re: Official Running Log/Marathon Training Thread

Completed my 3rd trail race Saturday. 10.5mi trail race at the monkey trails in methville aka Keithville, La.

I felt AWESOME, I had been having some knee issues so I did not run at all past Monday of last week and just focused on stretching and mobility (Tramadol helped also). I have never felt that clean and energetic running.

I started out at a fairly quick pace and never checked up. I (along with many others) missed an unmarked 180 degree turn that should have been flagged, we went straight, giving me a bonus mile and adding about 10min to my time. I just have to expect those things at the trails.

Either way, goal was sub 2hrs and I finished in 1hr 48min (with an extra mile to make 11.5) giving me 13th of 77 overall and 5th in AG (30-39 which is fricking stacked).

Very pleased with myself and now I will be training the next 6 weeks for a 25k at the same track.

Hey Quail Man, I was curious if folks release a lot of their reservations after the NYM drawing (preemptive booking but didn't get in). I've got the Doubletree in your hood booked but there are some other favorite places I'd rather stay, but won't be disappointed if I'm stuck.

One Stop Shop for IT Band

Thanks for the post. I'm looking for some stretches and exercises to start doing.

Saturday, the knee pain was awful immediately after the race. Stretching made it tolerable. Sunday, it bothered me a bit. Monday, it's like it never happened. So, I feel like it's a fatigue issue and not something more serious.

Contrary to what this guy said, I'm already doing a lot of things this guy said:

I didn’t do any hill workouts and even avoided them during most distance runs. You can't do this in Birmingham. There's nothing but hills here.
The only core workout I did was my standard core routine (and I skipped it a LOT). I do a core routine at least three days a week.
I didn’t do any flexibility exercises before or after my runs. Guilty. I use a foam roller a bit, but not on the specific IT areas, especially right above the knee where it's the worst.
My overall volume wasn’t consistent and too low for marathon prep: 65-75 miles per week. Wow. This mileage is insane. My goal is about 20 miles per week and I normally fall a little short of that.
I did zero hill sprints. Do these on Weds. Either 400 or 800 meters.
I didn’t lift at the gym. Guilty. I get tendinitis in my elbows bad and my left should pops whenever I try to bench, lat pull, etc, etc. So, my gym workouts are core routines and a kettlebell routine of get ups and swings.

I'm taking this week off. I will be doing the stretches and exercises every day this week. I hate that I'm having this issue now as I love my Saturday run group and the long mileages are becoming easier and more fun to run. I hope this doesn't put me out for 6 months as he described.

A local run coach gave me the name and number of a massage therapy guy that specializes in runners. I will go see them this week or next to get worked on. I hope to get some more information from them as well.

Not necessarily a running topic, but can any of you Northern Baws give me an area of the Smokys that may have a cabin that my wife and I could do a long weekend at? Our anniversary is in May and we'd like to do something within driving distance.

I honestly don’t know. I would imagine that some hold on to reservations for that weekend until after the lottery just in case but I can’t imagine it’s a ton of spots. Most people booking that far in advance already know they’re in. Probably smart of you that you were already Able to get that hotel before the lottery and rates going up.

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My overall volume wasn’t consistent and too low for marathon prep: 65-75 miles per week. Wow. This mileage is insane. My goal is about 20 miles per week and I normally fall a little short of that.

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That volume is actually pretty standard for marathoners wanting to finish with good times. I'm pretty surprised at the low volumes other runners are trying to PR with at distances over 5K.

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I did zero hill sprints. Do these on Weds. Either 400 or 800 meters.

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I'll have to look at what Fitzgerald has on that page, but I think he is referring to very short hill sprints, like 8-12 seconds at the fastest pace you can go without your form falling apart. These are a very underrated part of a great running program. They are perfect fro building power and improving form without taxing the cardiovascular system. I do these at the end of a couple of easy runs each week. I start with about 4 repeats and work up to 8-10 early in my training cycles, then I drop back to about 4 when I start sharpening for my target races. Those longer hill repeats are great too, but the purpose of those is different, and you can really only do one set of those a week without overtaxing yourself.

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I didn’t lift at the gym. Guilty. I get tendinitis in my elbows bad and my left should pops whenever I try to bench, lat pull, etc, etc. So, my gym workouts are core routines and a kettlebell routine of get ups and swings.

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A solid full body resistance training routine is good, but in particular some heavy squats and deadlifts will help a lot with avoiding muscle imbalances and improving core strength and power. It doesn't have to be a lot to benefit from it.

Three miles in 24:43 today (8:14 pace). Four tomorrow and ten on Saturday.

I missed two consecutive runs. I skipped Saturday's nine-miler because I was at Iris, Tucks, and Endymion. I missed yesterday's four-miler because I kept the party going pretty late into Sunday night.

Hope y'all are having a good Mardi Gras.