95 minutes in zones 1&2. My legs ache and I only ran 9.23 km. Average pace 9.51min/km. I’ve reached a stage where I’m not enjoying the prospect of my training runs as much as I was, and it isn’t till halfway through a long run that I begin to really enjoy myself. I don’t seem to have the stamina I had two or three weeks ago and have had a couple of runs when I felt tired and doubted my ability to get round a half marathon distance. Whether this is due to fatigue or mind stuff I don’t know.
Lovely day: sunny and warmer than I expected, which was a nuisance as I put leggings on this morning and regretted not wearing shorts or capris.
I met another member of the Lonely Goat Running Club: we recognised each other from our Lonely Goat T-shirt’s. Much exclaiming of goat! goat! and the taking of a two person selfie. We exchanged names, and info about our run: she’s training for her first 10k race. Then we said goodbye and went our separate ways. We will be linking up on Lonely Goat Facebook page later though, I’ve no doubt.
I have seen "The Lonely Goat Running Club" featured as the club on the result page of a lot of runners at parkruns on a Saturday morning.
Sorry about your legs aching after running for 95 minutes, perhaps you could take one extra day off running, the last thing I don't want for you is on the injury couch, by having a extra day off the fatigue might also go.
No I shan’t take extra rest days, I have two a week already. I think I’ve just reached that stage in the training when it gets to be a bit of a slog. I don’t feel injury type pain, just overall achey sluggish legs. I’ve noticed quite a few runners coming up for their marathons or halfs seem to be in the same boat regarding fatigue or aches and pains. It won’t be too long before I start tapering 😊x
I too started having "trouble" training for my HM Flick somewhat like you described. Then sidelined for six weeks with Strep throat really knocked my confidence.
Started back a few weeks ago, first couple of weeks were - compared to pre strep - "pants".
Then I decided the heck with the HM. I was still going to go - entry paid for, airline tickets bought, arrangements to meet friends I'm place etc. Would "see how far I got" and "DNF is better than DNR any day"
So, kept up aiming at "good training runs" but without any pressure to "fully achieve them"...and after a couple more run days with that attitude, runs started improving a LOT
I dunno if they would have anyway - but running really is "part mental" and I think that as careful and concientious ad I was to "run proper" it is quite possible I was actually too tense or pushing just that little bit too much previous to my "ahhh - the heck with it, it's supposed to be fun in my book, so sod "failing the HM" lol
Dunno if this is helpful at all but hope it might be.
I think it is part mental, as you say. It's very tedious running at just above walking pace for an hour and a half or more. I've found myself looking forward to free running agin. But I'm nearly there, and I'm fitter than I was last year - heck, fitter than 20 years ago - so I'm going to press on with the training. I've enjoyed it hugely up to now xxx
Training for a HM really surprised me with how much more time it takes than for ten milers. I'm finding it hard to put in the miles needed, especially as I run like a Bulldog And yes, it can be monotonous - I try different routes and listen to my playlists, but it can be difficult to get "lost" in them when you have a time crunch and a "to do" list competing for your time.
This HM will be my third. I'm hoping to be able to run it non stop. My second was a gruesome event so I want to exorcise the memory of that
If I do "well" I'll be content with ten milers as my longest distance from then onwards. It is indeed a mental game
I'll be cheering especially loud for you in your HM
Thank you so much! 😊 I’ve enjoyed the runs till now and not been bored. I don’t run to music, but there’s so much to see and experience out on a run. I think I’ve just reached the stage of it nearly being enough- probably inevitable at this stage in the training, with the race not too far ahead.
Three half marathons! Amazing. I will do Blenheim half next year as I e deferred it, it’s paid for and I have some donations, but I’m not sure I want to run more than 10 miles in future either. I’ve run almost 17k non stop, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed I can do another 4/5.
I've never been to Camp Lejeune before so I'm hoping the "novelty" of being there helps get me around
I'll be missing out on my favorite ten mile venueof all time - Ft Bragg - because of the HM, I get one free flight a year but unfortunately burning it on Lejeune. Next year hopefully will be doing the annual ten miler at Camp Pendleton. It will be nice to run in California, beaches on one side and mountains on the other make for magical scenery
It's a beautiful place to visit. I lived there for a while but it has a way of lulling you into a "De nada" frame of mind I didn't want to wake up some morning and find fifty years had slipped by Alternatively, you can live there in a permanent adrenaline high, there's neighborhoods that scan you for weapons before you enter and if you don't have any they'll loan you some lol.
