Forums >Racing>2024 The Waltons: Racing & Training Thread
Waltons ThreadLord
My week was pretty much summed up by the race report I posted. I retrospect, the fact that I was able to pick up the pace for the last two miles, into the wind, probably reflects that my slow-down was more a reflection of my mental condition than my physical condition; I just didn't have the strength to fight through it when running alone, but once part of a group, I found the resolve to push on. (Not dissimilar from what Darkwave posted about the 10k she was in a couple weeks ago with regard to running alone.) 32.0 miles / 51.5km for the week.
RunAPalooza
Here's a photo from the race, around 8½ miles in. I'm the one in the blue shorts & t-shirt. What I can't figure is - here I am sweating through my shirt, yet everyone around me is dressed more warmly, and many are in multiple layers. Am I just that much more sensitive to being too warm?
5k 23:48.45 (3/22); 4M 31:26 (2/22); 5M 38:55 (11/23); 10k 49:24 (10/22); 10M 1:29:33 (2/24); Half 1:48:32 (10/22); Marathon 4:29:58 (11/23)Upcoming races: Running is Back 10k, 5/12; Greta's Run 5k, 5/19
Great pic, Fred. Although a bit disappointed at the one colour of those shorts!
Boston Trip update:
Bit of background first. It's been a kind of busy 12 months for us, with my elderly parents starting to need more and more care (we live just up the road from them). My 90-yr old dad had been steadily trucking along, while my 82-yr old mum seemed to be slowly deteriorating. They've lived in the same house for near 50 years, and they weren't happy with any talk of rest homes or such (my Dad's a typical stoic and stubborn Scotsman).
Anyway, long story short - dad got sick and was admitted to hospital mid-March. His condition deteriorated and he never got better (as we all just assumed he would). We got the call late Sunday night that they were putting him on end-of-life care, so my mum, my sister, and I got to see him and hear his death bed speech before he peacefully passed away early the next morning.
You must go! You must! - My Marathon Mantra
Unknowingly, my dad gave me a precious parting gift. He knew how important this trip was to us, and how much we were all looking forward to going. He had twice given us a generous amount of 'spending' money, and one of the first things he said to us on his death bed was this: "You must go, Wullie. You must! It's a trip of a lifetime".
Without knowing it, my dad gave me a gift that I can take with me throughout my marathon journey - my marathon mantra.
I know some of you on here have experienced this kind of loss, so you may have some idea of how overwhelming the grief is at the moment. I'll do my best in Boston for my dad, but I may cry all the way from the start to the finish line.
Thursday is the funeral. Friday is the flight. Saturday we'll settle into our accommodation in Ashland. Sunday will be the Expo, and Monday will be the race. Hope to at least get a pic with Darkwave if the stars align.
50+ age-group PBs: Half Perish 1:24:24 (June '23 Road Race) - 10km 37:52 (2022 Local Road Champs) - Track 5km 18:49 (Aug '22) - Perish Run 3:17:42
2024 Goals: Boston Perish Run Sub 3:15 - Road/Track 10km Sub 37:30 - 5km Sub 18:20
Hot Weather Complainer
Hash - Wow. That is some week. Deepest condolences for your loss. I think it's great what your Dad did for you, not only with the generosity but removing any doubt that you should go. Running a marathon could be...tough. But with all expectation gone and running it as a tribute should get you through. Hopefully some of that Scottish stubbornness has rubbed off on you too, and you also get to imagine your Dad willing you to the finish line. It will be one hell of an emotional ride especially when you hit Boylston.
5km: 18:34 11/23 │ 10km: 39:10 8/23 │ HM: 1:26:48 9/23 │ M: 3:34:49 6/23
2024 Races:
Motorway Half Marathon February 25, 2024 1:29:55
Christchurch Half-Marathon April 21, 2024 1:27:34
Selwyn Marathon June 2, 2024
Dunedin Half Marathon September 15, 2024
I'm so sorry to hear that Hash. I'm glad you at least got to say goodbye to him properly, and wow, what a parting gift from him. I don't even have words to describe that properly. Wow.
3,000m: 9:07.7 (Nov-21) | 5,000m: 15:39 (Dec-19) | 10,000m: 32:34 (Mar-20)
10km: 33:15 (Sep-19) | HM: 1:09:41 (May-21)* | FM: 2:41:41 (Oct-20)
* Net downhill course
Last race: Runway5 / National 5k Champs, 16:22, National Masters AG Champ!
Up next: Still working on that...
"CONSISTENCY IS KING"
Hash, I'm very sorry to hear of your loss and offer my condolences. Be kind to yourself and enjoy the time with family.
Hash, I am sorry for your loss. I think it is universal with parents to be resistant to outside help or retirement communities.
Fred, I tend to overdressed for windy conditions. Even though I will sweat through everything, somehow having all parts covered makes me feel warmer.
Hash, I am sorry for your loss. I think it is universal with parents to be resistant to outside help or retirement communities. Fred, I tend to overdressed for windy conditions. Even though I will sweat through everything, somehow having all parts covered makes me feel warmer.
I share the desire not to be cold, and I started the race dressed more warmly. I had a buff around my neck, sleeves on my arms, and a thermal headband. By the time of the photo, the buff and headband were off (hanging from my belt) and the sleeves were rolled down. Maybe that's my adaptation - wear gear that will keep me warm at the start but allow me to dress more lightly as the race goes on.
