"When I do the best I can with what I have, then I have won my race." Jay Foonberg



Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Tapering...Bugs...Fun

So many things are new for me in doing my first marathon. I've loved all of it and have pushed my body to do things I never knew it could do. I've, also, been challenged in a couple of areas. But I'll have to say that I have now found the thing I do NOT like...tapering! I use to think taking a rest day before a race was hard to do but three weeks...Yikes!!! Well, though it's not completely rest, it is, compared to what you've gotten accustomed to running, up to this point. Mentally, I almost feel like I've already done the race and I'm in recovery mode. I'm feeling lazy. Eight miles seem so measley now and I'm dying to get out and put in a 10-13 miler. Is there something wrong with me??

Okay...guess I'm working through this great thing called a "marathon" and my thoughts and ideas have to be changed in order to treat my body correctly. Up to this point, my idea of taking care of my body is to eat better and incorporate a few supplements that I know my diet is lacking. Only in the last couple of years have I added running to this. This great machine we call a "body" is fascinating at best. It is self healing, motivating and goal oriented. Guess that's why when you catch the running "bug" it's practically just that...a bug. You've got to contend with it and what your body is trying to get you to do. Your mind, your desire and what your body is able to do have to all line up on the same page in order to accomplish this task safely.

When I began running I had no idea that my pursuit would lead me past a good 10k race. But this bug is highly contagious. We have some close friends that have done many marathons and in talking with them it made me do a lot of thinking. They love it and got excited when speaking of doing one. Once this thinking set in, like fever, I had to start "treating" it. So I began giving it what it was calling for...MORE! That is, better eating and longer running.

In the beginning...I think my long running began to see if I could run further and how difficult it was to do. If it was really "in" me to do this. Then before I knew it my husband had signed me up to do my first half marathon. I say "before I knew it" because it was only 5 months after I began running seriously. I had been doing very well in races so far and he thought it would be good to have a new goal. Let me say, here and now, it was the most fun I'd experienced in many years. I looked forward to training every day. It seemed the only apprehension that I had was the excitement of the unknown. I didn't know if I could run it in its entirety, how well I would run, how I would feel afterward and even if I would like it in the long run. My one and only goal was to run it and not walk it, if possible. This was easily accomplished and I fell in love with running longer distances.

Since I realized I liked running longer and with the excitement brewing from friends, my heart would skip a beat when I would consider doing a marathon. You know what I'm talking about. The kind of excitement you feel when you've decided to try out a new adventure, new and daring. Like standing on the edge of a bridge getting ready to do your first bungy jump. No, I've not done that. But I can "feel" the fear well up inside me as I write this.

Interesting things about a marathon:
Less than 1% of the people have ever run one
You become an elite person in yourself
Prepare, prepare, prepare (much to buy and take)
Discipline...there must be discipline
Self motivation to run those days you don't feel like it
Endurance for those wonderful long runs
Persistance in doing what you "should" and not what you want
Stamina for maintaining a program for MONTHS

Have a fantastic sunshiney, cold day. And, go Run 4 It!! Your goal, that is.

3 comments:

Runnergirl Creations said...

Good for you! I'm excited for you & your marathon! I've done several marathons (and lots of shorter races too). Tapering is mentally tough but you will be thankful as you work through the back 1/2 of the marathon miles. Good luck!!!

Happy Feet 26.2 said...

great post Robbie. the excitement that you write about, and with, reminds me of myself. It's great to have a passion for running at this time in our lives. It truly is a gift to be able to do what we do.

Runwithme said...

In training for my first marathon, I did a 20-mile run this week. I'm 57 and had never gone so far before.
Sounds like you are well prepared for next weekend.
For what it's worth, the Furman First tapering for a marathon is a 13 mile run 2 weeks before and a 10 mile run one week before.

2019 Races

  • 05/11/19...9.38 mile Good Life Ride
  • 04/13/19...Raven 5k
  • Dec. 15 - Mar. 8 2019...175 Mile Challenge
  • 02/16/19...Sweetheart 5k
  • 01/19/19...Casio Bridge 5k...DND

2018 Races

12/09/18...MS Gulf Coast Half Marathon
12/01/18...Honeybee 5k (cancelled-weather)
11/17/18...Seville Quarter Turkey Trot 5k
11/11/18...Battleship 12k
10/20/18...Hope Haven Run for Hope 5k
10/13/18...Shrimp Festival 5k
09/29/18...Don McCloskey 5k
09/01/18...Bloody Mary 5k
01/27/18...Casino Bridge 5k

Through December...200 Mile Fall Challenge
Through August...175 Mile Spring Challenge
Through June...150 Mile Spring Challenge

2018 Goals

Bike 500 miles.
Improve gear shifting.
Strength training 2 hours/week.
Run 600 miles.
Improve running without walking.
No processed sugar 75% of time.
Improve positive thinking.
NEVER give up!

