Runner's Forum: The Official: Training Summary Start Up Thread

Chiggy, KDogg, LexB: thanks for the advice on the fartleks.  I had done them a few times (like 2 or 3 times) in the past but I stopped doing them at some point.  I think it might have been that I was having trouble doing them due to the snow and, probably, too short a cycle time.  I'll look at doing them for 1 or 2 minutes each instead.

Today's run was a consolation run of sorts... I got caught up in work and had to run much later in the day than I wanted to  so my 5 mile run became a 4 mile run at a slightly elevated pace (4 miles in 31:23).  It turns out that my slightly elevated pace puts me in my typical times for the 4 mile runs I had been doing earlier in the year.  I guess I am not pushing myself enough as I should have made better time than this.

Tomorrow I'll consider a fartlek and see how I feel.

Hey all. Did my second century ride of the season (and my life) on Saturday. 103 miles in 5:25. Got in with a group that was just a bit faster than I was comfortable with and we flew. It was a great ride on a great day. Not sure how many participants, but at least 1000. Gonna try doing some more running in the gym and see how the knee holds up.

SimmoT - it's clear from your comment on Vegemite that you are from down under. Having all the blood run to your head due to hanging upside down from the earth has warped the sense of taste of all y'all. Anybody from this hemisphere will confirm that Vegemite has to be the worst tasting food ever invented by man. I will grant that it is salty.

Pappypage - come on man, we have a few soybean fields mixed in with the corn. KDogg can confirm that.

Hill work today, 2 sets of 5 on a steep 550 meter hill with a 5min break between sets. Very tough workout!

Great race Steve!

pappypage, i think i might take endless miles of corn over a pancake flat piece of land that has nothing but rows and rows of cotton.

ps. yes i realize the irony in that i just posted a hill workout on a large steep hill and then said it was pancake flat, but i assure you that is our ONLY hill and we had to drive 30 min to get there haha

Simmo - I did have an Up & Go Before I left home, and along the way I had 2 Gu's and also some powerade about 500mls in total supplied by my husband - who met me at intervals along the way. Perhaps I needed one more Gu at the 28 Km mark - but I also reckon that I was a bit put off by my location - I had lost my mental map of where I was in my run - and could not set myself a goal to see the finish line - which usually helps me to go the distance - it was like I was running with no end in sight. I am a goal setter!!

On the next two weeks of the taper, I will experiment with a couple of different suppliments I can take on the run - if I see another Gu I think I will be sick!!

Vegemite is a good idea - and no matter what rpetreccajr thinks it is the best spread in the world!!!

I have been slacking with the posting, but fortunately not the running.  I did my 18 mile run over the weekend, which included 14 miles of my marathon course for later in October.  It took me just about three hours, and it made me remember that three hours is a long time to be on your feet, much less running for that whole time.  I'm not nearly as fast as most of the folks on here, but I can chug out the miles at my turtle pace.

I can't add to the Vegemite discussion, but I will say that the good folks at the GU company are the reason I've been able to run so well.  I think that the GU's help me as much mentally as they do physically.  Think Popeye right after he eats a can of spinach - that's me with the GU's. 

Happy training, running, biking, etc. to all. 

Hi Folks,

I'm guessing Vegemite and marmite are one in the same? If so, it's a big no-no from me. It's definately an acquired taste for sure.

Hi tranquil21 - I'm new to the whole 'GU' thing as well. They are an energy gel used to provide a quick source of energy to the body during plo-longed exercise. Here is a good link to help explain it - http://www.carbboom.com/nutrition/theabc.html -

I took the plunge at the end of last week and purchased 5 Carb-boom gels. I'm planning on using them tomorrow on a 26-miler. In agreeing with Bonzi, I'm hoping they will benefit me mentally as much as physically.

Keep running. Keep well,

Graeme

I've now taken 7 days off from running.  I had some kind of deep bruise (tendon maybe) on top omy left foot.  Then I got hit with a nasty viral infection that hit my throat.  Needless to say iI've been down and out.  I've just about given up hope to run my first Marathon in November, but I m going to do a light (I mean VERY light) run today to test the foot.  If it feels ok, I'll up the mileage the rest of the week and attempt a LR on Saturday.  That will be my guage at this point.  If I can't get to the LR and through it, I'm done for this season.  (I don't do well with cold weather running).  Unfortunately, (and fortunately) I start a new job next week which will take away some time I'll have to run.  I'll have to make it work..somehow...some way. 

By the way, I need new running sneakers.  Anyone have suggestions for high arches? I know I need cushioning (I've read all the articles) - just looking for a good distance trainer that gives lots of cushion.  I currently use a NB Zip (older version) and think they might be causing some of my foot pain. 

Marmite (and I assume vegemite too) is a yeast based savoury spread. It's a  breakfast condiment rather than a specialist pre-run snack although as I think of it it's packed full of B vitamins and salts so is probably darn good as such. I shall be trying that in the future. As Ex-Kiwi said the trick is to spread it thin people! : ) And I still stand by the fact that Marmite is the superior version! You can usually find them with jam/marmalade/honey in the grocery store.

As for Gels - powerbar strawberry and banana gel may be the worst thing ever invented, in my humble opinion anyway! Remember when you take them to do it with plenty of water. I would recommend trying them before hand on a short run as they don't agree with everyone - see how your stomach handles it!

