PF Chang's Rock N Roll Arizona Marathon....

naughtoj

Cathlete
This is long Everyone!!!

Ok Andrea, we are in the homestretch!!! How are you doing???


Me, not so good. I think I hinted last time that I have barely been training for this (I am going the half). This is the first longer race I entered and I think I learned something about myself. While I LOVE fitness and working out, I LOVE all modes of it. Having to be disciplined and FORCED to do nothing but run everday (or most days) really got me kindof pissed off!! HA!!! I just love Cathe too much to give it up, as well as HEAVY strength training. Anyway, then mix in the holidays and, well,.....

My sis, her friend, and I went out yesterday for a "test" run/walk. We are pretty confident we could not run the whole way, so we planned to do a run 1 mile/walk 1 mile split. I had done KPC on Friday after a small workout hiatus and MAN was I sore in the glutes yesterday AM!!! Almost free fall on the toilet sore!!! I really wanted to back out of this test run, but my sis really wanted to do it. Within the first mile, I knew my legs were not going to fare well, simply because they were so sore going in. We ended up running about 6 miles walking 6 miles for a total of about 12 miles. About halfway through my hipflexors just start aching. I mean, you literally start to feel like the TinMan!!

I made it through, but the stiffness immediately following was harsh and last night was not pretty. I think it really hurt me going in sore. Stupid thing for me to do I know, really only did it for my sis. Then I had a hard time sleeping last night because of the "body ache" and realized, strangely (let me know if anyone knows the reason for this), I had started breakthrough bleeding while we were running and all lastnight. That never happens to me so I thought, "Wow" that really must have strained my body!!

I just don't understand running. I don't understand how I can do more difficult cardio workouts day in and day out and still feel so wiped from running. It is not cardiovascular either, my legs start to breakdown!! Mostly hip flexors. It is only exceeding about 5 miles that starts to kill me though. I even took that nasty GU!! Is it just that while I am healthy and fit, I don't have the endurance to go so long? I'm sorry, but I can't imaging EVER having the endurance. And I am very strong (muscle wise) and my sis and her friend don't workout regularly and don't ever lift weights. BUT.....halfway through who was whining about hip flexors???? ME. Really makes you wonder. I guess we can say it had to be KPC the day before, right?:)

Just wanted to let you in on my experience and possibly ask your opinion (or anyone's!) on how I am going to get through this race on Sunday. I feel I can do it...I should feel better than today if I am not sore to begin with, but how much "Cathe" can I do this week. I thought I could strength train atleast twice and then take Fri and Sat off?

I love the challenge of running, but I think I prefer the smaller races. 10K was a great challenge without being something I felt I had to give up everything in my life for. I like trail running like twice per week, Imax once, weights 3 times, sometimes yoga....you get my drift. But if I don't WANT to do something, I just get mad if I have to do it. Andrea....don't you find you get this same resentment, especially when Body Blast came out?

I am in to making my own workouts. I have an interval watch that beeps at different intervals and I get excited about planning workouts to that (circuit style). I use info from Muscle and Fitness Hers as well as Cathe stuff. I run Phoenix Mountain Preserve, hills and all. The next day I will run the canals here for a flat experience. I also make workouts on my MP3 player alternating HI/LO songs to do intervals to that. I just love it all!! And, I think that kind of training is so much more balanced than running EVERY DAY.

Anyway, I'll go now or I really will ramble. Thanks to anyone brave enough to read this!:) Any advice or input would be great!!

7 days to go,
Janice
 
You can do it, Janice! You are trained physically so don't lose yourself to the psychological strain. You are going to have a ball. There will be complete strangers who will cheer you on and root for you from the bottom of their hearts and the bands! I ran the Tucson Marathon in '99 and it was hard but it was incredible too. I did no cardio the whole week before the race to build glycogen stores for the big day. I had begun tapering my hard work outs back in the previous weeks. Don't go out too fast and try to get relaxed because you are ready and you are gonna rock and roll to the finish!

If you ever want to do the Tucson Marathon, you have a place to stay!
http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/coollook.gif Bobbi
 
Hey Bobbi!!
Thanks so much for the pep talk!! I WILL get through it, but the point is....I am NOT trained. I mean, yes, I am fit (thanks Cathe) but I have not been running like I should have to actually complete this event. Later today, I developed some pain in my foot and I have been hobbling around all day!!!LOL!! I just hope I don't injure myself in my stupidity! Seems just like an overuse thing that will go away probably by tomorrow, but you know, it just freaks me out. You of all people should know what injury does to you and I want to avoid that at all costs.

Thanks again and I am sure Andrea and I (atleast) will let you know how the marathon goes!

Janice
 
Janice, while I truly recommend backing off and saving yourself for the big day, if you CAN do regular Cathe intense workouts you can do it! I used IMAX to train for endurance and it was always harder than running for me. Just breath, relax and you'll do it! Are your shoes up to the task? You are going to love it and I know you can do it if you listen to your body and take it a mile at a time! I know alot of people who train for the whole 26.2 without running over a half and I can do a half easily when training with Cathe! Alright could do a half but you get my point. Cathe cardio is major endurance training and the marathon is all about enduring the long run. From what I have heard, it is going to be wonderful! Start visualizing the race but stay off the foot until it doesn't hurt!
http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/coollook.gif Bobbi
 

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