I fail to see where the fun is in doing something like that.
It took her 6 hours to go 21 miles. She was in miserable pain. It looks like she seriously did TMTS, and that she was basically injured when she started the race, and never exceeded 14 miles in training. Her short training runs (like, 4 miles) were at a 16 minute pace. I have no idea how she even thought for a second that she wouldn't get swept if they were holding her to a 16 minute pace for a whole marathon. Taper + race day adrenaline is not THAT powerful.
I'm not even one to knock on someone for doing slow marathons - my first was a 4:57. But no matter how much I like Disney World (and I really, really like it. I'm a dork like that), I'd never suffer that much for a marathon.
My wildly inconsistent PRs:
5k: 24:36 (10/20/12)
10k: 52:01 (4/28/12)
HM: 1:50:09 (10/27/12)
Marathon: 4:19:11 (10/2/2011)
levitation specialist
Aw, I feel kindof bad for her Yes, she was undertrained and underestimated the full distance, so she did it to herself. But still, I can only imagine how it felt to climb those bus steps for the sag wagon at mile 21.
She aimed too high for her ability and it stinks. Her dream crashed at the place where dreams come true, ironically sad indeed.
Two weeks out, and your goal is to at least get to the half way point? Why not drop down to the HM, and actually accomplish something?
Unfortunately, that’s not how Disney works. The half is a different day, and sold out long before the 2 week mark.
Can't drop to the half marathon. It is managed as a wholly different race on a different day.
Anyway, this is Disney. Tons of ill-prepared people (and many more tons of well prepared people) show up to do strange things. It's Disney. Can't get too worked up about it.
>> Maybe Disney should give different medals for the bus riders. Maybe Aladdin riding a magic Carpet or something.
BWAHAHA. Now that's good stuff.
Jess runs for bacon
I don't think I could have put it any better than respect the distance. Granted, when I did my first half my longest run at that point was 8 miles, but I knew the time limit and that if I had to, I could still walk and make it. To go into a marathon with your LR with only a half under your belt is just insanity. I can't believe her orthopedist said she could do it (this was on an earlier post). I don't know why I am reading her blog, it's really aggravating. There's just so much...
I fail to see where the fun is in doing something like that. It took her 6 hours to go 21 miles. She was in miserable pain. It looks like she seriously did TMTS, and that she was basically injured when she started the race, and never exceeded 14 miles in training. Her short training runs (like, 4 miles) were at a 16 minute pace. I have no idea how she even thought for a second that she wouldn't get swept if they were holding her to a 16 minute pace for a whole marathon. Taper + race day adrenaline is not THAT powerful. I'm not even one to knock on someone for doing slow marathons - my first was a 4:57. But no matter how much I like Disney World (and I really, really like it. I'm a dork like that), I'd never suffer that much for a marathon.
That's what I was thinking. I mean, I've done a lot of stupid shit, but there's always been a decent plan in place for failure. I picked Shamrock for my first marathon because I could sign up for the half and then upgrade to the full if training went well (which it's not, so half it is). If the pace for the marathon is 16mm, and that's what you run, you've got a problem. If you're hurting on a 14 mile run (repeatedly), you've got a problem.
I do feel badly for her though.
edited to add: SRL, you owe me a new keyboard for that aladdin comment
I don't understand people doing a marathon when they are ill prepared. However, there's nothing intrinsically wrong with doing that, so good for her for trying. What I think is wrong here is Disney's apparent policy to hand out finishing medals to people who don't finish. To some extent, I believe that takes away from the legitimacy of the race. It's a slap in the face, if you will, to the people who actually did finish.
Barking Mad To Run
Well, the report didn't bother me and her wearing the medal didn't bother me either, although personally I wouldn't have worn it unless I had actually finished, but maybe that's just me. I did enjoy seeing all the photos she took, those were nice.
Did I miss something in the report? What I find interesting is that she mentioned that when she was nearing 16 miles she was getting into "longest distance run ever". What? She didn't do long runs, like 18 - 20+ miles, during her training for this? Maybe some of the speedier and more talented runners can get away without those long ones, but I'm sure not one of them. Since I am slow as molasses and know I[m slow, during my training for my only marathon, I made sure to get in at least two 20+ mile runs, so I would be ready to be on my feet for that long and know how it felt, and also know just what I had to do to avoid the bus. IMHO, not doing her long runs, she was just asking for disaster and to be a DNF. Or did I miss something here...did she do long runs and then just got injured 2 weeks before the start day, and so expected to DNF? If so, after spending all that money (entry fee, travel, hotel, etc), and then suddenly, wham-o, you get hurt just before the day, I can understand her at least wanting to get what she can from the event, at least get some of her money's worth, and running the miles she could run. But if she didn't train property at all, well, then she was just asking for it. Just my personal opinion.
Anyway, at least she seemed to keep a positive attitude about it all and seemed to have what fun she could with what she did do. And if she ever chooses do do another one, hopefully this one will have been of some help to her, e.g., 'lessons learned. "
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt
Tracy
Scotty, 14 miles appears to be her longest run before the marathon.
Wow.
Village people
She wasn't prepared and it sounds like she didn't know how unprepared she was for her race. So what. She got off her butt and tried, she has the pictures to prove it. She made it to mile 20, good for her!
Hip Redux
Really now, who the heck cares? God forbid a newbie does something wrong.
If you have thoughts on her training, why not go ahead and post some suggestions on her public blog?
Why did you post her blog here? Just to call her out on being unprepared? That seems pretty mean.
No, I just thought it would be interesting to discuss the merits of different parts of her post. Feel free to ignore it.
Really now, who the heck cares? God forbid a newbie does something wrong. If you have thoughts on her training, why not go ahead and post some suggestions on her public blog?
I was thinking about inviting her here.