Big failure today - 5K parkrun

[Bazza1234]

I did my first 20 miler run/walk last Sunday - nice and slow 9 minute per k pace but still very tiring over that distance . Decided to take it easy this week so did a 3k walk on Tuesday and Wednesday and then a 5K run/walk also at a slow 9 minute pace on Thursday, rested on Friday and decided to take it easy at parkrun today. "easy" turned out to be 7:30 mins per k , a pace which I can usually easily do but today my calves cramped badly and I almost pulled out at 2Klms . Walked for a while and managed to finish at 40 minutes BUT it was a really hard run and I am feeling it tonight. I usually recover well from my longruns but I am feeling that maybe I wasn't sufficiently recovered from last Sunday - and I went out too fast ( how can 7:30 pace be too fast???) I am going to start taking magnesium pills for the next 9 weeks before my marathon - people say they are "wonderful" but I wonder whether they are just a placebo???? Maybe my age IS now starting to catch up with me???

[JaySeeSkinny Half Marathon]

You didn’t fail Bazza1234 , you finished. Maybe it’s the contrast between long/slow and short/fast that your body can’t cope with at the moment. 20 miles is a long way and can take it out of a younger person, let alone a 70 year old!

Huge respect for even thinking about your first marathon at this stage!

I also had my first cramps on a short run on Monday - for no reason that I could see. Maybe dehydration?

[Tbae Metric Marathon]

Huge respect Bazza.Agree with everything in JSS’s post.

For me pace and distance I just cannot mix.Yet to achieve anything noteworthy in either.🙈🤣

Keep inspiring and I am waiting to see you over your marathon line.

That will put the cat amongst the pigeons.🙈🤣

👊💥🏃‍♂️🌟👏👏

[misswobble Marathon]

Hmmm. It’s hard to say isn’t it Just not your day Look for foods rich in magnesium Epsom salts is mag sulphate and I add that to my post run bath.

I’m in a health blip at the mo, and it’s easy to think you’re ill. I quickly dismissed that idea. I ran and felt good

Good luck! Don’t let a blip get you down 💪👍🙂💥🏃‍♂️

[MadDave]

I found electrolyte (containing magnesium) has made a big difference for me - that and a daily dose of berocca as well. For example, I did a ‘recovery’ Park run today which turns out was a PB. I’m finding I can do deeper & more meaningful stretches now and post race cramps are a thing of the past. Seems to work well for me but I know others don’t seem to see such a dramatic effect. Good luck!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Maybe it was just an off day Bazza? I don’t know much in the solution, but hope it’s better soon. Do you use rollers at all after runs? I only ask because my calves have seized up in the past and sometimes rolling does help un-knot them

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Well done Bazza. Don't be too down on yourself. We all have bad days, I'm sure its just a blip.

[Bazza1234 Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

I'm not really down on myself -- just trying to understand what happened 32K one day with no probs - then only 2K a week later with probs I'm really thinking better hydration during non-running days needed and more warmup before parkrun