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Guest
Guest

Sep 4, 2006 12:35 AM

Bombing out in your target run

I completed my third half marathon on the weekend. I have been training with a friend targetting this one particular run as the one I wanted to do best for the year. I have been running well of late and have run the distance in training so didn't anticipate a problem. The week previous I completed a 12km race did in my best time to date and thought I was on track for the half.

Well I bombed out and I'm really struggling to pull a positive out of it.

I have gone through my race splits and have realised that I did go out fairly hard for the first 9 kms. From my splits I dropped my bundle totally at about the 16-18km mark. I had a shocking stitch which I couldn't run out. I had four walking breaks in the run to try and break the stitch - which didn't work either. Runners were passing me and I was struggling. Legs felt terrible and I had a total feeling of lethargy.

As I said I have been beating myself up about this and what could have been if I had have sucked it up and got on with the job. My training partner did a 9 minute PB and I am totally lamenting what could have been, but at the time I was physically and mentally struggling.

How do I turn this negative energy around?
Click to view Johnny J013's profile Legend
Johnny J013
358 posts since
May 21, 2003
1. Sep 4, 2006 12:56 AM in response to: Guest
quote:<HR>Originally posted by ThunderousThighs:


The week previous I completed a 12km race did in my best time to date

<HR>


There's your problem. It's a downer to have a bad race when you've really worked towards that. But, some days you just don't have it. There are so many reasons that it could've been-- sleep that week, your taper, eating before, proper pacing, etc. But it sounds like you probably weren't fully recovered from a great race the week before (your "best time to date") and were probably too agressive in early pacing.

Unfortunately, sometimes you lay an egg. You just have to try to learn why and do better next time. Been there done that and I'm sure I will again in the future.

Keep on running! There's always next time.
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mikeymike013
71 posts since
Apr 9, 2006
2. Sep 4, 2006 10:38 AM in response to: Guest
quote:<HR>Originally posted by ThunderousThighs:
I have gone through my race splits and have realised that I did go out fairly hard for the first 9 kms. <HR>
There's your other problem. I have found the Half Marathon to be the most unforgiving of going out even slightly too fast. It almost requires even to slightly negative splits. The good news is that a half doesn't require too much recovery time so you should be able to try again soon. If you want to.
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Click to view WI MTP's profile Legend
WI MTP
461 posts since
Jan 7, 2006
3. Sep 4, 2006 12:08 PM in response to: Guest
I am not sure the 1/2 is the most unforgiving - but I consider it the hardest to get the pacing right.

Running a 12km race full out 1 week before - could have been the difference.

Sometimes we get to hyped up and our body is a little off kilter for the race.

Sometimes we needed to adjust our diet ever so slightly and things would have went well.

And some days your body just does not cooperate

Anyway you look at it - You have to break a few eggs to get an omelete.

Basically - When you push to you bodies - Max potential it is a fine line and for a reason I can not know you crossed than fine line. If you can figure out something to learn and adjust for the next race - great - If not then forget about it and keep working hard you are making progress.
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Click to view George in Fremont's profile Legend
George in Fremont
211 posts since
Aug 28, 2005
4. Sep 4, 2006 9:30 PM in response to: Guest
quote:<HR>Originally posted by ThunderousThighs:

Well I bombed out and I'm really struggling to pull a positive out of it.

<HR>


Everybody has good races and bad races. The good thing is that there is always a next race soon. So, forget about this and work towards your next one.

------------------
Happy running !

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Click to view Born to Run060's profile Legend
Born to Run060
557 posts since
Jul 1, 2002
5. Sep 4, 2006 10:02 PM in response to: Guest
You know what, this happen to the best athletes in the world. Learn what you can from the experience and set your sights on a new race/goal. You have great races ahead and some bad as you have learned.
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