Ive been there a few times since C25k but always on business, hopefully from here on in though any trip there will be purely for enjoyment
It certainly has the climate Outrageously expensive, extremely high crime rate, insane traffic congestion, huge homeless problems etc etc but....the climate is number one reason people give for remaining there
It will be a bit of fatigue with a dash of mind stuff at this stage, I reckon dear Flick. The best remedy is to be kind to yourself, keep ploughing on, banish doubts whenever they appear and eat and drink well. I bet it will pass soon enough. Don’t listen to the doubting voice - just tell yourself “I’ve got this, I’m doing this!” I started to not look forward to my long runs as much these last couple of weeks (before my flipping injury - resting up now with HM in the balance 🙁). It’s normal I reckon. xxx
I think it's normal too, dearest Sadie. Everyone else, both here and on Srava, seems to be struggling a bit at this stage. But as SlowLoris said after yesterday's run, how will you know good days if you never have a bad day (or words to that effect - I think! I might be misquoting him here). Someone else said that it's good to know when to dig deep, as this is probably how part of the HM will feel.
I'm really hoping you will be fit for the HM. If you feel ok, go for it - you can always walk parts, or even pull out if you feel a bad twinge xxx
Awe I love the idea of you two lonely goats meeting up accidently but stopping and having a chat. What running is all about! 😊
I started to dread my slow runs too Flick. Zone 2 is soooo slow and it is tedious staying in the target at times. It is also draining doing the amount of runs you do too. I only have 3 planned runs a week - it won't change either, even after adapting my details. I have to say I have enjoyed running without the buzzer to keep me on target today but then I was also still looking at my watch to check I was in zone 3! My pace is slower now than before polar but I think my pacing and general fitness is better and overall once I've found a rhythm I can actually run in zone 3 at 7minutes plus. Occasionally! I think it is such a mental thing too. Some runs are tough but also it's hard to run and not let your mind wander. Maybe try a run that is free of the buzzer? Or do you have some zone 3 coming up too? Todays run was a long hard slow run though Flick. Xx
Yes it was really good to meet another goat. I think we will meet at parkrun after my half is over.
Luckily I have intervals and tempo runs, so it’s not all zone 2, though every run starts and ends with it, so I’m getting the message loud and clear to start off slow and steady on race day.
I can’t really fit another run in. I don’t want to interrupt the rhythm of the training plan, and I really need those two rest days. But I totally agree about being fitter overall. Heck, I’m fitter than I was twenty years ago!
I’m also intrigued that I’m not the only one who is slower since beginning this training- a few people doing half or marathon training seem to be saying the same. I’ve put a few pounds of weight on too. That seems bizarre. When I was running every day, mostly shorter but faster runs, I had to buy smaller jeans. Xx
Oh flick it’s like listening to myself! I’m full of dread before my long run - like literally have trouble sleeping. It seems a lot of people dip. But I think it’ll make us stronger in the long run (poor choice of words 🤣). I also think that all this stress will make that finish line all the more rewarding - blood, sweat and tears (all quite literally) but we’re going to do it and we’ll never forget it Xx
Funny you should mention sleep. I’m not dreading the run but I definitely have a touch of insomnia. Last night I was worrying about not sleeping the night before the race. Up till this week I looked forward to every run - now I’m ambivalent. The runs are more intensive now too. I think it’s probably the nature of training for a long distance race. Everybody seems to be flagging a bit at the moment. Fingers crossed and we will do it on the day! Xx
keep at it but remember that plan was not written for you a an individual. Listen to your body (mine mainly creaks). I'm sure with a good taper you'll breeze the HM. What is the plan for Race Day? Do you run to a set HR for the course or do you have a target pace?
I did my last training run yesterday evening, about 6 miles at my original target HM pace. Keeping that pace for 13 miles may be a bit of a challenge. I had to cut it a little short to get home before going out for the evening. Recovery was beer, dinner out and red wine.
Next week will be a couple of easy runs and the HM on Sunday.
The plan is actually tailored to me. As I progress or not, it adapts via the stats on my watch.
There is no actual plan on race day. I intend to use hr zones, start off steadily in zone 2. As my hr naturally drifts up into zone 3 I intend to run in that zone for most of the distance. As I get into the run and toxic ten behind me, I’m hoping to maintain a steady, comfortable pace, pushing over the last little bit of the race. Of course, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that, but that’s the plan at the moment. Probably I will be crawling the last 5k 😂 but I’ve run all but that last little bit and could have kept going, so fingers crossed!
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HM training week12 day5
