Long run from hell. Heat exhaustion?

[Wines Not Whines]

Today I was supposed to run 16 miles with 12 at goal marathon pace. Um, yeah, that did not happen. I'm not sure what happened, but something went very wrong. The first half of the run was fine, but the way back was all a gradual uphill, and it killed me. It was also warm and very humid, but I've run in worse conditions this summer, so I don't know why today was particularly tough.

I was sweating like crazy and trying to drink enough water and eat salty gels, but my stomach was rebelling against it. Then I started to get a headache, and I had to stop and walk every 2 minutes because I felt like my heart rate kept getting too elevated. It was really weird. And not fun.

I made it home doing the run/walk shuffle of shame, but I still feel like my heart rate is elevated (over 100 bpm and I've been cooling off and resting for a while now). I'll take it easy for the rest of the day, but is there anything specific I should do?

This is also getting to me mentally, because how can I run 26.2 in a few weeks if I can't even run 12 at this pace? I'm fine with reassessing, but today's run was even harder than my 20-miler last week.

Oh, and even after drinking a ton of water and gatorade, including a bottle when I got home, the scale says I lost 4 lbs of water weight. Yikes.

[cinco]

Something is in the air today. DH bombed his 12 mile long run, and I walked home on a SIX miler. It is a mix of the weather (we've been spoiled with cooler temps lately), the exhaustion point in training, lack of sleep. I'm really good at coming up with excuses if you'd like me to continue. My last marathon pace run was a flop, and then I did it the following week no problem. Running is weird like that. Don't let one run get you down!

[Wines Not Whines]

Aug 31, 2013 9:31:32 GMT -5 cinco said:

Something is in the air today. DH bombed his 12 mile long run, and I walked home on a SIX miler. It is a mix of the weather (we've been spoiled with cooler temps lately), the exhaustion point in training, lack of sleep. I'm really good at coming up with excuses if you'd like me to continue. My last marathon pace run was a flop, and then I did it the following week no problem. Running is weird like that. Don't let one run get you down!

Thanks, this really does make me feel much better. I have a half next weekend, so that will be a pace run redo, in a way.

[savan]

Oh, I've had those runs. I once stopped and walked home after just 4 miles. I was hot and did not feel good. Any time I have a run like that I try to schedule a redemption run. Something to renew my confidence. I bet your half next weekend will be that run for you.

[al320]

If it helps, i bombed my run this morning too. Its 75 degrees and 78% humidity. I was supposed to run 9, i ran 4.6. I drank ALL my water. I didnt run all week, and i was in ireland, where it was perfect runnng weather and i didnt get to run at all, and i think in a week i de-acclimated from the humidity, because i felt fine otherwise. It was baaaaaad. Im so glad you guys convinced me to not race tomorrow (i asked about it a few weeks ago).

So yeah, nit just you, its a bad weekend all around.

[brooke77]

I can also commiserate. I had 12 miles planned - I lost my breakfast at mile 2.5, was SOAKED in sweat by mile 3, and basically doing a death march walk/shuffle by mile 3.25. I ended up cutting the "run" short and doing an 8.5 mile route. I'll try again Monday.

[InBetweenDays]

Last year, about 2 weeks before a half, I went out for an easy 3 mile run and couldn't complete it. I also had the worst run of my life as one of my longest training runs for a marathon. Yet I was able to complete both races with no problems (even PR'd that half by 3 minutes!).

Bad runs happen - don't let it get you down. Try to take care of yourself today, rest, and start fresh with your next run.

[ebeth]

Yeah. My run totally blew too. I had to tke a breather every two miles and i was real slow too. I put down like 50oz of fluid and was still sooo thirsty when I finished.

[AAM2012]

My run sucked today too. I finished but definitely not in the time I wanted. It's so humid and I have been sweating buckets!

Any time I have a 'not-so-perfect' run my running partner reminds me that not every run is going to be awesome, sometimes you just have to get the miles in or take a day off here and there. Just put it past you and move on to the next run

[archaeominx]

It is apparently bomb your run day. My easy 10 ended at 4 with my dear old calf muscle seizing up again to where I had to limp my miserable pissed off ass home.

[G22]

This isn't helping me get my butt out the door to run 12 miles today guys!

OP, I had a very similar run a few weeks on on an 18 miler. It severely shattered my confidence to run a marathon in a few weeks. But I allowed myself to wallow over it for a days and then got back out there. My H keeps telling me I will be fine, and I'm starting to believe him. You've got this. Bad run will always happens. Its the nature of the training.

[sadlebred]

Sometimes it just happens. At least once or twice a year I'll go out for a ride wanting to do xx miles or xx intervals. I wind up feeling like crap and doing a short recovery ride instead.

[jene]

Add me to the shitty run club. I was dragging ass the entire time, and had to stop to refill my bottles twice.

[lb2006]

Aug 31, 2013 10:42:02 GMT -5 ebeth said:

Yeah. My run totally blew too. I had to tke a breather every two miles and i was real slow too. I put down like 50oz of fluid and was still sooo thirsty when I finished.

Same here - refilled some bottles twice on my 17 miler.  It was low 80s and high humidity.  Got home & weighed myself (always weigh pre & post long runs) lost 3.5 lbs even w/50+ oz of fluid.  brutal day!  This is why we pick fall/winter marathons & races - hoping our pain during the summer will pay off race day with (hopefully) cooler weather!

[Wines Not Whines]

Thanks, everyone. I'm sorry all of your runs sucked today, too! Let's blame it on the humidity.

[Deleted]

This is making me glad I pushed back my plans to restart running until October.

That sounds horrible. If you're still feeling dehydrated, grab some Pedialyte. It's vile, but it will definitely help. Feel better!

[thom]

Congrats on finishing in those conditions. It's been tough running weather here lately too. Previous ladies all had some good advice too.

[boston340]

Add me to the club too - I bombed my run this morning. It took me 2 hours to go 8.5 miles, I walked a lot of it. It really sucked. At least we can all commiserate together.

[joenali]

I think you need more salt. Eating a gel isn't enough when you a sweating like that. Use actual salt. Out some in a Baggie and then lick. Make sure you drink water after you take some.

[gt7301b]

The humidity sucks... You'll do better next time.

[clseale]

How are you feeling today Wines Not Whines? I had a similar experience w/a 12 miler on the 4th of July. I think it was a combination of heat exhaustion and my electrolytes being way out of balance. I felt crummy for a few days. Your next run will be better!

[Wines Not Whines]

Sept 1, 2013 9:54:00 GMT -5 clseale said:

How are you feeling today Wines Not Whines? I had a similar experience w/a 12 miler on the 4th of July. I think it was a combination of heat exhaustion and my electrolytes being way out of balance. I felt crummy for a few days. Your next run will be better!

I'm feeling much better today. Thanks for asking. It also helps that today is a rest day! I have some speed work on the schedule for tomorrow, and it's going to be another hot day, but hopefully it will go better.

[cinco]

Glad you are feeling better today!