Running Disney

[athenna]

I have one thing to add, Jen. If you get out there and do some or even up to 4 miles, I believe you should go without your watch. Let your body dictate your speed because you have been sick and because your calf has been injured.

Without my watch How will I survive without my Garmin? I think I may be way too anal to do that..I won't be able to know what I've done, I don't know if i can do it

[MatterhornMiss]

It has been a tough two weeks of training. It was really getting to me last week. I feel I have been doing this for a long time (since the end of June) and the race still can't get here fast enough. I felt my life was work, running, and attempts at sleeping. Plus, ever since my tough 16 miler 2 wks ago, the mental strain has really been wearing me down. People tell me how hard it is, but of course I thought somehow I would be different, because my ego took a beating the last 1.5 miles of that run. Between that and continued nagging weakness from my ITB all the way down the outside of my leg to my ankle/foot and a very irritated Achilles, I had a hard week last week. Last Saturday was supposed to be a 12 mile run but I stopped after 1 minute (yes--one minute, not even one mile) because my ITB was screaming. I made it back to my apartment in this sort of shocked disbelief, wondering if I could make it 6 more weeks. I just sat crying in my ice bath.

So I've worked to change my plan of attack and mental state since then. I know now there is a very good chance I may not be able to run 26.2 miles. But that is not my goal. Like Rocky (and watching the movie also helped me change my perception of success), my goal is just to go the distance. If I have to run/walk or walk/run it, then that's okay. I did that for the Princess and I'm not one bit disappointed in my race performance.

I took 3 days off from running after that horrible Saturday. I'm glad I did--I had a chance to remember where my strength really comes from. I also went back to the beginning of this thread and got lots of encouragement reading about all the Peacocks (the original gang's) foray into running (Lisa training for her first full, Roz just starting to run--which, if anybody thinks they'll never make it, you should go back to the beginning and read all of Roz's doubts that she could ever run 4 miles, much less even think about doing a marathon--Gail training for her first half, and so on and so on) and knowing where they are today.

I ran 4 miles Wednesday and 5 yesterday (ran the whole things). My ITB is not happy today, but I think a big part of that was having to sit with my knee bent on the plane down here to WDW (which is something I realized it doesn't like when I flew to CA for the DLR half, but since it's what I have to do for the marathon, I'm glad I know this beforehand). I'm sitting at the Dolphin icing it (I really should've spent the extra money for the Yacht Club, but I'll know next time). I'm planning on heading out early in the morning for an 18 miler. I am preparing myself to walk/run (or run/walk it depending on how I feel), but I'm not used to doing that, since I haven't done run/walk intervals since my first 6 or 7 weeks of starting to run.

So, that's me 5 miles out from my first marathon. I've cried a lot, prayed a lot, iced a lot, and listened to the Rocky soundtrack a lot these last 2 weeks, but I think it is going to make the journey that much more special. It's going to be tough anyway, knowing that I'm running by myself and no one will be there at the finish for me. I'm hoping I can find someone during the race, like Lisa did during her first full.

Sorry to hear about your calf, Jen. I think the foam roller helps the tightness in my Achilles, but I don't think it did anything for my ITB. And DG, sounds like you're definitely in for Akron! That's great--I think I might have some family from Akron and maybe even my sister running, too! Good work to everyone who has run races recently!

[Rozzie]

MM, Oh SISTER! Your post made me get tears in my eyes. I see me in you. I remember the doubts, the injuries...I remember tackling my first Full and watching Rocky. (it's shocking how similar we are) You see that was my motto too, Just go the distance. That's all you have to do. You don't have to BQ, you don't have to hit 4 hours, you don't have to run the whole way, you can walk whenever you feel like it. Heck my first marathon I would stop and do yoga poses on side of road. All you have to do is FINISH. That's it! And by golly you will finish. I will get in touch with my friends from ROTE and pass on your information. I don't think I have your email, PM me and I can write him a message. I think he is out of town this weekend for a race, but I am sure he will get in touch with you and look out for you.

I am glad you went back and read from page 1. I have said so many times on here that we all started at the same place, and when I talk about where I started from I don't know if people quite get what I am saying. Yes I literally felt like I would never make it to 4 miles. To this day, I always say nothing has felt like that day I finally ran nonstop 4 miles. It was a bigger accomplishment than my first 10 miler, first 20 miler, so on. I think it's very good to look back on how far we have come when we don't think we can go further. We all have doubts, fears, insecurities. Whoever says they don't is lying to themselves and everyone else. However Team Peacock is all about squashing those doubts like bugs and believing in each other, and most importantly believing in ourselves.

Have fun down there, I will be thinking of you for your 18 miler. Remember its a gift to train at the happiest place on earth. I am jealous!! I will trade my crappy blando route Sunday for your route! Go get' em Tiger!!!!!!!!!!

[cloudnut220]

MM-I'm sending positive thoughts and energy your way! I know you can do this! The journey can be the hardest part!

[nono]

We all have doubts, fears, insecurities. Whoever says they don't is lying to themselves and everyone else.

Let's call the out for each of us:

Doubt: Does the training really work?

Fear: If I go out running will that hurt me? If I don't go out running, will that hurt me more in the long run???

