I found a wonderful and inspiring pace leader (Erica) who kept me and the group motivated and I realize this is what I needed all along. The bio freeze kept me feeling cool.
My other goal was to SMILE in Epcot and show some sort of remote joy...last year I was miserable! I wanted to go around Epcot and act like I just had soooo much fun! I did do just that...even though my legs were tired...I was waving and smiling but thinking...where t.f. is the finish line?

My goal for next year is do a better pr..and meet you guys.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Bio freeze is my new best friend too!

I learned that it's ok to lift your skirt and slather on the Vaseline between your thighs (under arms too) in public during a race.

I also learned to know your PR down to the seconds! I knew my record was 4 hrs 27 min but I forgot the seconds. I missed a new PR by 3 seconds! If I had known I was that close I would have pushed that much more and PR'd.

2nd marathon was just as fun as 1st! Miles flew by faster.

 

[jlovesee]

I third the bio freeze comment, my gosh that stuff is like liquid gold to sore legs! I kept getting trial size bio freezes at many of my prior races and never used it and now I'm " oh I've been missing out!"

Jennifer

 

[cherrybomb11]

My goal this year was to NOT hit the wall for the full and I did not hit that wall this year. I found a wonderful and inspiring pace leader (Erica) who kept me and the group motivated and I realize this is what I needed all along. The bio freeze kept me feeling cool.

Wait, I was running with a pace group too. The 6 hour pace group with Erica? I was Pocahontas.

 

[Aw Phooey]

Also discovered bio freeze this weekend.

Also discovered just how delicious a banana can be. I don't really like them and I've been scared to eat one during a race of any distance. I was convinced I might throw up. But those were the best two bananas I had ever eaten.

I also learned what true dehydration feels like. I was taken to the ER for an IV. Stinks that the rest of the day was ruined but I'm glad I listened to my body and got a medic when things felt weird and wrong. I'm fine and I have my medal so I'm happy.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Also discovered bio freeze this weekend. Also discovered just how delicious a banana can be. I don't really like them and I've been scared to eat one during a race of any distance. I was convinced I might throw up. But those were the best two bananas I had ever eaten. I also learned what true dehydration feels like. I was taken to the ER for an IV. Stinks that the rest of the day was ruined but I'm glad I listened to my body and got a medic when things felt weird and wrong. I'm fine and I have my medal so I'm happy.

Glad you are ok! That is scary! I was so afraid of dehydration that I stopped at every water stop except the last two.

 

[goofeygirl]

Wait, I was running with a pace group too. The 6 hour pace group with Erica? I was Pocahontas.

Yes I remember you! I was the girl with the two flags in my head....I was shouting over at you asking you about the pace group...what coral you started in and what time your goal was....I stayed with y'all until we reached Epcot where I HAD to get my margaritas!

So its nice I have actually ran alongside someone from here!

My friend was Minnie Mouse.

Erica was great!

 

[goofeygirl]

Also discovered bio freeze this weekend.

Also discovered just how delicious a banana can be. I don't really like them and I've been scared to eat one during a race of any distance. I was convinced I might throw up. But those were the best two bananas I had ever eaten.

I also learned what true dehydration feels like. I was taken to the ER for an IV. Stinks that the rest of the day was ruined but I'm glad I listened to my body and got a medic when things felt weird and wrong. I'm fine and I have my medal so I'm happy.

Glad you are okay....I did drink a lot...sometimes two cups of power aide and water.

 

[Aw Phooey]

Glad you are ok! That is scary! I was so afraid of dehydration that I stopped at every water stop except the last two.

It just came all of a sudden. I was drinking all the way to the finish without missing a stop. It wasn't until I got up to leave the Race Retreat of all things that I felt like I was going to puke and things got really cold. I felt "great" during the race itself.

 

[goofeygirl]

It just came all of a sudden. I was drinking all the way to the finish without missing a stop. It wasn't until I got up to leave the Race Retreat of all things that I felt like I was going to puke and things got really cold. I felt "great" during the race itself.

Last year I did the Goofy and when I got back to my room I felt like I was going to get sick...I did not but I felt terrible...after my shower I felt better and went to a park but the next day I came down with a major case of the chills...and it was hot out!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Wait, I was running with a pace group too. The 6 hour pace group with Erica? I was Pocahontas.

Hahaha! Kirsty_Leigh and I were pretty much with that pace group the entire way. We were aiming for 6 hours ourselves and we were always just ahead or behind you guys for the entire race, even though we were doing our own intervals. I definitely saw you in your Pocahontas costume!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

It just came all of a sudden. I was drinking all the way to the finish without missing a stop. It wasn't until I got up to leave the Race Retreat of all things that I felt like I was going to puke and things got really cold. I felt "great" during the race itself.

