Losing confidence

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Dog-lover

25 posts since
Mar 5, 2008

Apr 22, 2008 6:53 AM

I am in training for my first marathon and I'm losing a little confidence! I've got two months before my marathon and am 18 weeks into a 26 week program that has me doing two short runs and one long run a week as well as cross training two more days. I did my long run Saturday which was 15 miles and it went pretty well except that I was dead tired by the time I got done. I recovered pretty quickly but was really tired the last two miles?? I've never run long distance before so it's definitely a new experience. I'm kind of worried weather I'll be able to actually run 26.2 miles in two months. My program has two building weeks, a moderate recovery week and a full recovery week, it only runs me up to 20 miles as a long run before my marathon! I'm not feeling confident that I am going to be able to do this. Has anyone gone through this and can anyone offer any advice.

Jay Silvio

1,652 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

1. Apr 22, 2008 8:00 AM

in response to: Dog-lover

These programs do work, so have confidence. Most programs top out with 20 milers for the long training runs. Did you bring fuel (energy bar, gel, etc.) and water with you on your last long run? If not, it could explain why you felt so tired during the last two miles. You may have been dehydrated and/or low on glycogen. Please let us know if you have any more questions.
Good luck!
Jay

Dog-lover

25 posts since
Mar 5, 2008

2. Apr 22, 2008 9:59 AM

in response to: Jay Silvio

I did bring an energy bar but I may have waited to long to actually eat it, as far as water, I always bring water but drink sparingly otherwise I have to stop and go to often. Do you recommend mixing water and some sort of energy drink as well? Thanks for your suggestions, I'll try and stay confident and I'll let you know how it turns out.

ADW76

2 posts since
Apr 24, 2008

3. Apr 24, 2008 8:11 AM

in response to: Dog-lover

Dog-Lover,

I use to work construction for a summer job when I was in college. My dad gave me same great advice, when you feel confident engough around the job site that you don't worry about your safety thats when your in trouble and can get hurt. I've ran 5 marathons and going on my sixth this weekend, I still have doubts and will always. That's good but don't allow it to take over. Let it be a motivator. As mentioned in a response follow your training and you'll be ok. One other idea. Have you tried a combination of run and walk in your training and possibly in your marathon. I trained for a marathon applying this technique. On long runs I would run for 4 minutes walk 1 and repeated all the way through my run. Sounds like your lossing time but not the case. I felt good through the whole run and recovered quickly. I don't use it anymore because I feel strong in my runs but its worth a try, give it a shot on your next long run. Go to Tim Galloway web-site he talks about it. Hope I helped.

Aaron

Jay Silvio

1,652 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

4. Apr 24, 2008 9:46 AM

in response to: Dog-lover

Dog-lover wrote:
I did bring an energy bar but I may have waited to long to actually eat it, as far as water, I always bring water but drink sparingly otherwise I have to stop and go to often. Do you recommend mixing water and some sort of energy drink as well?

Yea, when you start to feel either hungry or thirsty it means you've already waited too long. I recommend that you bring either an energy drink or water and fuel, but don't mix energy drinks and foods as the combination can actually pull water to your stomach and away from your muscles. Test out different drinks and fuels on long training runs to find out what works best for you.

SleepyMyron

24 posts since
Jan 9, 2008

5. Apr 24, 2008 12:15 PM

in response to: Dog-lover

I did my long run Saturday which was 15 miles and it went pretty well except that I was dead tired by the time I got done. I recovered pretty quickly but was really tired the last two miles?? I've never run long distance before so it's definitely a new experience. I'm kind of worried weather I'll be able to actually run 26.2 miles in two months.

Hi there Dog-lover. I have a running tip that you may want to try and incorporate. This past March I was out in Napa Valley running in my 8th marathon and while I was out there I went to expo and was able to hear a variety of speakers at a running seminar. One of the guys, and I can't remember his name for the life of me, said that he runs his marathons by running two miles at a time and then walking for 40 seconds. He does this throughout the whole marathon. He said that by doing this you are not taxing your body as much, you're giving your body a chance to recover a bit during the race and thus you feel a lot fresher in the later miles. This was coming from a guy that had run a bunch of marathons under 3 hours. He said that when he tried this 'run two miles/walk 40 second' plan for the first time in a marathon he still ran well under 3 hours and just felt a lot fresher doing this. I have yet to try this method but plan to try it during one of my 20 mile training runs for my next marathon in June to see how it makes me feel during and after the run. This method really intrigues me and I am anxious to try it and I think it could work for all runners no matter what their talent level is. Give it a try... it may really help you and give you that confidence to do those long training runs and complete your first marathon. Best of luck and I hope you had a good run today.