No run for me today - just had a brilliant sparring session at kickboxing and have a job interview this avo followed by a gig this evening so pretty chocker... best get back to it. Happy running folks

Thanks guys, your also doing great yourselves.  Anyways, did 5, 1000m repeats on the track today with 2 1/2 to 4 minute breaks. 3:20,3:22,3:23,3:23,3:18.  Then did 40mins of strength training after. Felt really good, only problem is my calves are so tight from my race yesterday.  Planning on going to garrett mountain,(where i ran my last race) to do hills and a 5 mile run.  Should be fun.

Tranquil- Finally a fellow new jerseyan haha.  Yeah the last 800m is tough, its not to bad once you get a little past the bathrooms.  I love darlington, but just not a fan of the sand, but im sure no one is.  I have yet to race at holmdel, probably will later in the season for states.  Im in the BPSL league, my school is really small so were group one.  So far were 3-0, we won leagues last year and I think counties also, but im not entirely sure. Good luck wih your race!

Didn't wake up early enough today, so instead of 5 miles with a 3 mile tempo in the middle I just ran 3 miles relatively easy with fartleks sprinkled here and there. My motivation seems to be really waning lately. Once I hit 20 miles in a week, I just haven't gotten there again in the last month. On paper, I was supposed to be almost to 30 miles a week next month.

I've heard of vegemite before, but I can't say that I've ever seen it. My regular breakfast is oatmeal with egg and almonds mixed in and topped with yogurt. My wife calls me a goat because I'll eat anything. So what if she's right!

I did eight fairly average miles after work last night.  It was one of those days where all I wanted to do was go home, put on my running shoes, and forget all of the nonsense that I dealt with during the day.  And for the most part I think it worked. 

I'm still nervous that I won't be able to keep up my marathon goal pace (9:06/mile) over the full 26.2.  The first two marathons I did were just to see if I could cover the distance, but now my goal is that elusive sub-four hour marathon. 

7 mile tempo this morning, we were all still pretty sore from moday's hill workout but were able to settle into a pace and have a decent run. Final time was 37:30, 5:21/mile, the funny thing is that it was a faster pace than my 5mile race haha, it just doesnt make sense.

I am back. Looked through 196 messages and you guys are waffling about Vegemite. Well I am an Aussie who will hurl at the smell.

After doing the calf five and a half, adn then 2 and a half weeks ago I was rather P*ssed. Have bene to the physio a couple of times, and have been doing a lot of riding.

Started doing 2 min on 2 min walking, but last night did my first run back. I was nervous about crossing roads and getting abck on teh footpath, so I just did 8 loops of the block which was a flat surface. I was sitting on 4.25 loops but I ddint know how big they were until I got to work this morning. I thought they were about 900, hoped for 950, but they were actually 990m, which means I was basically running at my goal pace, despite running once in five weeks. I was stoked. there was no soreness,a dn the confidence went through the roof. I am still aiming for a longer run this weekend, whci hwas later than I orignally wanted to, but I need one mroe run in ebfore the race. Also need to get my technique back a little back.

Anyway - it is good to be back.

gfinkelde - good to hear you're back on.

7km easy yesterday then today was a tempo run.  13.5km total with about 4km before and after the tempo section.

four mile run today ... 28 mins.

cool weather is niiiiiice.

8 mile hill workout again,.4.up..4 down....8:35 pace...gotta make sure i am ready for that last big hill at 25.2 mile marker..i wonder if the guy who layed out the course is a runner??....

feelin horrible today..bad stomach bug,.forced myself to get the run in, but felt like yackin every 10 yards..ugh..glad i can rest tommorrow....

lookin to run 10 yasso 800's on sat,.i read the tenth yasso will give you a pretty close acurate time for your marathon pace...easy 12 on sun and then its taper for last 13 days into race,

can't wait to be able to sleep in past 0400 on sun morning for a change...mmm, wonder if i can convince the wife to make me breakfest in bed,.

3 miles tonight, 25 minutes. Thought I was running at tempo but I must have been wrong - works out at 8:50 pace. Was very tired to be fair and, for reasons I shall not go into, running on pure anger. As it happens, it seems running is a good release.

Just an 8.3 mile run for me today (7:01 pace). The days are getting shorter. It's like 7:50pm here and it's pitch black outside. Today was the first day I used the gym as a changing room and the road as my treadmill.

chiggy - you're a machine!

pappypage - I love reading your posts.  With your work you still manage to get those runs in.  It would be so easy to just not bother.  Good on you.  Keep it up.

ericjacquie - wow; 18 miles is a serious race.  Good luck for that.

KDogg - hope the bank comes in for ya.

Training log.  Friday morning, 7.22k in 37:10.  PB for that course on Recovery day.  Heart Rate must stay below 70% of max.  Saturday morning - 2hrs 30 long run day.  Covered 26.6km and actually managed to come home just over a minute faster than going out.  Tried using energy gels for the first time on a long run.  Used the Endura citrus flavour.  Easy to take in and certainly seemed to help as my legs didn't feel like lead for the first time this year on a long run.  Will have to keep that habit up for any run over 2hrs.

Good luck to all those racing this weekend.