First Half end of September
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Thanks a lot. I'll have a look at those. First of all I'm off to a small vacation next week, and hopefully my first arctic training run.
After a training run on Orkney last month (had to be in Twatt of course) I can only go so much more northerly to beat that: Svalbard 
I hope I'm not too tired for this. 0 -
Another long run nailed, 16km. Just 5km left until I hit the Half distance. Again used gels and felt like I was flying, or rather waking slowly at times. It was so easy! I've never felt like that during a run and I've been running for over two years. Odd. Looks like I really need the sugar in the gels.1
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17km and 3 more long runs left. Looks like the gels help, but only till about 16km, or two hours. Meh! 2.5 of running without anything and my body still cannot take energy from fat stores it seems.0
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Sounds like you're doing great though!1
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polskagirl01 wrote: »Sounds like you're doing great though!
I hope! Aiming at just under three hours means I somehow need to find the energy to go on for so long. And I'm a person who pretty much constantly eats because I run out of energy so quickly. Phew.. need to take more gels along I guess. *getting slightly worried*0 -
Eat a banana or drink some Gatorade/juice just before you start. Then gels every 45 minutes, alternating water with Gatorade at the water stations, so you are getting some sugar every two or so miles.0
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Yep, something like this. I still have a bit more time to experiment. I know that all the running in the past did nothing to improve pulling energy out of fat stores. It still seems that I eat and I'm fine. I don't and I crash. I'm completely useless before breakfast. And this whole thing just refuses to improve.
Fats and proteins don't work well for energy and satience for me. Simple carbs seem to be best for me. But on a run that will likely burn around 1200kcal I cannot refill at least half of that with gels either as eating too much during a run causes reflux and other stomach problems. At this moment it feel like 17km is the maximum I can do with the limited energy I have available. Guess it's time to get back to my GP and finally demand some investigations. Again.0 -
Yep, something like this. I still have a bit more time to experiment. I know that all the running in the past did nothing to improve pulling energy out of fat stores. It still seems that I eat and I'm fine. I don't and I crash. I'm completely useless before breakfast. And this whole thing just refuses to improve.
Fats and proteins don't work well for energy and satience for me. Simple carbs seem to be best for me. But on a run that will likely burn around 1200kcal I cannot refill at least half of that with gels either as eating too much during a run causes reflux and other stomach problems. At this moment it feel like 17km is the maximum I can do with the limited energy I have available. Guess it's time to get back to my GP and finally demand some investigations. Again.
Have you looked at your fuelling the day before?1 -
TavistockToad wrote: »Yep, something like this. I still have a bit more time to experiment. I know that all the running in the past did nothing to improve pulling energy out of fat stores. It still seems that I eat and I'm fine. I don't and I crash. I'm completely useless before breakfast. And this whole thing just refuses to improve.
Fats and proteins don't work well for energy and satience for me. Simple carbs seem to be best for me. But on a run that will likely burn around 1200kcal I cannot refill at least half of that with gels either as eating too much during a run causes reflux and other stomach problems. At this moment it feel like 17km is the maximum I can do with the limited energy I have available. Guess it's time to get back to my GP and finally demand some investigations. Again.
Have you looked at your fuelling the day before?
Yep. It's an issue that's been ongoing for.. at least 17 years, and possibly was always there.0 -
Is there anything you crave after you've run a long way? I'd think too many gels would make a person sick even if they weren't running, so maybe there are other things you can add in to the routine as well.0
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polskagirl01 wrote: »Is there anything you crave after you've run a long way? I'd think too many gels would make a person sick even if they weren't running, so maybe there are other things you can add in to the routine as well.
No, not at all. I have yet to find a workout that makes me crave anything. I usually sit in a cloud of bliss afterwards, or just go to bed.0 -
polskagirl01 wrote: »Is there anything you crave after you've run a long way? I'd think too many gels would make a person sick even if they weren't running, so maybe there are other things you can add in to the routine as well.
No, not at all. I have yet to find a workout that makes me crave anything. I usually sit in a cloud of bliss afterwards, or just go to bed.
I guess just keep trying new things and see what works! I usually take fruit, pretzels, "energy bar" type things, trail mix (with chocolate!), sometimes gels for HM or longer. They were giving out sugar cubes in the last half of the one marathon I ran, but I didn't try that.1 -
For future long runs and races, try experimenting with things like figs, dates, jelly beans, fig newtons, honey, etc. They may be a bit easier on the stomach than Gus. Shot Blocks are also easier on the stomach, but you have to chew them while running hard, which can be a problem if they're old or it's cold and they harden. I've cut them in smaller pieces so I could suck on them as I ran.1
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Have you tried any of the waffles/cookies? Also curious if you used the Gus with caffeine or no caffeine? If the sweet sugary stuff is giving you a tummy ache after too many, maybe try to find something that's savory/real food for one of your fuel ups.0
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spiriteagle99 wrote: »For future long runs and races, try experimenting with things like figs, dates, jelly beans, fig newtons, honey, etc. They may be a bit easier on the stomach than Gus. Shot Blocks are also easier on the stomach, but you have to chew them while running hard, which can be a problem if they're old or it's cold and they harden. I've cut them in smaller pieces so I could suck on them as I ran.
