Training
I still have not been able to complete every single day of training but the training has been paying off. I am making sure to hit all of the important days--speed/strength runs, tempo runs, and long runs. I still try to do 1-2 easy runs but if my body is asking for rest, I would rather rest than injure myself and be completely side-swiped.
I can see the gains even though I have not hit every day of training. I am hitting goal pace and surpassing it without much effort and the runs are actually enjoyable. A piece of training I was missing in my first half marathon training was knowing what pace to run each run. I have learned you cannot hit every run hard and there is actually a benefit to running slower and getting the miles in.
Race day nutrition is still up in the air. I have learned to not be afraid of carbs to fuel my training. My stomach feels a bit swollen than usual but the way my body has felt with the proper amount of carbs in my body during a run is a way better feeling. The use of water for hydration is out and I have been using either Nuun tabs or Gatorade (Gatorade is preferred) to fuel my runs to give me the amount of salt and electrolytes I need which along with enough carbs to burn, has helped to fuel better runs in training. Now, the day of the race all of this wonderful knowledge and feelings go down the crapper--literally. I ran the OUC half marathon yesterday. I was on the road to meet my PR goal but my stomach ruined it all. Read below for the re-cap.
I can see the gains even though I have not hit every day of training. I am hitting goal pace and surpassing it without much effort and the runs are actually enjoyable. A piece of training I was missing in my first half marathon training was knowing what pace to run each run. I have learned you cannot hit every run hard and there is actually a benefit to running slower and getting the miles in.
Race day nutrition is still up in the air. I have learned to not be afraid of carbs to fuel my training. My stomach feels a bit swollen than usual but the way my body has felt with the proper amount of carbs in my body during a run is a way better feeling. The use of water for hydration is out and I have been using either Nuun tabs or Gatorade (Gatorade is preferred) to fuel my runs to give me the amount of salt and electrolytes I need which along with enough carbs to burn, has helped to fuel better runs in training. Now, the day of the race all of this wonderful knowledge and feelings go down the crapper--literally. I ran the OUC half marathon yesterday. I was on the road to meet my PR goal but my stomach ruined it all. Read below for the re-cap.
OUC Orlando 1/2 Marathon Recap
OUC half marathon: the road to 2:15 PR. I had been hitting the goal pace per mile consistently in training. I felt great after each run. There was nothing going to stop me...it was in the books. The race started and I was feeling great. The first mile is always tough because there are so many people around. After that I had enough space to run, I was running negative splits, and I could visualize the 2:15 clock time.
Suddenly, a little over 5 miles and I felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I felt the cold sweat running down my spine. The road began to spin and blur. The nauseous feeling took over. A couple of minutes later I felt the throb in my intestines. I was confused--was my pre-race meal going to come out of my mouth or out of my...you know...nether region? Was I going to be embarrassed because I was going to throw up on myself or you know...release the pain in my north face capris? At this time, I had to face facts--I had to stop running. I had to fix this to finish the next half of this race. Unfortunately, in that 6 minute walk break were everyone is rushing past me I didn't throw up and I didn't...you know..the other thing. This was the beginning of ebbing waves of nausea and stomach pain that persisted until I finished.
I was able to run again after that break but my mile times were never the same during the first half of the race. Once I was running with the 2:30 pace team I knew I was done. I kept trying to push past and be ok with at least beating my last race time of 2:31 and perhaps I could have run say, a 2:27 race, but I had to take another 6 minute walk break as I felt the icy grip of nausea take over a little after mile 9. I dry heaved this time but again, no release.
All I could think about was rushing to my car after I finished to have an angry and shameful cry due to my body sabotaging me until I saw a woman a little past mile 11 gripping a medics hand while half-way strewn on the sidewalk, somewhere between passed out and some sense of consciousness. At that moment, I just felt grateful enough that I could push through and get that finisher's medal.
I finished at 2:32 with the blistering 9:30 a.m. sun on me, wondering what I needed to do to fuel up properly for the next race.
Suddenly, a little over 5 miles and I felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I felt the cold sweat running down my spine. The road began to spin and blur. The nauseous feeling took over. A couple of minutes later I felt the throb in my intestines. I was confused--was my pre-race meal going to come out of my mouth or out of my...you know...nether region? Was I going to be embarrassed because I was going to throw up on myself or you know...release the pain in my north face capris? At this time, I had to face facts--I had to stop running. I had to fix this to finish the next half of this race. Unfortunately, in that 6 minute walk break were everyone is rushing past me I didn't throw up and I didn't...you know..the other thing. This was the beginning of ebbing waves of nausea and stomach pain that persisted until I finished.
I was able to run again after that break but my mile times were never the same during the first half of the race. Once I was running with the 2:30 pace team I knew I was done. I kept trying to push past and be ok with at least beating my last race time of 2:31 and perhaps I could have run say, a 2:27 race, but I had to take another 6 minute walk break as I felt the icy grip of nausea take over a little after mile 9. I dry heaved this time but again, no release.
All I could think about was rushing to my car after I finished to have an angry and shameful cry due to my body sabotaging me until I saw a woman a little past mile 11 gripping a medics hand while half-way strewn on the sidewalk, somewhere between passed out and some sense of consciousness. At that moment, I just felt grateful enough that I could push through and get that finisher's medal.
I finished at 2:32 with the blistering 9:30 a.m. sun on me, wondering what I needed to do to fuel up properly for the next race.
Looking back, even with the 3 hour digestion time, I know my body better than to eat without completely digesting. Next race, I am sticking with just my dinner. I ate before the Princess half and had similar stomach pains, so I know the problem is eating even 3-4 hours before the race. My body just cannot handle it. Also, the Nuun tabs really put the kibosh on the race. My body prefers Gatorade, and even with the extra sugar in the Gatorade, it leads to better fuel for my race than water with added electrolytes.
My next opportunity will be next week at the Mt. Dora half marathon. I know I will not be able to PR during the Dopey Challenge so I am going to take another stab at PR'ing before I end this training season in January. Wish me luck!
My next opportunity will be next week at the Mt. Dora half marathon. I know I will not be able to PR during the Dopey Challenge so I am going to take another stab at PR'ing before I end this training season in January. Wish me luck!