Fall Marathon Training Randoms

[Susie]

It actually helps to hear that nutrition was a likely significant contributor because that is something I can fix!

My mind is already turning, thinking about maybe doing my local marathon in October 2025.  The vibe of MCM and other big city races was something I specifically wanted for my first 26.2, and MCM delivered on that front.  But the comparative chill of my local race, along with a lot less walking to the start, easier logistics, ability to train on the course, etc. etc. might help me focus next time on dialing in some of the issues I had this time.  I'm really happy to have survived the marathon, but I think I'd also like to thrive in one as a next goal.  I will give it some thought.  

[scm1011]

Oct 29, 2024 12:50:04 GMT -5 wawa said:

Unrelated - my 18 miler dilemma was easily solved by realizing that I'm not a slave to my training plan, and can just swap next week's step back 10 for this week's 18 and have totally manageable amount of miles for a Friday morning. Woohoo! This race feels like a freight training approaching in the distance at that point where suddenly it goes from a little spot of light getting slowly brighter to something you can SEE getting closer in a big damn hurry.

I can't believe none of us thought to suggest that lol. I'm glad you found a solution! When is race day for you? What marathon are you running (if you want to share)? 

[wawa]

Oct 30, 2024 7:36:49 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Oct 29, 2024 12:50:04 GMT -5 wawa said:

Unrelated - my 18 miler dilemma was easily solved by realizing that I'm not a slave to my training plan, and can just swap next week's step back 10 for this week's 18 and have totally manageable amount of miles for a Friday morning. Woohoo! This race feels like a freight training approaching in the distance at that point where suddenly it goes from a little spot of light getting slowly brighter to something you can SEE getting closer in a big damn hurry.

I can't believe none of us thought to suggest that lol. I'm glad you found a solution! When is race day for you? What marathon are you running (if you want to share)? 

Also didn't occur to me, but in retrospect it seems so obvious.  LOL.  Took 16 miles with my training bestie for her to come up with it, and then I had to have my hand held and be told I was allowed by my two friday morning run buddies who have both done more long distance than me.

Rehoboth, DE on Dec 7th. 

[laterz]

Congrats scm1011 and Susie!

[campermom]

Well I have 8 days left.
July: 26 miles
August 50 miles
Sept 74 miles
Oct: 39 miles
Nov: 2.7 miles and I doubt I’ll run again before next weekend.

For long runs I did; a 10 (twice) a 13.1, a 15 broken up into chunks though the day, same went for the 18.

That is all.
My goal is to finish, which I know I will, I’ll probably be an hour and a half slower than my best times. Meeting myself where I’m at.

[Susie]

campermom , it's going to be hard, no getting around that, but walk when you need to and finish proud. <3

I started running again this week, about 10 days after MCM.  I ran 3 on Wed and 5 yesterday.  I feel better after MCM than I did after my spring half.  It's kind of weird.  I don't feel like I have a road map for this, but I'm thinking I may run a turkey trot and my local very low key 13.1 on New Years Day, and then figure 2025 out after that.

[wawa]

Campermom I'm excited for you! A marathon is an amazing accomplishment, no matter if you did it faster in the past. Past you isnt doing this race, you are, and current you is a badass in the face of a lot of training disruptions.

Also LOLs on the monthly milage. I've hit more of my long runs than you were able to, but I just haven't found the magic sauce to get my weekday mileage up. I think it's something like 50ish, 40ish (fucking covid), 80ish, and Nov might crack 90 total.

During my 18 I had a LOT of foot swelling in the last 3-4 miles. My toes were CRAMMED into shoes that have never been an issue for toe space. I see now how people lose nails, because my big toes are sore if press on the tops of them. Is there anything I can do about that? feels too late for bigger shoes or wider shoes (1 20 miler left+2 week taper), and I'm concerned that if i go up a size I'll have a good amount of space for the last 10 miles but I'll have already gotten a blister sliding around for the first 16.

