Post-First-Half edition..
1. The Good... things that worked for me.
- Listen to your body. I started cutting one training run a week about 3 weeks out because my leg felt weird. I went into the half strong, and felt strong pretty much the entire time.
- Don't try anything new on race day! I tested my outfit before I ran, and all components (except the tiara, which I would have ditched the second it started acting crafty).
- My nutrition was good. I had a bagel with peanut butter on the bus over (so about 90 minutes prior), and brought two gu's with me. I know that seems like a lot to some of you, but... I'm slow. Two ended up being perfect for me.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I drank pretty much nothing but water the entire week prior, and drank a LOT of it. And I don't like water. I brought my handheld because it was H O T in Florida, and it turned out to be a good choice. I definitely used it. I know the race started early, but I was in the second to last corral, and it was no longer dark by the time we stepped across that line.
- Make reasonable goals, and be flexible. Back in December, I had a goal of 2:20 in mind. Then January happened, and I skipped 4 weeks of my training plan... I had a time goal in the back of my mind, but I wasn't tied to it. I wanted to finish, and I wanted to pace myself so I could finish strong... and I did. My finish line video shows me passing 5 chicks :D.
- I was super aware of what I was eating the week before. Lindsay @ CotterCrunch posted a "Focus!" challenge, that I dove into - watching what I was eating, eating what was good, drinking plenty of water, and stretching stretching stretching.
2. The Bad... what didn't work
- Trust your training... I had a mild panic attack around mile 2 when I really, honestly thought I wasn't going to make it across the finish line. I'd skipped so many runs, I didn't do my speedwork. It freaked me out. There wasn't even anything actually bothering me - I felt good, I just felt like there was no way I could sustain it.
(that's it. I had a grand time once I got through that :D).
3. I'm still tired. Is that normal, or am I crazy?
Welcome home! Congrats on finishing!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your first half!! Great accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad we got to meet!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about mile 2? That was the point that Lesley and I did a reality check and tossed out 2:20 and went with the plan to just have fun and take silly pictures instead. I'm totally going back in January to redeem myself with some cooler weather. I mean that was insane! We started in the dark and I still got a sunburn!
I think feeling tired 4-5 days after your first half is totally normal. Think about what you accomplished, give yourself credit and let your body adjust this week.
ReplyDeleteNice job!
Traveling makes me tired, period. Nevermind the fact that you threw a half marathon in there with it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Its probably all the travel too. Rest up! I am so glad that your nutrition was right on! That makes me happy. COngrats again!
ReplyDeleteLC
congrats on your finish! i’d say its the traveling but after my first 1/2 i was sore for 2-3 days-so its probably a combo. congrats again!!
ReplyDeleteBeing still tired sounds about right to me after all that!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Sounds like your goods definitely outweighed your bads. Also, I think it is perfectly reasonable to still be tired... you ran a long race and did a lot of traveling to get there.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your half and to everyone at home that had a great time, too. Sounds to me like everything went really well- Yeah!
ReplyDelete