Today was my running club long run day and it was really bad for me.  The schedule said 5 miles for today and we actually ran 6 last week so even though it was hard, I wasn't too worried.  As it turned out we were running up Mount Soledad which is pretty grueling and was 8 miles.  Even those in the fastest group were walking it.  I couldn't do it.  At about 2 miles we stopped at a park for a bathroom break and I just couldn't make myself keep running up the hill.  They kept going and I turned around and went back down the hill figuring I would at least do the 5 miles by running at the bay.  After walking it was hard to make myself keep running, but I did make 5 miles.  After talking with my husband today I think that my problem in not so much endurance.  I can walk a really long distance.  It's the extra energy required when I go from walking to running that I am struggling with.  Even with the aches and pains in my legs and feet my body can go the distance.  I don't know how you build up energy.

My husband said that he read an article that talked about everyone having rough days once in a while for no apparent reason.  The article said that what sets good runners apart is that they just blow it off.  I am trying not to get bummed out.  I don't so much care that I didn't run to the top.  I'll do that some day.  It's the thought that I will never have the energy to really be a runner that is getting me down.  But, I'm not giving up yet.

PJ,

Our posts must have crossed in midair. I am so sorry it was such a bad day. I do not know of many who could do 8 miles up a hill. Maybe your running group is going where you do not wish to be???? When you run on your own how do you feel??? Is it a better experience?  Maybe you are a solo person???

But dont get down on yourself...you should be proud you made it up that hill for two miles!!!  Have a margarita and wait for tomorrow!

Trish - I think that energy is an ongoing issue for me.  Every once in a while I have a really good run where I feel great and it's not a struggle, but most days I fell like I have to force myself to run and give myself a pep talk to make it to the end.  I kept thinking it was just buidling endurance, but I really think it's the energy.  I don't know if that comes with more time or not.  Anyway, the margarita sounds like a great idea!

RailroadWoman - Welcome!  It sounds like you have a lot of experience and probably have a lot you can share with us.  I live in San Diego and just checked out the website for the Firecracker Run.  It sounds like fun so I think I might try it out.

Hey - Anyone out there today have advice for pre-race jitters?  My stomach is already in knots, and my race (a half) isn't until 7 am tomorrow morning.  Even though I felt good doing a 12 mile run 2 weeks ago, I keep  2nd guessing my training plan.  I actually didn't run as many miles as it called for each week - - only hit 20 miles 2 weeks.  And, it recently occured to me that I've been running on pavement, and this race is on trails and unpaved roads.

I just got back from picking up my race packet - - - at the Boulder Running Company.  Wow, they really have cool stuff for race packets these days!  - - a performance shirt and hat (got the hat for being one of the first 500 to register), a water bottle, coolmesh socks.  When I did 5K & 10K Fun Runs in the 80's, all I got was a white cotton t-shirt.  Now I can relate to the dangers of going to a local running store.  I think I actually startied drooling while walking through the store.  However, I was disciplined.  The only thing I walked away with was a hydration belt.  I knew better than to buy a new running outfit the day before a race.  Can't wait to check out the "fashions" tomorrow.  I was feeling pretty stylish running in a pair of hot pink Nike running shorts from Dick's Sporting Good (and a Champion shirt from Target); until I saw all the cool running clothes at the running store.  I learned the hard way not to wearing clothing over a decade old while running.  I digress . . . . so, i'm running on the treadmill last winter in some baggy gray sweats I found in the bottom of my drawer.  Luckily, I have quick reflexes; otherwise they would have been at my ankles within the first couple steps.  Had to run a mile holding the waist with my left hand (and turning up my iPOD so I didn't have to listen to my 15-year old making fun of mom).   Anyway, if I keep up running, I'll have to update my running wardrobe.

It's 93 degrees now, and supposed to be warmer tomorrow.  I got spoiled last weekend running in the 60's.  I'm used to running in the heat, so I'm OK with that.  I'd also welcome any race advice.  Although I know not to start out too fast, I wouldn't be surprised if I got "caught up" in the momoent at the start.

Donna, I don't have any advice for your pre-race jitters. I don't have enough experience with races. I have only run 2 5K races. I can't run as far as you can either. I just want to say good luck on your race tomorrow. You are an inspiration for me to improve. I hope I can run a half some day. Make sure to post details about your race. I can't wait to hear how it went. You are a winner in my book just for entering the race. Try to relax, enjoy the experience and just have fun!

