Perhaps an overstatement. Allow me free reign to whine for just a bit.
A few weeks ago, I started a training schedule for a half marathon in October. Buoyed by my success on the treadmill in the spring, I decided to see how I would fare at tempo and speed runs on the road. Wednesday's the day.
Even at 5 a.m., 5k race pace is like taking a sweat bath, and my speed miles also suffer. I am wildly inconsistent, running a mile in under 7 minutes, jogging it off, then pushing 8. Since it averages out to be almost dead-on pace, I haven't given in and gone to the treadmill yet. Some elite runners do altitude training. I'm doing heat training. (Though, as noted, until I get out there at noon like some hard-core folk, I'm a lightweight.)
I tried to blame my fading performance on fuel - I don't eat before a morning run. Wednesday, I pre-fueled with a Wasa cracker spread with a smidge of Skippy. Did it help? Nah. I need to figure out what my stomach can handle before/during a race so I can go strong for 13.1 miles. Gel experimentation? I have resisted so far. Pheidippides didn't have a backpack hydration system, neither. Course, he dropped dead.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Training in Hell
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5 comments:
Yeah, it is hot out there. Good for you for getting up early to go when it is "cool". Uh, I get up late, and go late, and it is really a self-imposed "hell" to run in.
Half-dead wouldn't be bad. So long as it wasn't permanent. :)
Maybe you should load up on pasta the night before. My friend, Kathy, whose boys swam competively, said they always went to Olive Garden when swim meets were held in Nashville. . .
Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. Lannae, I don't know how you do it -- but at least you do it! James: I'll work on the half-dead thing. Meggin, good idea with the carbo-loading -- definitely a pre-race-day strategy! Maybe I'll make Tuesday pasta night.
Good effort. God, knows it is hot as hell out there. hence why I just joined the gym.
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