I'm using shotblocks. I tried dried fruits, figs and similar things in the past but they gave me terrible reflux. This is mainly ok with the shotbloks, but I would probably need 400kcal of them to get through the half, given my low energy levels. That's 2 bars, or 12 bloks. Might be a bit too much again with regards to reflux. Argh! Fact: when this is over I'll stick to shorter distances again. 0 -
WickAndArtoo wrote: »Have you tried any of the waffles/cookies? Also curious if you used the Gus with caffeine or no caffeine? If the sweet sugary stuff is giving you a tummy ache after too many, maybe try to find something that's savory/real food for one of your fuel ups.
No caffeine as I don't drink coffee or tea with. Might be problematic if I had a gel with .
The savoury thing is that I don't pull much energy out of fats and proteins. For me it really feels like I'm completely functioning on my glycogen stores (not only running, but day to day), and when they are depleted then I crash and I feel miserable for hours. I also don't digest fats well. And getting energy out of anything but quick sugars won't work for a race.
I know what generally prevents crashes: Strength training. What is does is create more mitochondria as far as I understand it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_biogenesis, which generally gives me more energy. But it's not enough to get me through a half. it does help massively in everyday life though.
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I meant more along the lines of pretzels and baby food (I have seen these mentioned in running articles on this topic).
Edit: also have you tried or considered taking an antacid head of time, like Pepcid, that lasts all day? If heartburn is the main issue?0 -
WickAndArtoo wrote: »I meant more along the lines of pretzels and baby food (I have seen these mentioned in running articles on this topic).
Edit: also have you tried or considered taking an antacid head of time, like Pepcid, that lasts all day? If heartburn is the main issue?
Oh, ok. I need to experiment a bit more with different things. Fact is: only food that gives me very quick energy works for me for running. And yes, I tried antacids before running. No change
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WickAndArtoo wrote: »I meant more along the lines of pretzels and baby food (I have seen these mentioned in running articles on this topic).
Edit: also have you tried or considered taking an antacid head of time, like Pepcid, that lasts all day? If heartburn is the main issue?
Oh, ok. I need to experiment a bit more with different things. Fact is: only food that gives me very quick energy works for me for running. And yes, I tried antacids before running. No change
Dang it! Well I hope you find something, I get heartburn already on my short runs...but I'm hoping if I edit my meals before my run it help, just have been too lazy to try yet. Let us know if you find something that works!0 -
Meh! I sprained my ankle two days ago by basically stumbling over my own feet. It's not too bad. I do this regularly and even if there's a nasty sound I'm usually fine again within a few days as there's not much left to actually get injured. Lets see if I'm fit to run again this weekend.0
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17.5km. And that after a whole week of resting because my body needed it after the last 17km run. Somewhat disappointed. It really seems like my body cannot do more than this. I'm not running out of breath. My HR stays well within it's long slow run range. It's not that I hit the wall and just need to find the strenght to go on. There is no strength to find anymore. Just want to curl up and never move anymore. This feeling lasted until after my breakfast this morning. Now I'm fine to at least get on with my life.0
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Does your training plan have cut-back weeks where you occasionally do a shorter long run, before increasing again? Another thing that helped me a lot when increasing distance was that when I had a bad long run, instead of moving on in the plan, I would re-do that week - with the exact same route for the long run - the next week. I typically nailed the run the second time around, and that felt so good! I know you might not have time for that at this point, but it's something to keep in mind if you decide to do this again.
Edit: I also wanted to say I admire your perseverance. You're almost there!2 -
Well done with the training, and there's some great advice re fuel. I'm currently training for half marathon in October (actually, there are two, but I'm having hip niggles, old injury, so I may not actually enter the second one - despite it being my all time favourite race). I'm busy plotting routes on Strava to get my ten miler in tomorrow between husband dropping his bike off at his office, me fetching the car and the kids, swapping over and meeting back up with him 10 miles later while they're visiting my father in law. I'm going to be testing shot blocks as they are what will be available during my race, not used gels for about 5 years after I had amazingly painful tummy problems during one race when I picked a lucozade gel up that I'd never tried out. So test, test, test, not nice feeling if it backfires (thankfully not literally, but it had me worried for a couple of miles!!!).0
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Thanks all!
Right, 18km done! in 2:20 hours. This was my last long run as I'll be away expectantly next weekend. But I think I'll manage. There's a water station at 18km, thus some more gel and water, bit of walking and then I only have 2.5km left to run. Hopefully 3 -
Good luck with the race! Enjoy. Mx0
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I tried yesterday. The weekend before I had another flare up of those breathing problems. As I could not run anyway I did not try, but tried the half nonetheless. Had to give up at 3.4km as even walking left me out of breath. Now I'm very oob again. Having an appointment with respiratory specialist in two weeks.
Once this is over though I will run this exact course with the help of a friend as I did get a finisher medal (was too out of breath to explain that I didn't deserve one).0 -
Well done for having a go, but also for knowing when to call it quits. Hope you get sorted, that sounds awful. Good luck with running the course once you're back to full fitness.0
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So sorry to hear that it didn't go well. Wishing you quick recovery and that you will meet your goal and take down that course when you're feeling better.0
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polskagirl01 wrote: »So sorry to hear that it didn't go well. Wishing you quick recovery and that you will meet your goal and take down that course when you're feeling better.
Thanks hun
I so wanted to run a half last autumn but was constantly sick with a massive row of colds and poorly adjusted thyroid meds. This year I so wanted to do it and was ready just a week earlier. And then this. It's just frustrating! 0 -
Still not fully fit again, which is probably good as I'm having additional tests next Friday. I think about triggering another episode just before that (yes, I know one way of doing that)0
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