[osulori]

wawa, glad you were able to figure something out that doesn't involve a MOTN wakeup time!

campermom, you've got this! I can't wait to hear about it

[scm1011]

campermom, you got this!! I also had much lower than ever mileage this marathon cycle (my weekday running was abysmal) and ended up having my most enjoyable marathon experience once I let go of any expectations. Here's hoping its the same for you!

[brooke77]

campermom - You got this! My training cycle was also terrible. I took a few weeks off to travel, then work got hectic, then I got injured, and my training was not what I wanted it to be. I probably would have deferred if I could have, but I was running for a charity and deferring wasn’t an option. My time was slower than last year, but I did it and that’s all that matters! Go out and have fun! Maybe go with a run/walk plan so the last 10K isn’t hell. Good luck!!

[campermom]

Done! Proud but in a lot more pain than any of the other 4 marathons (one being a 50k) I’ve done in the past. It was the inability to stick to the training plan and some weight gain. But I’m proud!

Over an hour slower then my two normal times. But 12 mins faster than last year. I’ll take it!

I’m so sore. It’s going to be years before I commit to this again. I have my kids most days and the two visits a month they have w dad are dwindling. Maybe when they get older I will do another, not anytime soon though.

[scm1011]

Yay, campermom!! You're amazing!! I know how hard marathon training is with a partner to rely on, I cannot imagine doing it as a solo parent! You should be very proud.

[wawa]

So amazing campermom!!!

[wawa]

Am I the last one standing? Has everybody else done their race now?

Sunday was 20 miles, so now it's taper time!
My training bestie has been having some health issues, and they reared up halfway through our 20. After 10 really steady miles, we had two bathroom breaks, a swing into Rite Aid and then she threw in the towel after another 2 miles of only being able to mostly walk and called her neighbor for a mid-run pickup. I carried on from there (about 14.5) to finish the 20 solo. (we were doing a point to point with MH at the end to pick us up). Luckily her doc is taking her seriously FINALLY and there's a plan to get it all sorted by Dec 7.

So overall a bumpy ride, but I finished feeling pretty strong! Fastest mile of the 20 was mile 15 (which to be fair, was gently downhill the whole way...). MY FEET though, omg. No blisters or anything, and i changed my shoe lacing to give my toes more room and that seemed to work, but they're just so tired. Like the skin on my soles is tender, my whole foot kinda tingles. The muscles are tired. They're still a little puffy today. Definitely the weakest link. My legs are tired today but not terrible. Stretches PT gave me for my hip are working. I feel pretty good about 26.2 miles on rested legs, because I FOR SURE went into this 20 a little tired and had enough in me to get it done without being miserable at any point.

Which is good because after the run we spent the rest of the afternoon assembling furniture for my kid's rearranged bedroom instead of napping like the run gods intended.

[Susie]

Congrats campermom!

And way to finish it out, wawa!  It think you are our last woman standing.  Goooo!

[scm1011]

wawa, you ran 20 and then had the energy to spend an afternoon assembling furniture?! You are going to crush your marathon!!

[wawa]

Nov 18, 2024 13:25:59 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

wawa , you ran 20 and then had the energy to spend an afternoon assembling furniture?! You are going to crush your marathon!!

I mean, there was a LOT of groaning.  And I promptly spent the hours from 5 PM to bedtime sprawled on the cough with my feet up.  But we got it done!  Loft bed with attached desk, complete!
I hope you're right though. 

[scm1011]

Nov 18, 2024 13:44:51 GMT -5 wawa said:

Nov 18, 2024 13:25:59 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

wawa , you ran 20 and then had the energy to spend an afternoon assembling furniture?! You are going to crush your marathon!!

I mean, there was a LOT of groaning.  And I promptly spent the hours from 5 PM to bedtime sprawled on the cough with my feet up.  But we got it done!  Loft bed with attached desk, complete!
I hope you're right though. 

Girl, I wouldn't have even attempted. I told me DH in advance "be prepared for me to be completely useless this day". If he had asked me to assemble a LOFT BED WITH ATTACHED DESK I would have laughed and laughed. You're a total rockstar!