Wow, that is even scarier! Glad you paid attention to your body and hot help. Were there other runners at the ER too?

 

[Aw Phooey]

Wow, that is even scarier! Glad you paid attention to your body and hot help. Were there other runners at the ER too?

There was a medical tent on site being used as an ER of sorts. I assume most of the runners were treated there. I finished after the Balloon Ladies (got passed in World Showcase) and just barely made it to RR for food, which I ended up not eating, before they cleared those tables. So by the time I needed help they weren't prepared to fully treat me there. They had to tear it down. So I took them up on the offer to take an ambulance to Celebration.

At the hospital I saw one person in a race shirt and medal but she wasn't a patient. I'm assuming she was there to see another runner.

 

[flatlandcycle]

I also learned what true dehydration feels like.

I wonder if you were on the low-sodium side of things, especially since you say you were drinking at every stop. It's not uncommon for 25% plus of marathoners to finish with hyponatremia (low blood sodium.) Did you consume gels and sports drink to replace lost salts, or did you mostly drink water? Hopefully they gave you a saline IV.

this is a link to an abstract for a study looking at gendered based fluid consumption during a marathon:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15867557

I only respond because I care. If you think that you were dehydrated and respond to this 'knowledge' by drinking more plain ol' water things could get a lot worse.

 

[DOOM1001]

I probably drank a tad less than I did last year but I still pretty much had water and/or Powerade at every stop,I think the only one I passed without taking any was at mm24 as I had absolute no desire for any at that moment and knew there would be another water stop before coming into Epcot before mm25,where I did take some.To avoid any issues with low sodium I always bring with me a ton of energy aids.This year I brought 6 GU gels,4 Clif blocks and 4 Sport Beans,that along with 7 Clif gels I grabbed on the course totalled 21,of those 21 energy aids I took in 16 of them as I finished with 3 of my Gu gels and 2 Clif blocks.Once again after finishing I obviously had no desire to eat anything afterwards for a couple of hours.After getting back to the hotel and showering I took a short nap and went to the hotel food court where I brought back a large pizza with pepperoni,sausage and olives and a tie dye cheesecake,by that time I was real hungry so I probably ate half the pizza.

 

[Aw Phooey]

I wonder if you were on the low-sodium side of things, especially since you say you were drinking at every stop. It's not uncommon for 25% plus of marathoners to finish with hyponatremia (low blood sodium.) Did you consume gels and sports drink to replace lost salts, or did you mostly drink water? Hopefully they gave you a saline IV.

this is a link to an abstract for a study looking at gendered based fluid consumption during a marathon:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15867557

I only respond because I care. If you think that you were dehydrated and respond to this 'knowledge' by drinking more plain ol' water things could get a lot worse.

No worries. I know you mean well.

That's what I THOUGHT was going on. I'm always covered in salt after a run. My hands were also tingling violently shortly after the nausea came on. I said "dehydration" because that's what I was told. Maybe people were dumbing things down for me (ugh I hate that).

But again I have to shrug. I did Poweraide (sometimes 2 cups when they were looking a little skimpy) until the last two stops because the taste was beginning to get in the way if swallowing it. Plus my belt had nothing but Poweraide in it.

 

[dburg30]

I learned DONT CHANGE ANYTHING.. I heard everyone talking about the chocolate at studios. So I grabbed a couple of bars, unwrapped one, threw it in my mouth, started chewing and just about puked. I just wasnt used to that taste during runs, it actually didnt taste that good to me. I got it down, was no problems, but thank goodness it was at the end of the run. I also am not a fan of bananas but wow did the one close to AK taste really good lol..

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I actually don't think I would do anything differently. Can't wait for next year.

 

[WhereInFlorida]

I learned DONT CHANGE ANYTHING.. I heard everyone talking about the chocolate at studios. So I grabbed a couple of bars, unwrapped one, threw it in my mouth, started chewing and just about puked. I just wasnt used to that taste during runs, it actually didnt taste that good to me. I got it down, was no problems, but thank goodness it was at the end of the run. I also am not a fan of bananas but wow did the one close to AK taste really good lol..

Last year I took a chocolate and think it really helped me over the last stretch, so I did it again this year. Popped it in my mouth, and chewed and chewed and just was not going down. Made it to the water station hoping that would help but ended with spitting it out.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I learned DONT CHANGE ANYTHING.. I heard everyone talking about the chocolate at studios. So I grabbed a couple of bars, unwrapped one, threw it in my mouth, started chewing and just about puked. ..

This happened to me in New York. Except I puked, for 7 miles.