Hi Donna,

Your post and some of SlogOn's funny stories about approaching one's first 5K, in some other threads in the Running forum, have me really happy to have had the experience of the little fun runs I've participated in.  Not that they are super-orchestrated, but having now done a couple I feel totally comfortable at least about a few things:

race bib - pinning it on with safety pins works fine on most singlets (sleeveless running shirts made of performance fabrics), probably also most other fabrics. I wore a cotton and spandex blend yoga tank for my first run and the pins worked fine; for my second I had a Champion singlet on and the number still worked just fine.  My club supplies the bib WITH safety pins on it. Oh -- the first night, I was walking around cooling down and eating the ice pops they hand out at the finish, and nearly forgot I had the big still on.  My club collects the bibs and reuses them for this series of races -- I don't remember whether they do this on most 5Ks or not, but if so, remember at the end to turn it back in with the safety pins!

heat - you already know to hydrate well, starting now and through the event and after.  I took a plain old bandana with me the other night.  I rolled it into a tube and tucked one end in the waistband of my shorts.  The humidity turned out not to be as awful as my first outdoor run; still, near the end I pulled the bandana out and it felt good to mop my forehead and neck with it!  I fiddled around with tying it like a headband/sweatband, later on, but I think the first option works fine for my runs. I also used a tip that I found in some article online - put my cell phone inside a snack-size baggie.  I still haven't found a belt pack or shorts with pockets or such, but I like having the phone along and this way, I don't worry about sweating on it!

nerves -- yeah, in my experience, unless you are SUPER careful or use tech gear proficiently, you're likely to get caught up in the group's pacing.  I know I do.  Not a fatal flaw, I think we will all probably get used to it with more races run.  One article mentioned that nerves actually are helpful in that they do help us push enough to do our best, and being on edge can be a slight bit of an advantage -- it's GOOD to be nervous.  Eat lightly, don't eat any new foods.  And, DO try and run it for the fun of it!!  That's probably why you started this stuff, in the first place?

other runners -- it really is true, other runners are extremely kind and supportive.  I told one woman it was the first time out for me and she confessed she likes to run short races while her husband does the marathons and all that.  Greet people you pass kindly; they may just pass you further along the race!  I ran passing and being passed by a couple of runners this last race and we were sort of joking with each other about it.

You will do great!  Center yourself before the start, don't forget to cool down and to stretch afterward.  Run well!

Linda

Trish, I can totally identify with you. My adult son, who is a long time, long distance runner says I need to do circuit training to build up endurance i.e. workouts combining weights and cardio exercise.  He also said it would help to do run/jog intervals: jog for 5 minutes and then run at 85% capacity for 1 minute and repeat that 3X.  He said that is how he trained for the Hawaii Ironman.

I walked about 5 miles last night without any effort and it was hot and humid. Can someone tell me why is it so much harder to run than walk? Other runners out there don't seem to struggle as much as I do. Is it because I'm so much older???  I run outside and I know it's harder to dodge the trees and cars, & jump the puddles and dodge the other dogs, but how much harder can that be than running on a treadmill?  Maybe I need music (?) but I feel like I need to be alert to hear the cars and other dogs and creeps and criminals (we have a nasty neighborhood half-way house for rapists and murders who are just getting out of prison... and despite what they say, they have been known to commit crimes in the neighborhood.). I just bought a couple of books on the Zen of running and hope that helps me come to terms with some of this.   Someone here said that their husband said it takes about a year for the body to get used to running. So far that sounds like as good an explanation as any to me.  I know it takes me about a year to totally recuperate from surgery and some say running is hard on your body... so then why do we do it? It this an ego thing or health thing or what?  And, will I be able to persevere a year to get comfortable with it? I hope so.  I have to admit that I feel so calm and healthy when I'm done but the process of getting there is much harder than Jazzercise, which is pretty hard.  I have been fit for years. I've been doing major renovation on my 126 year old house. I've done Jazzercise the past year (and then some).  I've walked 3-5 miles every day for almost 40 years (rain or shine, snow, ice or hail) without effort. I've been doing more strength building exercises at home recently and don't know if it's helping or not. The heat and humidity definitely don't help.  I started running in the spring and when I started out, I felt like I had to run and I could run a marathon if I wanted to.  Now I'm not feeling it.  I'm going to try to run tonight after the sun goes down and tape my ankles and see if that helps my ankles.

By the way, Standard Poodles have always been my favorite dog.  I've been thinking that my next dog might be a smaller dog like a french bull dog but then when I see the men cross to the opposite side of the street when they see me running toward them with Bo Bo (the boxer), I realized that I will probably ALWAYS  have a boxer. The bad guys always think he's a pit bull and that's o.k. with me. lol

Photo of my running partner, Bo Bo (the clown) is attached.   I'm going to have to look up that article about running with dogs.  I hope it's online.