Forums > General Running > Excess Energy/Anxiety
As I train towrads a marathon, I am optimistic about my progress.
I do, however, have an issue:
On designated "rest" days in my training plan, usually the second day after a long run, I am so amped up with energy I can't stand it. I have to do something physical or I feel like I will lose my mind. I am usually anxious enough to annoy my wife. I'm fearful that I will suffer greatly from taper madness in 6 weeks.
I was just wondering if anyone else feels this way during the normal course of training.
2012 Goals:
1st Marathon: Brainerd Jaycees Run For The Lakes Marathon - April28, 2012
lace 'em up!
You said "Normal"
It's not really normal to "I have to do something physical or I feel like I will lose my mind."
Just saying...
You said "Normal" It's not really normal to "I have to do something physical or I feel like I will lose my mind." Just saying...
Ok, maybe "normal" needs some perspective
Baseline "normal" for me before marathon training was that I'm a pretty low-key guy and I'm not an extremely peppy or anxious person. Now that I've become physically fit and devloped some serious stamina, I often have a lot of excess energy that begs to be used. Not exercising (especially running) when this enregy is available makes me quite anxious. I admit "losing my mind" is an exaggeration but if you were to drink a pot of coffee you would be close to how I feel.
From what I understand, rest days are to be respected because it aids in recovery. As my training advances my recovery speed increases. My energy level is also quickly restored.
I posted several days ago about a twelve miler that found me sore and fatigued the day of the run and feeling like it never happened the following day. That following day also had me feeling full of energy and a bit anxious.
As far as "normal" goes, running 13 miles on a Saturday in 14F temps is not considerd normal by the general public. In this community, however, it may be considerd a good warmup run!
Giddyup.
Your training plan seems to have 4 days of running a week. And, at least based on how you keep your log, all easy these days. Perhaps that's not really the case.
You are close enough to your race that I wouldn't mess with stuff now, but I will say that if I tried to stick to running four days a week, all with the same feel, I'd get antsy in the pantsy too.
I would:
1. mix it up. Most of that running should feel easy, but one day wouldn't. And I'd do some strides (this is theoretical; I suck at remembering to do strides, and I should do more(
2. run more days.
Ultima tastes like failure.
Ok, maybe "normal" needs some perspective Baseline "normal" for me before marathon training was that I'm a pretty low-key guy and I'm not an extremely peppy or anxious person. Now that I've become physically fit and devloped some serious stamina, I often have a lot of excess energy that begs to be used. Not exercising (especially running) when this enregy is available makes me quite anxious. I admit "losing my mind" is an exaggeration but if you were to drink a pot of coffee you would be close to how I feel. From what I understand, rest days are to be respected because it aids in recovery. As my training advances my recovery speed increases. My energy level is also quickly restored.
Ever heard of ACTIVE recovery? You may want to give it a try.
5k = sub 22:00
10k = sub 45:00
HM = sub 1:40:00
Run = 2000 miles
Bike = 3000 miles
Swim = 130 miles
Your training plan seems to have 4 days of running a week. And, at least based on how you keep your log, all easy these days. Perhaps that's not really the case. You are close enough to your race that I wouldn't mess with stuff now, but I will say that if I tried to stick to running four days a week, all with the same feel, I'd get antsy in the pantsy too.
Yes, 4 days is correct. I am a lazy logger - my weekday runs are 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per mile faster than my Saturday long runs. I will admit at this point all of my runs are seeming easier.
I actually pushed my long run pace on a Saturday 10 miler just to see how it felt. I ran in between my weekly run pace and normal long run pace with no adverse effects.
I'm not planning on messing with the plan since this is my first marathon. Future efforts will definitely be different - more running.
Excess energy and anxiety can be a sign of overtraining as often as it is a cue that someone should do more. I'm not necessarily disputing the advice of other folks, but it CAN be a sign that you are doing too much.
The Logic of Long Distance
Yes. There is a chart for that. You've got to keep it in the middle if you don't want to hit the wall.
Yes, 4 days is correct. I am a lazy logger - my weekday runs are 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per mile faster than my Saturday long runs. I will admit at this point all of my runs are seeming easier. I actually pushed my long run pace on a Saturday 10 miler just to see how it felt. I ran in between my weekly run pace and normal long run pace with no adverse effects. I'm not planning on messing with the plan since this is my first marathon. Future efforts will definitely be different - more running.
Just out of interest where did you get your training plan from?
How did you determine the pace that you're doing your training runs at?
Still - as you say it's your first so it's all a learning experience. If you feel you have plenty of extra energy and no hints of injury I think it would be fine to add another run - so long as you keep it easy. It also wouldn't hurt to increase the length of your long run at some point - maybe your plan includes that later on?
Just out of interest where did you get your training plan from? How did you determine the pace that you're doing your training runs at? Still - as you say it's your first so it's all a learning experience. If you feel you have plenty of extra energy and no hints of injury I think it would be fine to add another run - so long as you keep it easy. It also wouldn't hurt to increase the length of your long run at some point - maybe your plan includes that later on?
My training plan is a Higdon 30 week Novice Supreme plan. The first 12 weeks are basically base building and the last 18 weeks are identical to his Novice plan. I was running for about a year before starting this plan. Before I started this plan I was running more weekly miles than the plan called for.
My pace was initally determined by feel/effort. This usually got me bewteen 9:30/mi and 10:00 mile. After the first of the year, I pushed a little on my weekly run paces to run them in 9:15/mi. From there I made my long run pace approximately 1 1/2 min/mi slower.
I will see how I feel on my next "rest:" day and possibly add a very easy shorter run. I've got a 15 miler scheduled Saturday for my long run. My first 20 miler is still 5 weeks out.
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