My condolences Hash. Very sorry to hear about your loss. Having said that, I hope I will have a long life, being able to live close to my loved ones for all my life and leave such a deep mark.
All the best for the next days. I love the mantra.
HM: 1:47 (9/20) I FM: 3:53:11 (9/23)
2024 Goals: run a FM & HM + stay healthy!
Mother of Cats
Hash - I am very sorry for your loss as well. And your father showed his generous spirit by doing his best to ensure that you could enjoy the Boston experience in some way, though obviously it will be bittersweet. Hopefully all the RA Boston-running forumites will be able to meet up.
***
Belatedly checking in, after being swamped the past week or so.
45 miles running, 1000 yards swimming, and 90 minutes pool-running.
M: 90 minutes pool-running and streaming yoga.T: 10 miles with some random strides. Sports massage in evening.W: 10 miles, including a track workout of 2K, 3x1200, 2x200 in 9:24, 5:23, 5:18, 5:16, 52, and 52 (2:2x-2:3x recovery between each).Th: 6.5 miles very easy (10:10) on trails plus some leg strengthwork; streaming Pilates in evening.F: Upper body weights/core and 9 miles very easy (9:15) plus drills and strides.Sa: 9.5 miles including a 6400m track tempo in 28:20 (7:16/7:07/7:04/6:54) followed by leg strengthwork.Su: 1000 yards swimming.
I bailed on the Tuesday workout because I was having a bad day, and my legs were just too stiff to move fast. A sports massage that night helped stuff calm down a lot, and a second try on Wednesday morning went much better despite having been run in a gale.
Because I ran the Tuesday track workout on Wednesday, I pushed the Friday tempo workout back to Saturday, which ended up being a ridiculously windy day. My tempo was a slightly slower than I would have liked, but I'm fairly certain that the wind was costing me at least a second or two each lap.
I spent a lot of time on my feet on Sunday cheering at the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, so I skipped running that day and swam instead. Managed to do 2x50 yards in 46 and 45 seconds, so I was excited about that (not fast for a real swimmer; decently fast for me).I fly out to Boston on Friday morning, with my para-athlete classification appointment scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Everyone's gotta running blog; I'm the only one with a POOL-RUNNING blog.
And...if you want a running Instagram where all the pictures are of cats, I've got you covered.
Great picture Fred! Great performance too. In a different time and world, I would have said something along the lines of: you look like in great shape. But understand that these days any remark about someone's looks could lead to jail time.
That background however looks really beautiful. That's a really nice race picture you should post it on the other picture thread too!
Great picture Fred! Great performance too. In a different time and world, I would have said something along the lines of: you look like in great shape. But understand that these days any remark about someone's looks could lead to jail time. That background however looks really beautiful. That's a really nice race picture you should post it on the other picture thread too!
Thanks, Mick. Bibs can hide a lot of sins and the truth is I'm currently heavier than I've been in the past 8 years, having put on 8 pounds since the marathon. I thought calories eaten while grieving didn't count. I appreciate the positive comment, however, and maybe I can pick up a few seconds by shedding that extra weight.
Fred - nice RR. Also, I'm not doing ParkRun tomorrow. I have a few niggles so I don't want to hit 5k pace, 8 days out from the marathon.
Mark - very nice race.
James - good luck with the knee.
Steve - perhaps you need a couple of very light weeks to get your immune levels up? Also, I can easily say I'll drop a 3:15 marathon. Doing so might be a big harder!
Hash - I'm so sorry for the loss of your dad.
I'm not doing ParkRun tomorrow. So hopefully Steve removes from the front page.
Sorry, for the late post, my week has been hectic.
My left calf niggle had gotten worse. So I took Mon-Wed off. So I've substantially changed my plan for the 2nd and 3rd to last weeks of the taper. My week:
PRs: 5km 18:43 (Dec 2015), 10km 39:59 (Sep 2020), half 1:26:16 (Sep 2016), full 3:09:28 (Jun 2015)
40+ PRs: 5km 19:31 (Oct 2020), 10km 39:59 (Sep 2020), half 1:29:39 (Jun 2018), full 3:13:55 (Sep 2022)
2023 PRs (hope to beat in 2024): 5km 20:34, 10km 41:37, half 1:32:32, full 3:21:05
2024 PRs: 5km 20:25
That's why you race so much, you always get a bib to hide your sins. I like it
Doesn't look like you have any excess weight on, but on the post-race weight gain front I am with you, have put on around 8-10 pounds following my last marathon and it's been a struggle to reverse the trend. Simply not running enough miles per week (or km in my timezone); during marathon training I really overtrained my stomache, because I could. Should have done some tapering on the eating front, since then.
I think I know how to run a marathon at a controlled pace now. I just don't know how to live outside of the 42.2km window....
Watson - Do you want me to remove the ParkRun from the list or mark it DNS? Regardless, I'm sorry to hear about the concerns keeping you from running it.
Mick - I find my break even point is around 40 miles/week. Less than that and I seem to slowly gain weight. I used to joke that I run to support my eating habit, but I'm beginning to think there's more truth than humor to that.
Oddly I maintain weight better on less miles. 40 is where I find it really easy to gain weight and it really messes with hormones.