Any Fall Marathons/Half Marathons?

[maillotpois]

Beverly - the Mooathon sounds wonderful. I wish we had one!!

[Lise]

The Mooathlon looks like so much fun!

And I want the sweatshirt (or maybe just the fine Irish lad in the sweatshirt... ) http://www.mooathon.com/cowapparel.htm

[kaybee]

Beverly, the Mooathon sounds like a blast! There have been times when I've felt like a cow, slogging through the heat and humidity here!

Deborahjen, we can be your virtual training partners. How long will your longest run be before your half? When will you do it? (See, sharing and encouraging already.)

I know what you mean about speedwork. Fast I am not, so I gave up on speedwork a long time ago. It seemed like I was always hurting myself, so it wasn't doing me any good anyway. I just want to finish my half without walking a step. (Okay, I'll admit it, I would also like to finish it under 2:15, which would be a 10:30 per-mile average.)

Colby, I agree that we need to decide whether the week will run Sunday-Saturday, Saturday-Sunday, or something else. I don't have a preference. Does anyone else?

KB

[limewave]

Does everyone finish their "week" with their long run? That's what I do, but it varies from Saturday to Sunday.

Would it be weird if our running week went from Monday to Sunday? . . . just a thought.

Kaybee--my goal is to finish my half in under 2:15 too. My dream would be to finish in uder 2 hours (ha, ha).

[colby]

Does everyone finish their "week" with their long run? That's what I do, but it varies from Saturday to Sunday.

Would it be weird if our running week went from Monday to Sunday? . . . just a thought.

Kaybee--my goal is to finish my half in under 2:15 too. My dream would be to finish in uder 2 hours (ha, ha).

I think Monday to Sunday actually fits with most training programs that I've seen. They all seem to start Monday with long runs Saturday or Sunday.

I'm hoping to finish my half marathon in the middle of my marathon training similarly to you guys, under 2:15. It's a hilly course, though, so I'm a little worried. I also don't want to kill myself for my marathon training, so I'll have to take it a little easy or I'll end up taking extra days off and getting behind. The half marathon I did earlier in the year was after no real ramp-up or training -- I had never ran more than 12k in my life until that day, and the 12k was 3 weeks prior I have been doing 4-5 miles 4-5 times a week for a long time (months before the 12k and HM), though it felt a little aimless and I don't think it was really adequate training. A base, sure, but not really with any goal in mind.

Since this is my first year, I'm approaching everything with caution, maybe more than I should. I'm just afraid to push myself too hard and pay the price. After I've got a few things under my belt, maybe I'll kick it up a notch. I've already learned a lot about training (set a goal, follow a plan, vary your distances and speeds) that will really help me next year.

[Deborajen]

Deborahjen, we can be your virtual training partners. How long will your longest run be before your half? When will you do it? (See, sharing and encouraging already.)

Thanks for the encouragement!

My longest run will be 10 miles - a week from Sunday. The 8-mile run with speedwork earlier this week was the most intense, so I'm getting ready to start tapering. After this Sunday's run, which will be 9 miles, I'll have 21 miles for the week which is the weekly max.--

Limewave - My running week is Monday to Sunday with the longest run on Sunday. I only have two more training Sundays left.

So how do the rest of you cope with tight muscles from all of this? I'm doing extra stretching and hope to squeeze in a massage appointment this weekend.--

Deb

[limewave]

DJ--I always take an ice bath after my long runs. It helps so much. I actually sit in the tub first and then turn on the water instead of just plunging into a huge tub of frigid water. I find cycling really helps with loosening up my legs too.

Well, girls, I'm supposed to do an 18 miler today but DH says he'll be working until 10 or 11 tonight. That leaves me with the little pooper. I'm hesitant about pushing her in the jogger that far. I've done 13 with her and she was great, but 18 miles is going to take me more than three hours. And I can't run on Sunday because we're riding in a tour all day. I don't know what to do . . .

[kaybee]

Limewave, you're planning 18 miles for Saturday AND an all-day ride on Sunday? What a woman!

DJ -- The ice bath works, if you can stand it. Taking a little walk later in the day after a long run and stretching also help. I've also decided to treat myself to a few massages between now and the half.

KB

[colby]

DJ--I always take an ice bath after my long runs. It helps so much. I actually sit in the tub first and then turn on the water instead of just plunging into a huge tub of frigid water. I find cycling really helps with loosening up my legs too.

I haven't tried the ice bath, but I agree about the cycling. Something about the motion helps stretch and loosen up my running muscles. Obviously a super-long ride after a super-long run would hurt, but if I make it a point to commute the next day (6 miles), it really seems to help.

[Lise]

Thanks to you ladies, I've finally started icing my legs. I did it for the first time last Tuesday, after a 40 mile ride.

Today after my 10 mile run, I tried limewave's trick, and sat in the tub as it filled. More bearable that way. I filled it with cold water, and put in an ice pack. It's a big, thoroughly frozen thing that came with some medication in the mail. After I'd soaked for awhile, I put the ice pack on top of each thigh for a minute or two. Then I took a warm shower, went out on my bike for 10 miles, came back and stretched. We'll see how tomorrow goes, but I'm feeling pretty good today! Thanks!

My greatest regret about the marathon is that I didn't ice afterward, and I came home and took a hot bath. HUGE mistake. If I were to do it again, I'd have a friend bring me bags of ice for my legs right after I finished.