13 Mile Distance

 Okay all I could use your insight into the Half Marathon distance. I ran it this morning, but when I was done it felt like my body just decided it was going to lock down all my leg muscle groups. I am hobbling a little bit now. No injuries, but the muscles are extremely sore. I did not feel this in the 11 mile distance.

So I was wondering has anyone else felt this after the half marathon distance? Is it normal? Is my body simply saying what the hell do you think your doing?

My nutrition I think was good, I had thomas muffin with peanut butter and honey before I started, then I used 3 hammer gels during, and I drank 60 oz of liquid during as well. I still ended up down 5 lbs from the wiegh in before I started. My left calf at around mile 8 basically said I am going to give you some pain, so you better stop. So of course I ignored the pain, and pushed on. I figured hell if you guys can run Ironmans and Dan can run a 100 miles, that what the hell am I complaining about at a measley 13 miles.

Oh well share your thoughts.

That's a tough one. Times like this I wish I was a sports scientist. I can only speak from personal experience. When preparing for a half marathon, I don't run longer than 10 miles, the adrenaline of being in the race always gets me through the last 3.1 miles.

I have no idea what could have caused your legs to lock up, that has never happened to me. Maybe you need to drink more sports drink? What was your average pace per mile?

Is the calf pain debilitating? If so, maybe you need different shoes.

It doesn't matter if we are doing ironmans and ultramarathons. 13.1 miles, a half marathon, is still a HUGE deal!

 Jay.. you know all I have done this year.. I can tell you, I ran a half last Sunday and it about killed me, I am still not recovered.  Don't sell yourself short, 13 miles is no joke, you are gonna hurt, no matter how in shape you are, and if you pu**** a bit, you are gonna feel it.  It never gets easier :)  

 Thanks Andrew. I feel I am coming along.

 First off, dont sell your self short on 13 miles.  Do you know how many people can cant run a mile, never mind 13 of them.

I ran a half this morning as well, my third  of the year, and my legs didnt lock up like yours, they were starting to feel the pain.  It worries me, as I am going to attempt to do a full marathon in a few weeks.  One thing I have noticed, that if I do not ramp up hydration the days leading up to a big event, I suffer on long runs.  A few weeks ago, I ran a 5k with my kids, and as I was traveling the days leading up to it, I did not hydrate well, and about mile two my thighs locked up and I ended up walking the last mile and half. 

Thats my only suggestion, watch the hydration, leading up to the race, more so than race day.

ROY

Here is what I think.  The calf started to hurt and whether you wanted to or not, it threw off your normal gait.  That caused you to use your muscles differently than you usually do and that caused the excessive soreness. 

Another thing you might want to ask is how many of those marathon and ironman finishers have had setbacks.  I would guess that it's pretty close to all.  I ran my first marathon exactly 13 months after my surgery and that 13 months included a 6 week stint rehabing my knee. 

Keep up the good work but your body is kind of pissed because you didn't ask too much of it for a long time.  Now you expect more and it is kind of rebelling.  Don't be afraid to back off if you really need to. 

After the first one I felt crippled the following day.  I ran a second one 20 days later and it was like night and day.  No issues at all.

The one I ran recently gave me a little leg soreness about 2 days after, but I had non of the pain I did for the first one.

I think it's just getting your body used to it.

This wasn't Dan's first attempt at that distance. he had at least 2 ultra 50+ mile runs, maybe more.  He has been working hard to get his body used to doing that.

I think you will find the next one to be much easier on your body.

Scott

Jay,

Don't sell yourself short for a small set back hitting the 13 mile mark is a huge mile stone.  I know for me hitting 12 miles was a game changer and made me aware of the fact that I have to prepare myself to undertake that distance, things like Hydration and Nutrition before the run became crucial for me.  I'm not talking what I ate for breakfast or drank before my run, for me it meant planning the day a head, since I try to maintain a relatively low carb lifestyle (not no carbs). This meant eating right the day before my run to make sure I had the fuel stores along with prehydrating.

Could you have possibly upped you miles to fast to get ready for the half?  You have proved to yourself you can do the distance so maybe sticking with the 11 milers and dialing in the other elements might be a plan of attack.  I know I haven't ran a full 13.1 since my half and I feel pretty good with myself going into the turkey day run.

Remember Dan, Andrew, Jillian, Bill and everyone else started where you are and probably fought many of the same battles.  Read Dan's race report from Last Years 100 miler or his past Rocky Racoon runs.  Each mile you run is just as important as each mile any of us runs, because we are all doing something with our lives.  We have made the changes we need to to live a healthy active life.

Be proud of your 13 miles you earned it!

you have to respect the distance....  that goes for a 1 mile run or an ultra.  your body has to adapt to get used to the miles and the pounding, and it will take some time.  be careful not to ramp up to quickly or push too hard, that is how most of us (and i'm one of the worst offenders) get overuse injuries.  congrats on the milestone, turkey day is going to be a breeze for you, i only did 10 miles in prep for my first half marathon.

Add me to the worst offenders list!

Now I get to run with a leg brace because of it.