Hi, I'm new! (Read 661 times)

Hi, Liz. I am one of the least experienced runners on these boards, and I'm sure someone else will come along and give you some better advice, but since you haven't gotten any replies yet, I thought I'd jump in. Are you logging all your runs? I checked your training log and see mostly long runs logged. If that's all you're logging, that's okay, but if that's all you're running, that certainly explains your fatigue. I'd suggest doing some more easy running during the week before you ramp up your mileage on Saturday. Are you hydrating well? I went a long time without eating or drinking anything before my long runs, trusting my pre-run-day hydration to get me through the run, but by the time you hit 8 or 9 miles, it might do you well to get a banana in you before you head out--at least it does me. And I concentrate on drinking water intentionally the day before, almost as if I were prepping for a race. Sure, I make more potty runs, but I sure have noticed a difference on long runs where I haven't hydrated as well. There's more muscle soreness and fatigue right at the 3/4 mark, like you said. Again, my disclaimer--I am an exceptionally new runner here. I'm sure someone will come along and give you better, more experienced advice. There's all kinds of endurance products out there that I haven't tried. But I hope some of this helps a little. modified to add: I don't hydrate mid-run on runs shorter than 10 miles (but I'm extremely new at this!) So when I speak of hydrarating well I want to emphasize that I mean hydrating the day before the long run, and when I speak of increased urination I also mean the day before the run, not during the run. Just clarifying!

Definitely give us more info. about your eating. I can't run well on an empty stomach...some can, but I'm not one of them. If I don't eat something an hour or so before a run I will be toast after 5 miles--or less. So maybe it's something as simple as that. BTW, nice to have you here, Liz.

Thanks for the replies..let's see if I can give you more info.. When I say I'm "new" to running, don't be misled. I have been active all my life, and running is nothing new to me. I just mean I'm new as far as I'm going to be trying some races. I didn't realize I was running too much during the week..I just run, I guess! I am a very committed person, and when I have a goal in mind I put 200% into it, which may be why I am fatiguing. All it was during that 8-mile run was I felt tired all over, I ended up getting a second wind and finishing, but It felt awful for that 1/4 - 1/2 mile that I was tiring. I guess I am a bit too ambitious. I have a hard time running "slow." But I see that it can help me overall, so I will try it! As far as what I eat, I eat before runs and I do hydrate. Hydration could be one of the problems, I don't drink much in the mornings, which is when I run. Mostly because if I drink a lot of water before/during a run I get major cramps. I probably should have started with a 5k, but a friend of mine wanted me to do the 10miler so I said OK. I'm not going to back out of it bc I know I can do it, but I will see how I come out of it and maybe rethink my next race. (My friend wants to do a HM in March). THanks for the input..and if you have any more..I'm all ears!

Liz, If you have been running for many years then that makes a big difference. Go for it. Just be smart with your running progression and pacing. Also, on that 10 mile race, use that first mile as an extension of your warm up. Don't go slow but ease into pace. You will perform better if you do.