20 Miler Bonk (Read 688 times)

Depends more on what you ate the days previous. Very long runs (say...17 miles or more), you need to carb load for them. You should eat a bit that morning too, but it's the reserves you built over the last few days that carry you through 20 milers.

Could be a lot of things, Elisa. Was it warm and humid (69F and rainy is rough weather for a long run)? What time did you start? Just looking at your log, while you've been consistent, 20 miles is about half your weekly mileage and you had a pretty long gap between your last really long run and this one. I think the 20 may have been a bit of a stretch. On your nutrition, you may have needed something around mile 15 or 16 to carry you to the end. Did it happen all of a sudden or come on gradually? I bonked on my 18 miler and then went on to have a great 20 two weeks later. Try not to read too much into one lousy run.

Yeh, I had the whole bottle. I really hate carrying water with me when I run so I tend to drink it all when I stop and buy it. At mile 6 I downed 16 ounces of water. Slosh belly. The day before I had a veggie burger with cheese, vegetables and some bread for dinner. A bowl of cereal late in the evening. Breakfast was a sliimfast bar and lunch was a sandwich from Starbucks. I may just postpone the Marathon this time and do the half marathon. I have not been able to keep up with the training like I should have and I am afraid I am going to completely hate the whole experience. I have always loved running and I have found these long runs taking away some of my enjoyment.

I may just postpone the Marathon this time and do the half marathon. I have not been able to keep up with the training like I should have and I am afraid I am going to completely hate the whole experience. I have always loved running and I have found these long runs taking away some of my enjoyment.

Whoa, whoa, whoa...hang on there. You've already executed a couple of big runs, and you're not injured (or at least you haven't said so) so you're getting there. 20 in 3 1/2 hours is not a bad pace for a long run. It kind of depends on when the race is, but with the training you've already put under your belt, the full isn't out of the picture for you. Approach the remainder of your training smartly. Fuel up going into these long runs. You'd carbo load for the race, right? Why wouldn't you do it for those big long runs? It's the same body going nearly the same distance. It's up to you if you want to cut back to the half and there's nothing wrong with that. Yes, these very long runs can suck big time, but you're likethisclosetoit and you just gotta suck it up a few more weekends.

Yeh, I had the whole bottle. I really hate carrying water with me when I run so I tend to drink it all when I stop and buy it. At mile 6 I downed 16 ounces of water. Slosh belly. The day before I had a veggie burger with cheese, vegetables and some bread for dinner. A bowl of cereal late in the evening. Breakfast was a sliimfast bar and lunch was a sandwich from Starbucks. I may just postpone the Marathon this time and do the half marathon. I have not been able to keep up with the training like I should have and I am afraid I am going to completely hate the whole experience. I have always loved running and I have found these long runs taking away some of my enjoyment.

Did I read correctly - You drnak 16 ounces in 20 miles? I ran 20 0n Sunday and drank 80 ounces and it was cool (56) and I ran it in 2:26 so I was not out there that long. Dehydration may not have been the problem, but if you lose as little as 3% of you body weight in dehydration it can reduce your perfromance as much as 10%. So 8:00 miles become 8:48 add a little fatigue and it adds a minute or more.

Actually had about 32 ounces in all; 16oz water with Gu and 16 oz G2 drink. I did lose more than a pound in weight from morning weigh in to post-run weigh in . I will go for it regardless of my spotty training. I would feel so bummed to get to the start line and not be running the full (fool as I may be).

Cindy, we'll just have to shout encouragement to each other and we will finish. I have never had so many doubts as this marathon training has given me.