So I fell off the wagon, now what?

After running the 1/2 last year as well as a couple shorter races and I was really excited to run the fargo marathon this year. In the offseason I usually just run enough to stay in shape, but it's pretty irregular. This winter I had no trouble jumping back into things and found myself well ahead of training schedule and was feeling alot better than this time last year. Now my schedule has gotten completely swamped and my running has been cut in half. Suddenly I find that after only a few sluff weeks my body feels like I haven't even started training. What do I do now? Before a few weeks ago I had done several 9,10, and 11 mile runs, all 1/2 minute ahead of target race pace. Now I feel like crap at 3 or 4 miles. Is there something wrong with me? What do I do?

In every training program you are going to have your ups and your downs. For me, it seems like every time I am training hard for a marathon, there are going to be weeks that I feel terrific and there are also going to be those weeks that I feel like I am never going to make it to race day and all my goals are going to become unobtainable even before I get to race day. However, I keep at the training program, do my best, and eventually you will come out of the slump.

If you are feeling down, make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep and eating correctly. These two things help immensely with getting your body back on track. I also started to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement from Hammer Nutrition (Premium Insurance Caps) and it seems to help with recovery and also being able to cope with the increasing mileage.

Keep at it and it will come together. Just remember that it is better to be 10% undertrained than to be 1% over trained.

The last post gave some pretty good advice and a great reminder: get enough sleep and rest during your training. You'll make it to the start line if you keep plugging away, and your mental toughness will carry you through to the finish line. Just don't get discouraged.

I'm training for my first marathon (Grandmas) and plan to run the Fargo half. Last fall, I ran the Beardsley half and was a wreck going in. My last three weeks of training was painful but I went to a chiropractor just before the race, and kept telling myself to trust my training. The result: I met my goal time set three months earlier and a positive attitude carried me through the rain, mud and self-doubt.

I never planned to run a full marathon until two months ago, but put my mind to it. Three weeks ago, I came down with the flu and lost a week of training but came back without diminished results. However, this past week was tough, and every run except my long run felt like torture. I was wondering what went wrong, and as I reflected, realized my sleep pattern was horrible the past week. I'm training solo, including all my long runs, which I think will help in the mental preparedness category come race day.

Don't mean to ramble about my personal experience here, but I've done lots of research and getting enough sleep and eating right can impact your training as much as those long runs. Stick with it and you'll be amazed at what you can do. A little stick-to-itivity is all you need. Good Luck!

Hey, we have all been there. I took TWO days off this past week because of a bit of knee pain. I ran on the third day, an easy 4 miler just to try the knee out, and I was tired.

As the previous post have suggested, stay to the diet, enough sleep, etc. This weather will break at some point an a new life will enter all of us.

When I "fall off," I go back to the basics for a week or two. Running 4-5 times a week, easy, eating right, and usually that fixes it. You still have time. If you are sick, feeling extremely tired (more than usual), maybe a visit to you doctor is in order. Anyone can over train.

Stay motivated and read through the post here...That is what I do!


:D

Okay, back on the wagon. Way behind schedule, but back on the wagon. I figure my time will be pretty poor but I ought to at least be able to fininsh. Got back intoa regular sleeping pattern and diet and have been mixing in some 5 degree inclines to make the most of my treadmill runs. Hope to hit the gravel tonight! Thanks for all the encouragement.

kkarls,

Good job! Don't worry about your time. We all have our little demons (the time we want to run a given event in), but the first goal should be to finish. I have learned over time to have a few goals for each event I participate in, whether it be cycling, running, etc. That way I usually succeed! :D

Keep up the good work!

Update: i finally bit the bullet and settled for the half marathon :( Just couldn't make the commitment that a marathon requires. My schoolwork and job and marriage were just suffering too much. I would much rather enjoy a half marathon than suffer through a full marathon. There's always next year. Anyhow, I am really enjoying this weather and running in the moonlight and I'm still really looking forward to the race in a month. I am still plenty excited about running! I thank you all for the encouragement you have given to me and to each other. It will be great to see so many people gather to fulfill their goals and have all that preparation pay off. See you at the race :D

KKarl,

It sounds like you made the right decision for you at the time. A 1/2 marathon is still a lofty goal. As you said, go out and ENJOY the 1/2 :D

ran the Jaycees "run for the Lakes" 1/2 marathon last weekend in the Brainerd MN area. What a wreck. Ended up doing 13.1 in snowstorm! Narrowly avoided frostbite and finished about 10 to 12 minutes behind were I'd hoped to. Oh well, I can check "run a half marathon in a snowstorm " off of my list! Anything short of a blizzard in fargo will be something to look forward to.