Insecurities: Nope. Not in running. (This was only about running, right?)


MM -- you sound like you are just about in the perfect taper right now. Be ready to do great things with your race! You may be surprised! (But I won't be!!! Whatever your result, it'll be pretty spectacular to me! )

[cloudnut220]

So I think I managed to injure myself in a bizzaro way today. We're in DE painting the beach house and I was doing trim down around the baseboard. Kneeled down, and hit an air return with my knee, which caused me to twist and tweak the calf. Now seriously sore. Going to try rolling it out, but I'm a bit worried about the 7 miler tomorrow. If it hurts I might push it to Sunday--especially since we only primed today and we have a solid 8-10 hours of painting ahead of us tomorrow...

Tried to convince everyone else that the primer looked "great" on the walls so we could relax tomorrow, but I don't think anyone is buying it...

[cyl-e]

MM - hang in there. You can do it. Just in following this thread for the length of time that I have, you've always sounded determined, optimistic, positive. Those traits will see you through.

Finishing is the biggest triumph. I've only run one marathon (many years ago) and it was by no means fast. But we finished and that's a big deal. I walked at every water stop, took pictures with the characters, and slogged through the really tough part (which for me was around mile 16) where I just kept moving one foot in front of the other.

I can't wait to congratulate you on your success. What you've done already is monumental. I'm sure when you started you could not have imagined running 16 miles. There are a lot of people who even think of a 3 mile run as out of reach. When you compare yourself to runners, you may not feel "elite" but compared to the broader population - you absolutely are.

[MatterhornMiss]

nono, I wish I were in a taper already! (I've been counting down for the past month.) I still have one more loooong LR in 2 wks--my 20 miler. BTW, I am amazed at your warm-fuzzy post! Where is the girlie-boy, sissy pants, butt-kicking? I do appreciate your encouragement.

I appreciate everyone's encouragement. I started crying (in the middle of Sonny Eclipse's show at the Starlight Cafe ) reading your post Roz. And nono, my fear definitely is "If I go out and run will I get injured to where I can never run again?"

It seemed like just about everything that could've gone wrong this morning did. I over slept my alarm, my powerade had leaked in the fridge, my oatmeal wouldn't cook, my hair was in knots for some reason so that I had problems braiding it, I had trouble making my way out of the hotel, oh, and female problems (shhhh!), when I did finally make it out, I had to turn right back around and head back because I decided I needed my knee braces after all--anyway, all of this equated to me getting started 2 hours later than I had planned. Still, once I started it went pretty well. My plan was to do the 3 min walk/2 min run plan from MfM, but after a couple of intervals I was feeling pretty good so I just ran. (BTW I finally got an ironman watch and I love the interval timer setting! Still no Garmin and I don't forsee myself getting one soon.) I did still do some of the 3 min walking intervals, but I found I ran more than I anticipated, including the last mile. I ended up doing 18.65 miles (I had to change my route midway through since traffic started picking up and there is no sidewalk in certain parts of Epcot Resorts Blvd between the BC and BWI) in just under 4 hours, for an average pace of 12:30. Pretty good! I never felt the overwhelming exhaustion I did during my 16 miler (though, believe me, I am very sore right now), and I think my attitude, being less in the direct sun, and most importantly BEING ADEQUATELY HYDRATED FROM THE DAY BEFORE (I am still amazed when I realize what a difference that makes for me). Anyway, I feel pretty good about it. We'll see how I'm feeling by the end of the day and tomorrow

Off to Epcot for . I refrained yesterday, knowing I couldn't be dehydrated this morning. That was my main motivation for not putting the run off until tomorrow when I had the bad pre-run experience--I wanted to make sure I could start drinking today!

[nono]

nono, I wish I were in a taper already! (I've been counting down for the past month.) I still have one more loooong LR in 2 wks--my 20 miler. BTW, I am amazed at your warm-fuzzy post! Where is the girlie-boy, sissy pants, butt-kicking? I do appreciate your encouragement.

Oh, I know when your race is...but your mind is in taper already (and today proved it!) Some people are just ahead of the curve, and I think in this instance, you are. Just hang on -- race day is coming!

All I'm in is taper/build/taper/build...it's kind of fun, and I feel like I'm learning a whole lot about my body and what it can absorb. So...sometimes life does give a silver lining.

P.S. At least my post didn't make you cry!

[withdisneyspirit]

If I got misty eyed (not admitting anything ), it was MM's original post about early Peacock thread times. How wonderful and it will be good for me to go back and relive when I need motivation. I am so thrilled to hear of your successful 18 miler at Disney, no less, MM! I am so happy for you!!

So sorry to hear of your injury, cloudnut! Smart move to delay your 7 miler until some healing is in place!

Thankfully, Rick and I were able to get our 12 miler done today with no injuries. Rick had stressed his ankle running out on the grass at the disney Wine & Dine plus his ankles ached period so we got him some new shoes which he ran in today with perfect comfort. I am STILL in my flare after taking the steroids but I was able to get through the run with a bare minimum of meds. So, all in all, a great run and I feel really well now too.

We missed our ten miler altogether last week and it is so true that it can make one fear that catching up will be too difficult. We are so grateful to be back on track again!