My count down thread!

[Richt]

September the 17th. 41 days to go until my first half marathon. Looking forward to it, but also fairly nervous about it also.

(This is the first time I have ever done a countdown thread)

[dotsamantha]

Re: My count down thread!

How have you been preparing? And good luck in advance!

[Miss Phode]

Re: My count down thread!

Will you wear short running shorts?

[Richt]

Re: My count down thread!

How have you been preparing? And good luck in advance!

By running about 15 - 20 miles a week. I've been running in 5 mile and 10 mile races. I have a 10 mile race this sunday. So thankfully, my preparations are going ok.

Thanks for asking.

[Richt]

Re: My count down thread!

Will you wear short running shorts?

Maybe, possibly, who knows

[rosecat2000]

Re: My count down thread!

Good luck Rich! I am amazed at how you and other people here on this board have become committed to exercise and sport on this program. Keep it up, it gives us newbies a lot of inspiration.

A number of my friends who are long distance runners, talk about "hitting the wall" (changing from glucose to fat burning during the race), so hopefully with Atkins you should have this problem sorted!

[Richt]

Re: My count down thread!

I'm not that clued up on "the wall". I have heard it mentioned and I know roughly what it is, but I dont really know that much about what causes it.

However, I am sure I will be ok during the half marathon, as its only 2 miles more thant I have run in the past. The longest training run I have done to day is 11 miles. So that extra 2.1 hopefully wont be too bad.

[rosecat2000]

Re: My count down thread!

If you keep the pace up, you may soon be running the full marathon, no problems.

A couple of my friends have run what is supposed to be the greates ultra marathon the "Comrades Marathon" in South Africa. Maybe it is something to aim for!!!

It is a 90 kilometer race between Pietermaritzburb and Durban. They said that "the wall" hit them really bad round the 30-40 km mark as the course is rather daunting, nearly caused them to withdraw, but once they went through it they said that doing the 90 km was not so bad after all!! http://www.comrades.com/default.asp

[Richt]

Re: My count down thread!

My aim is to run the London Marathon before I am 40. Then I may look at the ultra's but thats a bit to far at the moment

[ttdriver]

Re: My count down thread!

I'm not that clued up on "the wall". I have heard it mentioned and I know roughly what it is, but I dont really know that much about what causes it.

However, I am sure I will be ok during the half marathon, as its only 2 miles more thant I have run in the past. The longest training run I have done to day is 11 miles. So that extra 2.1 hopefully wont be too bad.

Rich "hitting the wall" is what people call it when glycogen is exhausted and your energy level is zapped, as a result of burning carbohydrates for fuel. In our case, we burn fat and protein for fuel so its a non-issue. I ran 26.2 miles without carbloading and never hit the wall.

I would recommend that you have at least one training run of 13.1 miles to see how those extra few miles go. I know alot of people say if you can run 10, you can run 13.1, but believe me, it does make a difference when you tack on those extra ones at the end! My longest training run before the marathon was 20.2 and I thought those last 6 miles wouldn't be that bad ... ummmmmmmmmmm....wrong! They were brutal, particularly that last .2 !!
I'm sure you will do great, but I still think you should do a LSD run of 13.1 and see how it goes.

Betty

[Richt]

Re: My count down thread!

Thanks for that Betty. I am planning on doing at least a 12 mile training run between now and the 17th of september.

But your last comment has reminded me of a question I need to ask you.

What does "LSD" stand for? Long slow distance?

[ttdriver]

Re: My count down thread!

YES IT DOES! Emphasis on the word SLOW.


Betty