Dog-lover

25 posts since
Mar 5, 2008

6. Apr 25, 2008 4:20 AM

in response to: SleepyMyron

Thanks everyone for the info and encouragement! My training program is a run/walk program and I think it's working really well, I just lost some confidence being so tired at the end of the 15 mile long run. Having no experience in long distance running I can't really compare it to anything. I don't have very lofty plans other than to be able to actually finish this first marathon. If I'm able to maintain my current pace up to a full marathon I'm on about a 4hr15min to 4.30 pace. Not a blazing pace, but like I said, right now I just want to finish and hopefully learn more about my abilities! I'm up to 30 min run / 1 min walk and it seems to go pretty well. I'm hoping to have it somewhere at 40 - 60 min run / 1 min walk by race time. All of your suggestions seem to make sense, I think on my next long run I will make sure and keep the tank full early with energy bars and water before I get to tired and may cut my run/walk back down to 20min/1min intervals until I get my confidence back. Thanks again to all for your input!!

SleepyMyron

24 posts since
Jan 9, 2008

7. Apr 25, 2008 12:31 PM

in response to: Dog-lover

Doglover... I'm glad all the advice you got has been helpful. I wish you nothing but the best in your 1st marathon. Just remember, no matter what time you finish the race at... if you finish the race, that is a major accomplishment in and of itself and something you should be very proud of.

Take care and I hope you had a great run today

Dog-lover

25 posts since
Mar 5, 2008

8. May 4, 2008 4:31 AM

in response to: Jay Silvio

Jay, thanks so much for the advice! I did my long run yesterday (17 mile) and made sure to keep fueling, half an energy bar approximately every 45 min and stayed hydrated the whole way. I did this run 15 min faster and 3 miles further than my last long run. Felt great when I was done and recovered really quickly. I feel much more confident that I'll be able to complete my first marathon and if I can continue to run with this pace or better will have a respectable time for a first time beginner. Long distance endurance is a totally new experience to me and I'm growing to really enjoy it! Thanks again for you input!

Jay Silvio

1,652 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

9. May 10, 2008 4:10 AM

in response to: Dog-lover

Dog-lover wrote:
I did this run 15 min faster and 3 miles further than my last long run. Felt great when I was done and recovered really quickly.

That's awesome! You may hate me for this, but I'm going to let you in on another "secret" to quick recovery: the ice bath. After your long and/or hard workouts, fill your tub with cold water (and ice if you have it, but it's not required) and hop in and soak your legs for 20 minutes. The cold will reduce the inflammation in your muscles and promote an extended period of blood flow to the deep tissue which improves healing. After you get out, it's important to walk around for a bit and re-activate your legs. Like I said, please don't hate me for this recommendation when your 10 minutes into a soak...

Dog-lover

25 posts since
Mar 5, 2008

10. May 31, 2008 4:54 AM

in response to: Jay Silvio

Confidence update. Thanks to everyone for the advice I'm feeling much more confident these days. My training schedule has me up to 20 miles now and although I'm not setting any speed records I am very confident that I'll be able to complete my first Marathon. Yesterday I did 21 miles and held up very well! I really focused on staying fueled and hydrated and then just enjoyed the run. It was not the best run and I had to deal with some stomach issues, weather issues as well as not feeling very motivated to run. This was one of the first long runs that I've felt so unmotivated. In a way I'm glad that it was a bit of a struggle because I did finish it and I felt really good about finally getting over the 20 mile mark for the first time even on one of the off days! Thanks again for all the advice. Now all I have to do is go out and actually finish my first marathon. I know I can do it!

Jay Silvio

1,652 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

11. May 31, 2008 2:35 PM

in response to: Dog-lover

Dog-lover wrote:
Yesterday I did 21 miles and held up very well!

That's great news. Runs like that (long ones when you are unmotivated/tired and the weather isn't great) are probably the toughest ones there are. If you survived a day like yesterday, you'll do just fine on race day.
Good luck and happy running!
Jay

This Question is Answered

Apr 22, 2008 6:53 AM

Losing confidence

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