Getting a little closer: After a couple... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

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Getting a little closer

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon
35 Replies

After a couple of beers last night (was a stressful end to my work week so I told myself it was warranted :)), not the best dinner (breaded chicken and lots of chips), and not a great night’s sleep, I did not have high hopes for today’s long run, but I went out anyway since the weather was being kind. We had plus 7 this morn so it was much easier than some past runs. Only 3 layers today! Held myself to a quick 30sec stop at 7 and 14 for a munch of my Cliff bar, adjustment of my playlist and a honk of my nose. Then went on to 18k. My pace was a little quicker than past long runs so that was hopeful too. Thats my furthest distance to date. Was thinking about pushing to 20, but honestly I was out of steam by then. I swear I don’t know how you marathoners do it. Much, much respect to you all. 14 seemed to be the toxic mark today. Once that was past, the rest was a little bit easier.

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Decker profile image
Decker
Ultramarathon
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35 Replies
Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon

A distance that I can only dream of, at least for now. :)

Well done Big D! :)

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to Irish-John

For now my friend. Just for now.

Thanks John. This seemed completely unattainable for me just a few months ago. Chipping away slowly...

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon in reply to Decker

The adventure continues... isn't it great we get to do this! :)

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to Irish-John

Lucky to do this and to have found the great support in these forums

Wow decker well done! I have yet to get past 16km. I have decided to set out a long run that is over 13 miles and then run what I can but each week hopefully chip away another little bit. I will see if that works! I also don't know how marathoners do this, I am stumbling at the halfway mark lol.

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to

Haha yes I guess we are still amateurs 😁 but I’ll take it. Your approach makes good sense to me. I’ve no idea what I’m doing anymore or if this is the right way to do it. Just taking it one week at a time for now. My shins will be aching by tomorrow, I’m sure. I can feel them complaining already. 🙂

in reply to Decker

Maybe a bit of foam rolling needed? I also feel that I don't really know what I am doing either! I am trying an incremental training plan which I hope will get me there. I am sure there are more experienced runners who could adapt my plan for the better....but we keep plodding on!

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to

Yes my wife has one she uses for Pilates. I may need to borrow it for a bit. Have to youtube on how to use the thing too😁. Whatever works, we will get there one way or another. Very thankful to have found these forums, otherwise I’d be completely lost!

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatHalf Marathon

Wow! Way to get it done! Another step closer 👍. Kudos to you!

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat

Thanks Sask. Getting there slowly.

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphHalf Marathon

Excellent, Decker! You will be in good shape for your half :)

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to Anniemurph

I hope so Annie, thank you🙂

mrrun profile image
mrrunUltramarathon

As Homer Simpson famously said: "To alcohol! A cause of.....and solution to....all the world's problems"!

Take it easy, mate, and you will make it, as always.

I have restructured my entire half marathon program and schedule, and decided to start all over. Kinda similar to Michelangelo when he was about to put finishing touches on the Sistine chapel and thought, "oh, not sure l like this beige", and then went with magnolia instead. ;)

We will get to the other side!

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to mrrun

Lol, Thanks mate! Yes, thats one thing I don’t think I’ll be giving up any time soon😁

Haha. Whatever works for you, I am sure you will get there in style! 👍🏼

I am a bit all over the place with the first Asics program wrapped and now doing a second one just to fill in the time till my race in May. These long runs are my own additions to continue with the distances. Hoping to do a couple of full length race runs before the big day. Plenty of time to work up to it.

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Marathon

Brilliant, and that’s another step closer to your goals 😎

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to ju-ju-

Thanks Ju-Ju! Yep, slowly getting there.

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Marathon in reply to Decker

💪🏻

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon

Just keep slowly, carefully chipping away. You don’t need to do the whole distance before the big day. 5k below, or 3k if you insist, below it will be fine. Adrenaline will carry you the rest of the way

Fuelling your running properly is critical so spruce up your eats, and only drink a lot if it’s water 😃👍

You can achieve all sorts but you gotta take it slow If you go slowly and carefully you hopefully won’t need to foam roll

I do beginners yoga at home to a dvd to help me get over any aches. I bought a cheapo five quid dvd for my post marathon recovery. I was told to book a sports massage for two days after my race when I would likely feel as if fun over by a truck Being a peasant, the massage was out of the question, hence the cheap dvd Best fiver I ever spent 😃💪👍

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon

Thanks misswobble for the advice. Yes I am trying to take it slow - my race is so far off, that my first plan took me to 17 and I didnt want to lose the training in these upcoming months :) - if that makes any sense. I only do a full long run if I really feel it, and I'm not afraid to stop if needed. My shins were surprisingly ok the next day - a long soak in the tub with epson salts really helped. And I'm taking a few days off now to be safe.

Yes - one thing I do need to do more of is drink more water - always been an issue with me. I did have a few drinks before heading out on this one - that probably helped. I usually don't have more that one alcohol drink on a night before a run, but Friday was a bit stressful at work - no excuse I know :). I've cut waaay back from my younger days. :)

I stretch before and after runs, but I don't do any strength training - I even fell off Ringold's Squaats wagon last week - I should probably do more of that work too. I really dislike it, but I should probably do more.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Half Marathon

Well done Decker, we were leapfrogging each other, but you're about to pass me....I'll catch you though when I'm better!

Never heard of Clif bars, are they good? I see they sell them in Evans cycles, got one of those near me, I'll have a look.

