My run today would be right at the top of that list. After what I went through today I wish I could be happy joining NAAFA and then the FatAss cheer squad and just let myself go. It would just be so much easier and isn’t cheering more fun than running?
The discouraging part is that I thought I was ready. I thought I was hydrated. I thought it would be fine. I wasn’t and the run wasn’t and now I’m pissed. I said I would run 18 good miles and what I did was run 13 good miles and 4 herky-jerky, stop and go, awful miles* and when it was all over I felt like crap.
I ate a good dinner last night. I thought I was well hydrated, too. I meant to take off at 5:00 AM because it has gotten hot again but I didn’t leave the house until about 6:15. I took 3 packs of Gu and 2, 1 Tablespoon baggies of Gookinaide Hydrolyte and I my watter bottle with its little hand harness.
Things were fine for a while – I felt fine and my pace was good (~ 10:20 per mile). When I got to the first park with a potty at about 6 miles and had no need for it I started to worry. I decided it was time for Gu so I gagged down a Tri-Berry and very nearly hurl-tilized the local trailside flora right on the spot – ugh. Note to self – never take that stuff again!
I was drinking lots of water and it was still not too hot and the trail was shaded so I motored on. At some point I stopped at a fountain and mixed a batch of hydrolyte and drank it and then filled the bottle again. I was drinking lots of fluid. On I went to the 10 mile mark because I had already planned to stop at the high school, 2 miles from home and snag my daughter’s car to drive home.
The way back was okay until I’d gone about 13 miles. I had to stop at a Jamba Juice to get water and use the bathroom (which I still didn’t really need, much to my dismay and surprise) and seriously considered buying a Jamba but decided to eat the Orange Outrage Gu (tossing the other Tri-berry in the trash) and drink hydrolyte and water.
Getting from there to the high school was a non-stop test of will. I refused to walk so I would stop dead in my tracks, let my heart rate slow down and then start running again.
When all was said and done I felt like poop on toast. My whole day was shot after that. It was enough to make me seriously question running a marathon but I paid $75 for the privilage and I don’t want to DNS so I’m in it for the long haul. Ha ha – get it? Long haul!!
What I am most discouraged about is that my new plan (see post below) calls for 2 20 mile runs. I can hardly stand the thought. I can only hope that it’s really true that was doesn’t kill us makes us stronger and next weekend will be better.
Lessons Re-learned
1). Hydration takes days – don’t think you can slam water for 20 hours before the run and have it be enough.
2). Tri-Berry Gu is disgusting.
3). Gu in general is both disgusting and magical. Don’t skimp, just get the right flavor
4). If you think you need to leave at 5 to beat the heat then do it
5). Don’t plan a course that involves stopping and getting a ride. If you are going 18 miles it is 9 out from home and 9 back, the same way.
6). I am built for comfort, not for speed or for distance.
*or 4. The Garmin says 17.25 miles but Motion Based says 18.2. Who knows?
21st-century-mom.com 
I am sorry you had a bad run. Blame it on the heat and humidity. I had a rough patch on my run today as well. There is a reason they plan marathons in the spring and fall. Hang in there.
I actually like the Tri-Berry, but it is a matter of personal preference. You’re right; get the “wrong” flavor, and it is vile, disgusting stuff that makes you want to toss your cookies. But get the “right” flavor, and it’s wonderful.Trial and error – I try not to buy more than one or two of any flavor until I know that I like it. (I’ll generally give it two tries, since excessive dehydration or a bad run seems to impact my perception of Gu flavors.)It’s actually easier to keep moving then do the start-stop routine. I know you don’t want to walk on your long runs, but sometimes the heat and humidity can force it on you – just keep moving, even if it’s a case of run 4 minutes and walk 1.The long runs will get easier, though never “easy”. Just keep at it.
Ugh is right. (I do want to point out that one of the FatAss Cheerleaders had a terrible run in her stocking! I’m just sayin’..) (and HOW DO YOU FIND THESE THINGS?) I like tri-berry too, but then I thought i liked the clif blocks (until today; now i don’t like anything but water, but I don’t think that will work as a long-term strategy). You were really bookin’ it! Even if it sucked, you did it. Mileage in the marathon bank. and no thinking about the longer distances allowed. just think about tomorrow.
Now the good thing about having a bad run is that you know it is behind you, we all have crappy runs during a training program , and it is much better to have one on a training run than one on the day.I know it sounds hard but we all need bad runs to really enjoy the rest of our runs which we all know are good At the moment I am stuck down in Gaza on assignment and only wish I could get out and have a run, but my better half refuses to let me bring running clothes down here in case I get kidnapped LOL CheersMal
After reading yours and Jeanne’s post yesterday was just not a good day to run. The planets must’ve been outta alignment or something. At least it’s over with.
I’ve tried a few of the GU flavors, and believe it or not, I finally settled on plain!
Sorry about the run. I had one of those last year and gained alot of new respect for the distance. Even though it wasn’t the greatest you finish it aand your body still gained the endurance from it.
I am completely SPEECHLESS with that video! WTF??? I mean that’s awesome with body confidence, but hello?? …Shouldn’t health be a concern too? (My mouth is like wide open…I am really just dumfounded that there is such an organization!) WOW!
Tri-Berry – one time and never again. Orange works nicely; goes down smooth.Better luck next weekend. Dig into that speed workout midweek too.
Hope you have a better run next time and it’s good that you recognize that you need more fluid intake.
You’ve been busy….and we all have good days and ugh days. I was convinced that I wouldn’t be able to run my half..and then did it better than expected. So yeah…Jeannne said it….one day at a time. I like the bloks..blocks? The chewing gives me something else to think about on the long runs!
I have the solution to your Garmin/Motion Based mileage not agreeing with each other problem. Use the MB Gravity elevation on the Motion Based website (under activity options). The elevation that the Garmin uses is messed up. I hope this helps!
“Hydration takes days.” That’s a good lesson to re-learn. You can’t cram for a marathon. Good luck on your 20 miler.
Every where I turn the RBF is writing about their horrible runs. I’m so glad I’m not alone, but sorry your run wasn’t any fun. Hang in there, it’ll get better. It has to, right?