2017 Races

  • 12/10/17...MS Coast Half
  • 12/09/17...MS Coast 5k
  • 11/25/17...Kaiser Half
  • 11/18/17...Wild Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11/11/17...Rotary Oyster 5k
  • 10/14/17...Shrimp Festival 10k
  • 02/18/17...Sea Turtle Half
  • 02/04/17...Double Bridge 15k
  • 01/29/17...Big Beach Half

2017 Bike Rides

  • 10/01/17...Southern Magnolia Ride [25.85]
  • 05/13/17...Good Life Ride [26]

Series

  • MS Coast Double Down...5k & Half
  • Run The Beach...3 Half's

2017 Goals

  • Back-to-Back Races [Done]
  • 3 Half Marathons [Done +1]
  • 1,000 Miles-No
  • First Half Marathon Series [3 Done]
  • Work on core/strength 2-3 times a week-No
  • Lose 25 pounds-No
  • NEVER give up! YES!!
  • Control/Eliminate refined sugars-Good

2016 Races

  • 10/15/16...Shrimp Festival 5k
  • 05/30/16...Fiesta Five Flags 5k
  • 03/19/16...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03/13/16...St. Pat's Leprechaun 5k
  • 03/05/16...Bay to Breakfast 12k...1st trail race
  • 02/20/16...Sea Turtle Half
  • 02/13/16...Double Bridge 15k

2016 Goals

  • Run 1,000 miles-Done
  • Bike 300 miles
  • Half Marathon-Done
  • Eat fruit daily
  • Push through the hard times-Done
  • Cut back on refined sugar

2015 Races

  • 12/19/15...Make It To The Line 4 Miler
  • 11/21/15...Wild Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11/14/15...Oyster 5k
  • 10/10/15...Shrimp Festival 5k
  • 05/30/15...PHind a Cure-W/D
  • 05/02/15...Fiesta Five Flags 5k
  • 04/18/15...Zydeco 5k - W/D
  • 04/??/15...Virtual Remember the Fallen 5k
  • 04/??/15...Virtual Boston Strong 5k
  • 04/11/15...Magnolia 5k
  • 03/28/15...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03/07/15...Circle K 5k
  • 03/01/15...Gulf Coast Lulu's 10k
  • 02/28/15...Sweetheart 5k
  • 02/07/15...Double Bridge 15k

2015 Goals

  • 1 Half Marathon
  • Eat fruit daily
  • Overlook past failures
  • Push through the hard times/things

2014 Races

  • 12/06/14...St. Jude's Half Marathon
  • 08/16/14...Pinky 5k Virtual
  • 08/15/14...Howl @ the Moon 10k Virtual
  • 02/15/14...Sweetheart 5k
  • 02/01/14...Double Bridge 15k

2014 Goals

  • 1 Half Marathon
  • 700 Running Miles
  • Strengthen my Upper Body
  • Recuperate, Recover, Renew
  • Get active in WW
  • Eat Fruit Daily
  • Start Clean Eating
  • Begin Eliminating Sugar from Diet

2013 Races

11-30-13...Stennis 5k
11-23-13...Turkey Trot 5k
11-08-13...Run For The Kids Virtual Half [St. Jude's]
10-12-13...Shrimp Festival 5k
09-22-13...Talladega Half
07-04-13...Wesson 2 Miles
06-29-13...Emz Liverpalooza 5k
05-18-13...Pursuit of Fun 5k
04-20-13..Warrior Dash
04-07-13...Gulf Coast Half-Pensacola
03-23-13...Azalea Trail 10k
03-10-13...Leprechaun 5k
02-24-13...NOLA Marathon
02-02-13...Double Bridge 15k-Pensacola
01-13-13....Gulf Coast Half-Lulu's

2013 Goals

  • 3 Half Marathons-Done-Plus 1
  • 1 Marathon-Done
  • 1000 Running Miles-No, due to RC Tendonitis & Broken Shoulder
  • Eat fruit daily-A little aggressive but better
  • Maintain weight in 130's-Did NOT happen!

2012 Races

12-08-12...FloraBama Jingle Bell 5k
11-24-12...Jingle Bell 10k
11-17-12...Turkey Trot 5k
10-27-12...Jazz Half
10-20-12...OS Rotary 5k
10-13-12...Race for Grace 5k
09-29-12...5k For Katlyn
07-04-12...Wesson 2 Mile
04-15-12...Gulf Coast Half...[Withdrew-bronchitis]
04-14-12...Diversity Dash 5k
03-24-12...Azalea Trail 10k
03-03-12...MS50 20k...[Withdrew-bronchitis]
02-25-12...Kids Need Heroes 5k
02-11-12...Sweetheart 5k
02-04-12..Double Bridge 15k
01-14-12...Pensacola Half



2012 Goals

  • 1 Full Marathon-Marine Corp filled up
  • 3 Half Marathons-2 Down-Sick had to drop 2
  • 20 Miles-Wkly Mileage-Bronchitis kept me from this
  • Cross Training 2x Week-Poor Commitment
  • Weekly Weights W/O-Again Poor Commitment

2011 Races

  • 11-26-11...Kaiser Half
  • 11-19-11...Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11-11-11...Thumbs Up for Bill 5k
  • 11-05-11...Senior Bowl 10k
  • 10-22-11...Running the Streets 5k
  • 10-15-11...Shrimp Festival 10k
  • 10-08-11...Mullet Run 5k
  • 09-24-11...Waiting for a Cure 8k
  • 09-05-11...Labor Your Legs 5k
  • 07-04-11...Wesson 2 Miles
  • 06-04-11...Bay Fest 5k
  • 05-14-11...Stargazer 5k
  • 04-30-11...Fiesta 5 Flags 5k
  • 04-16-11...St. Benedict's 5k
  • 04-10-11...Gulf Coast Half
  • 03-26-11...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03-19-11...St. Patrick's 5k
  • 03-05-11...Eco 5k
  • 02-13-11...Mardi Gras Marathon

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