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2

Thanks Sarah. I have such a long way to go before the race in May, that I’m afraid the progress will dissolve before the day, so I keep going a little further. Irrational, I know. 😜You will most certainly catch and pass me on your recovery. Hope you are doing well. Been wondering how you were. Still sending good thoughts your way.

The Clif bars I get are the builder’s protein ones. They come in Chocolate, chocolate peanut butter and chocolate mint. One of the few bar types that I actually like. I get the variety pack from Costco. My family are not really fans so they last longer :) here is a link on Amazon (not the cheapest vendor - Costco has this pack for much less I think): Clif Builder's Protein 18 Bar Variety Pack (18x68g) / 18 barres de protéinée dans un paquet de variété (18x68g) amazon.ca/dp/B076BQPQ4B/ref...

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Half Marathon

My race is the first week in March, I'm not feeling at all confident that I'll be well enough to take part, the date for deferring or giving your place to someone else has passed, but I emailed them and explained, and they will make an exception for me in the circumstances. I thought that was nice, and has made me feel a bit better about it all. Keeping an open mind though, feeling better every day, so perhaps there's still hope!

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2

I’m sorry Curly, I did not realize how your race day would be impacted, of course. It was good of them to understand your situation. At least that takes some of that small worry away. I guess you can just take it day by day and see how things are as you get closer to the day. I know this race means a lot to you. Really hoping you can do this one and if not this race then another one soon!

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Half Marathon in reply to Decker

Thank you Roger, my surgeon said I would be able to take part, but it's just a few weeks away now, and I'm still not up for walking very far. Still, open mind and see how it goes, I might yet make a miraculous recovery! I'm very happy that I got within spitting distance of 21 KM, I know I can do it, so next year if not this one. Yes, it was good of them, more than I expected really, if I'm not able to run I will marshall if I possibly can. Best of luck with yours. XX

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2

Yes you are so close to 21, for sure your legs can manage the distance. I hope your recovery is smooth and as easy as it can be. I will try not to do anything too stupid between now and May :) Kinda wish now that I would have gone for the March one, just to get it over with. Take care of yourself xxoo

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Half Marathon in reply to Decker

I suddenly feel much much better, I won't try and run for a few days yet, but I'm daring to hope I might take part after all, even if I have to walk some or all of it.

Just keep ticking over, you know you can do the distance, just don't over do it and risk spoiling your wonderful progress. XXX

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2

Dare to hope Sarah! It could still happen. And it’s wonderful you are feeling better.

Yes I tried indoor interval training yesterday for the first time and was it ever challenging! I only managed around 3 or 4 sessions of all out and gentle intervals of 3 min each, but the 7k I wound up with was the fastest 7 I’ve ever done.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Half Marathon in reply to Decker

I went for a walk this afternoon, only 2.5 KM, but I was happy that it was easy, and I felt ok.. I'll try a bit further tomorrow.

Intervals are hard...

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2

That is really good to hear Sarah. Hope it continues to feel good and better as time goes on.

HeleneCorsa profile image
HeleneCorsa

Well done! You will smash the HM in May, I'm sure. Plenty of time for fine tuning before then.

My own HM aspirations are entirely on hold due to a dodgy knee, but mine isn't until September so there is time. Just hoping the knee issue doesn't keep returning and throwing a spanner on the works.

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to HeleneCorsa

Thank you Helene - I am still slow, so I will try to work on getting a bit quicker between now and race day. Not quite sure how just yet, but I may ask around to the nice people of our forum. But in the end I will be happy just to get through it.

I am very sorry to hear about your knee. You are wise to look after it now before things get any worse with it though. And you have plenty of time between now and September to train up again. Hope it is sorted soon and you are back on the road!

HeleneCorsa profile image
HeleneCorsa in reply to Decker

Thank you! It is taking all my self-restraint not to just go out for "a short jog" to see if it holds up. It's not monstrously painful but I know it's not right yet and I need to be serious about resting it.

I hope it'll be good for the Appian Way 13k this spring. It isn't a major distance but it is on four different surfaces including the original Roman road so It's quite tricky.

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to HeleneCorsa

Are you walking on it regularly still? I'm no doctor, so I have no advice on that front, but I suspect you will be fine for the spring if you are resting it now. You really run in some fascinating places!

HeleneCorsa profile image
HeleneCorsa in reply to Decker

I walk on it all the time, and it really is fine - and my everyday life involves a lot of walking. Due to a broken lift, I've had to walk up the Spanish Steps every day for the last two weeks on schooldays, when I go to collect the children, and even that hasn't been a problem! I've also been doing Rig's squat challenge with no problems other than an occasional clicking sound, which grates a bit but isn't painful.

I think that today I'd be ok to run but since it's pouring with rain and my husband has made a flying visit to Rome, I'll probably skip it. This will mean my next feasible run day will be Monday and so it really should be well-rested by then!

Are you hoping to finish your HM within any specific time?

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to HeleneCorsa

Maybe Monday for a short jog to test it out and ease back into it from there? Sounds like a safe approach

Well I would like to finish somewhere in the 2.5hr mark, but I need to focus on speeding up a bit to make that happen. I used to have a quicker pace on the short runs in C25 and C210, but I had distance endurance problems, so I slowed my pace intentionally. That helped me get the distances, but I’ve never been able to recover my pace again. Been afraid of injury to push really hard.

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