Well, if you read my post from yesterday, you know I was a little bummed about my race performance. I didn't feel like I ran as well as I had in my training runs, and I was disappointed that I had missed my goal time.
But I'm moving on with a positive attitude and some lessons learned. The next race will be better! (And since I didn't do that great this time, that means it will be that much easier to improve next time, right? ;)
And I want to say a big THANKS to all of you who cheered me up and cheered me on. Your encouraging words really made me smile and see the race for the great accomplishment it was!
First, I learned the great importance of strength training. I've always believed in it, and had consistently practiced it up until I started ramping up my race training. But since strength training workouts usually left me sore for a couple of days, I started subbing weights for more runs. I didn't want to have to miss my long weekend runs because I was too sore. But I think now that extra strength training would have really helped my knees fare a lot better in miles 11-13. I have more time to commit to training before the next race, so no excuses for missing my strength workouts. (Any other suggestions for sore knees?)
Second, I learned a bit about race-day fueling. I wasn't sure what to eat, and I didn't want to upset my stomach, but I think I erred far too low in the calories department. I ended up feeling so hungry and depleted that I was actually nauseous.
Third, I learned that 13.1 miles is a hell of a lot harder than 10, and I'll need to be mentally prepared for the challenge. I only trained up to 10 miles and had only raced up to a 5K, so I was covering lots of new territory. At least now I'll know what to expect.
Finally, I learned that apparently, the porta potty lines are a lot shorter at 8 miles than they are at 3, so I should really try very hard to time that better. (Ideally, I'd like to do the whole thing without going to the bathroom... Is that even possible? You wouldn't think one kidney could produce so much!)
So I made myself a new countdown ticker to track the next race. (Joel and I had the very wise foresight of registering for the next race at the expo, before we had a chance to change our mind after running our first one. Joel, by the way, totally ROCKED his run! He ended up finishing about 20-25 minutes faster than he expected!) I think my turtle, crawling toward the beach is very fitting. It reminds me that the process and progress is very, very slow. :)
5 comments:
Glad to hear you're feeling better. It's always a good idea to wait until the next day to see what your TRUE emotions are....exhaustion after a run can really mess up everything!
As for the sore knees, my husband would recommend having another look at the shoes you're using. He knows a fair amount about the bio-physical aspects of running and shoe technology, as he works for a major sports company (I won't mention it by name, but it rhymes with 'bike-ee'). ;-)
If you haven't done so already, find a reputable running/sports store that has a treadmill and computer system set up to assess your running style. They should have you run barefoot for a few minutes while capturing a video of you from the back (I know, not very dignified, but let's be honest...we moms lost all dignity in childbirth anyway). Then they'll be able to view the footage with specialized software that analyzes the alignment of your hips, knees, ankles, and footfall. This should give information on whether you need shoes with extra support, extra cushioning, etc. Your average teenager working at Foot Locker on the weekend won't have a clue, so that's why it's worth investing the time researching stores where the employees know what the H they're talking about!
It's may be as simple as that, having the right tool for the job. A sledgehammer won't do you much good if what you need for the job at hand is a rubber mallet (and vice versa).
Hope that helps!
Hey, leading on from my last comment, I see a store called Runner's Den (www.runnersdenaz.com) that looks good. Hve you been there? They mention doing 'individual gait analysis', have weekly running clubs, and even have a podiatrist there on a regular basis to help assess injuries.
Ok, I've probably way overstepped some boundaries here, as you're a big girl and have a brain of your very own that could easily figure this out yourself. Sorry. I get a little carried away sometimes. I promise, the intentions are good! :-)
GOOD for you to move on and focus on the next one!!! LOVED the things that you learned from it....it is so important to right those down!! GIRL you ran an amazing race...be super proud of yourself. You have motivated me to do more strength training. Glad you commented so that I can start stalking your blog...I am loving it! Get that knee feeling back to normal!
That is funny that you mentioned Strength Training, cause Erik said that he needs to add in strength training now too. He cut back on his strength training for his legs because a.) he didn't want to injure himself right before a race and b.) he wanted to focus on endurance.
So, anyways, I'm very glad you're better today. You're a fantastic woman and runner.
xoxo
That's the attitude! :) We always have the next race to kick ass...
And don't you just LOVE the running photos? I looked like i was dying in some of mine. :)
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