I planned to run 10.3 miles. My first double digit run. 20% more that my long run last week of 8.6 miles.
Had a fruit smoothie with an egg in it for breakfast an hour or so before I ran.
I had to stop at a drugstore for water after mile 3.
I stopped at an Urgent Care medical office for water after mile 7.
And that's when my iPhone music shorted out. Seriously. Must have been from the sweat. Off, on, on in chipmunk mode. Off, on, off really fast. Couldn't do a thing about it.
I probably walked 1 to 1 1/2 miles of the thing.
Felt like I had absolutely NO energy at all. I walked faster than I ran. Hills obliterated me.
Made it home.
Drank 40 ounces of iced tea.
After drinking the iced tea I weighed 1 1/2 pounds less than when I started the run.
Took a shower and thought I was going to throw up.
Went to bed for 2 hours.
It was 77 degrees outside and very humid.
My clothes were sopping wet, wring-out-ably wet. Disgusting.
I've lost 4 pounds in 3 days. From 137.6 to 133.8.
What happened? Am I ever going to be able to run long?
11 comments:
oh man that sounds torturous!!! what did you eat the night before??? ive noticed that my energy has been zapped lately too because of the increasing temps and humidity and i am just now getting a little acclimated to it. drinking while running has definitely helped me (using a fuel belt) and i think the electrolytes really helped me this week too. maybe you are sweating out too much loosing sodium without replacing it??? ive just learned by trial and error eating a good balance of carbs and protein about 2 hrs prior then Gu just before and another Gu about 5-6 miles in while drinking the entire time has kept me feeling ok. hope this was just a fluke and not a recurring theme!!!
I found you through the comments on Laura's blog. Laura and I do all our long runs together. I agree with Laura, invest in hydration you can carry and make sure you have some sort of electrolytes in your drink, the less sugar the better. I would fore go the smoothie for breakfast and do something more solid that will stick with you. Whether it's oatmeal or whole wheat english muffin with some peanut butter is up to you, you'll just have to experiment with different foods. I'm going to guess that the smoothie isn't helping you to have what you need for a long run.
I don't do Gu type foods because my tummy can't take them so I do a fig bar for re-energizing during a run. In our hydration packs Laura used the Nunn tablets (flavored) for electrolytes and I use Elete Electrolytes (not flavored).
Here is what my hydration and fuel looked like for that last run:
Breakfast: bowl of oatmeal with a little butter, sip on water while getting ready to go and sip on the drive to the trails.
Camelbak: 50 oz water with Elete electrolytes (drank almost all of it during the 10.4 mi)
Mid run fuel: 1 fig newman fig bar
Post run (within 30 mins of finishing): chocolate milk (truly the best recovery drink: protein, potassium, carbs all in a good amount.) Two more fig bars and lots of water.
After this run I felt better than I ever have after a long run. I think it was the same for Laura so it looks like we at least have it figured out for this distance.
Good luck!
That sounded pretty tough...here's what may be the difference between our runs. First, I don't run non-stop, being a relative newbie, I use the run 10 minutes/walk 1 minute technique (and it really does not affect my overall time by more than a few seconds per km). Second, as you know, I wear a fuel belt (what you don't see in the pictures is that I have a third - and if necessary a fourth - bottle in the back). Two, or three, with water and one with gatorade. I also carry sports beans that I pop during my 1 minute walk. Finally, I also eat a much heartier breakfast before heading out.
Keep on keeping on Laura...you'll feel better doing these long runs soon!
Uh oh. This is terrible! Sorry for your bad run :-(
I am learning thru you that if I ever wanna get more than a 5K distance under my belt, I have a lot more to think about than just my leg & lung status. Food & water, timing of consumption, quality & quantity... now I'm discouraged too! I hope these other comments will help you. If they help you, they'll help me by next year, when I get where you are now! Hang in there...
hang in there girly...
try eating every few miles when you are running especially when its hot. you need to make sure you are fueling with water, gatorade etc also.
it will get easier i promise just keep trucking!
Yuck. I am so sorry! Bad runs stink and can temporarily zap your confidence. Try not to let it get you down. I agree with comments above. You gotta make sure you are drinking plenty of water the days before a long run and during too. I have a hand held Nathan water bottle as well as a hydration belt. Find one that works for you! It will make a difference as it gets hotter!
Oh man, sounds brutal. Did you take any water with you? I usually take a Nathan hand held water bottle with me on runs longer then 6 miles and especially in the heat!
Ok, let it go and move on! YES, you will have a great run next time!!
Hey Laura,
I can't give you better advice than what you've already received. It's going to be trial and error for you as far as what works. I will say that your worst enemy is the humidity. That combined with not drinking enough water before and during your run will zap your energy every time. I drink water before and during long runs, and swear by the GU Vanilla Bean gel for say 10 miles and longer runs. Follow the directions on them if you try them. I HATE carrying anything, so I wear a hydration belt with 4 water bottles if it's hot and humid. I don't like feeling "weighed down," but better wearing that then suffering from heat exhaustion. Anyhow, a crappy run is better than no run at all. Forget about it, and live and learn. Again, you have great advice from everyone.
Get a handheld water bottle, and fill it up/freeze it the night before and run with it (I constantly forget mine) if you don't want a fuel belt. (I got one at Dick's in the shoe section).
Getting to be the summer, your long runs are going to have to be more early and perhaps on shaded paths (the Greenway, Silver Comet, etc.).
You got it done and should be proud of yourself. You should also be proud of yourself for stopping when you needed to.
I've been there lately and I totally blame the weather!!!
Here is some maca info http://www.amazon.com/Navitas-Naturals-Organic-Superfood-16-Ounce/dp/B000FFLHU2
Sorry, had a typo...lol.
I agree with the comments above. Definitely sounds like you dehydrated and need some sodium and electrolytes. I sweat like a man and have learned I have to hydrate during warm temps, so I always carry a small bottle of water or G2. Also, when I ran the Chicago Marathon it was almost 90 degrees and I took electrolyte replacement pills every 4 miles. I'm pretty sure it's the only thing that kept me from passing out. Another good option, take some salt packets from McDs and carry them with you. I put it on the back of my hand and lick it off. Keeps your sodium up. Also, on runs over 8 miles, I personally have to eat something (although I hate it) or I will bonk.
Hang in there. We all have bad runs. It's a learning process...finding what's right for your body. You were very smart to weigh yourself btw. I do that also.
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