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| Sucky training run (Read 391 times) |
| view log Log Stalker |
posted: 4/4/2008 at 4:11 PM |
What causes a "bad" training run?
Yesterday I ran outside for only the third time this year, but just had a sucky run. It was nice outside, and it wasn't unfamiliar territory, but I just couldn't get into a groove and was WAY off my normal training pace.
Is there any sort of post-mortem that you can do to figure out why it went bad? |
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posted: 4/4/2008 at 4:26 PM |
No idea what causes them but just know that you are not alone - they happen to us all. Get out there again today and you'll forget all about it.
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"80% of success is showing up." ~ Woody Allen
"Go that way... really fast. If something gets in your way... turn." ~ Charles DeMar
God doesn't give you what you want. He gives you what you need, the rest is up to you. |
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| view log Ball Tongue |
posted: 4/4/2008 at 4:27 PM
modified: 4/4/2008 at 4:28 PM |
For me, it's either one of two things or a combination of both
1. Inadequate rest or general buildup of fatigue.
2. Inadequate nutrition
Everyone, I mean everyone, has bad runs. I have at least 1-2 per week where I don't feel great. It seems the higher in mileage I get, the more frequent they come.
It's such a subjective thing though so I am sure the answers are going to be widely scattered. |
| The Gaijin Samurai. a.k.a The attorney dissin' attorney.
Read and Listen
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posted: 4/4/2008 at 6:44 PM |
| Quote from girmann on 4/4/2008 at 4:11 PM: What causes a "bad" training run?
Yesterday I ran outside for only the third time this year...
Running outside requires some adjustment time. The surfaces are generally harder than a treadmill and definitely more uneven and you have wind resistance and hills to deal with. Give it a few more weeks and you'll see some improvement.
Tom
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posted: 4/4/2008 at 7:08 PM |
| That's funny. My sucky runs usually occur when my mileage is low. As my mileage increases they improve until really high mileage weeks when I'm totally fried and they suck again. |
| 2000 Mile Club |
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Mr Inertia view logHeck of a Guy |
posted: 4/4/2008 at 7:16 PM |
There's always a reason, sometimes it's hard to find. Some prime candidates
1. not enough sleep
2 ramp up of mileage/intensity
3 nutrition/hydration
Hitting the road after tons of TM miles may be a factor. |
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| view log Log Stalker |
posted: 4/4/2008 at 7:17 PM |
Thanks all for the encouragement. Friday is usually a rest day for me, but I think I might hit the road this afternoon and try and shake it.
Quote from Figbash on 4/4/2008 at 6:44 PM:Running outside requires some adjustment time. The surfaces are generally harder than a treadmill and definitely more uneven and you have wind resistance and hills to deal with. Give it a few more weeks and you'll see some improvement.
I thought about that, too. But the race that I did on Saturday was colder, windier, hillier, faster, and longer than the training run yesterday.
I know, I know... stop whining and HTFU! |
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| view log Log Stalker |
posted: 4/4/2008 at 7:23 PM |
| Quote from Mr Inertia on 4/4/2008 at 7:16 PM: There's always a reason, sometimes it's hard to find. Some prime candidates
1. not enough sleep
2 ramp up of mileage/intensity
3 nutrition/hydration
Hitting the road after tons of TM miles may be a factor.
This is going to sound like a really stupid question...
...but how does hydration affect performance? I ran after work and didn't really have enough time during the day to drink much. |
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posted: 4/4/2008 at 11:45 PM |
I don't worry about sucky runs the same way I don't worry about good runs. Both will happen. Both are part of the process. I just put it in the book and move on.
Keep on. |
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posted: 4/5/2008 at 12:50 AM |
| Thank you all for saying that you have bad runs. I have been discouraged all afternoon. Last week ran 8 miles in 1:25:25 (I know, not fast compared to the majority of you) but today started out for 9 miles. It took 1:45:00 and I'll bet I walked(intermittently) 2 of the miles. I had never run this far before and I'm definitely learning about hydration, nutrition, pacing, dressing as I go but I was ready to chuck it all on the drive home today. I'll try to get out tomorrow and just put one foot in front of the other. I guess I'll forgive myself this one. Thanks again! |
Goals:HM <2:30:00
HTFU
Encourage my DH to get out of his recliner. |
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| view log ~Gordo~ |
posted: 4/5/2008 at 1:19 AM |
I think most of the time, they just happen. I know on a few occasions that I was able to pin point the cause of the bad run. Not waiting long enough after eating a chicken ceaser salad comes to mind.
If you can't think of something you did different than the times you felt good, then just chalk it up as a "bad" run and know that tomorrow's will be better. |
~Remember the light at the end of tunnel maybe you~
~If you choose not to decided, you still have made a choice~ |
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posted: 4/5/2008 at 1:25 AM |
Marsha, you and I are at almost exactly the same place, progress-wise. I made it 9.1 miles (PR) yesterday, but it was definitely challenging. Just keep plugging! I wouldn't do too much tomorrow - be sure to run slowly! Today's run felt harder than yesterday for me, so I held my run to 3.8 miles.
Good luck!! |
| Maine Coast HM, September 21 |
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posted: 4/5/2008 at 11:51 AM
modified: 4/5/2008 at 11:52 AM |
| Quote from Marsha59 on 4/5/2008 at 12:50 AM: I have been discouraged all afternoon. Last week ran 8 miles in 1:25:25 (I know, not fast compared to the majority of you) but today started out for 9 miles. It took 1:45:00 and I'll bet I walked(intermittently) 2 of the miles. I had never run this far before and I'm definitely learning about hydration, nutrition, pacing, dressing as I go but I was ready to chuck it all on the drive home today.
Marsha - each training cycle when I work up to longer distances, the first run at that longer distance has a good chance of sucking. Then the next week I go a mile or two longer and that can suck, too. But then when I go back after that and do the first dstance, it's easy. Just give your body some time to adjust, and you will be fine.
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posted: 4/5/2008 at 1:11 PM |
Shovel some dirt on it and walk away. They just happen, unless it's really often it means nothing. Bury it and move on.
For me, I increase the risk of bad runs if I skimp on lunch or don't get enough sleep. The past year sleep has been a major issue. Last week, I tried to do a 4-mile tempo run. I did one mile over 6min pace, gave up and jogged home. This week I got a couple nights of good sleep in a row, did the same run, and complete a 4 mile tempo section in 5:32 avg. For me, at least, sleep can make a HUGE difference. |
"Talent" is a cop-out for not wanting to try harder.
marathon - 2:28
HM - 1:09:53
10K - 30:57
5K - 15:18 (2nd half of above 10K) |
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