So lets get to the short of thing right.
During my last 20 mile training run Nick and Bill spent the last 2-3 miles mostly walking/jogging with me as my legs were cramping pretty bad. Nick indicated it was probably lack of hydration/electrolytes (opposite of all my past experiences). So the rule is not to change anything race day right? Well I didn't.
Everything was good until Sand Run. Started to feel the quick shocks of electrical current in my calves about mile 14-15. By mile 17 the cramping was making it so that my legs would alternate at seizing up. Wanted to drop but no where to quit without waiting an hour for a bus so I forced myself to continue. The last two miles of my excursion took 45 minutes and I was actually slowing down at that point. Reached the 5k exchange point and couldn't force myself to go any further. At this point I had lost all motivation and things were getting worse. Had help climbing on a bus back to the finish.
The only good I can think of coming out of the experience is the friends along the way and the fact that I now have a good bracket of experiences to determine what is to much fluid/electrolytes as well as what is to little.
Oh and how does a marathon run out of fluids in the first few water stops? Growing to quickly?
I did see however that I think everyone else met their goals. Great job to everyone. So you think I should try again at the towpath marathon in two weeks?
4 hours ago
10 Complaints:
Sorry to hear that. I usually cramp up like that but mine is around 22 - 23. So I can force myself the last couple of miles. I don't think mine is not, not enough electrolyes. Not sure what.
Definitely you should try again in 2 weeks.
I had hard time too, but met my time goal (barely). I stopped in every water stop and had water or gatorade at first and both water and gatorade later.
I feel better today so I will try the Towpath, but maybe you should do the 1/2?
I heard you say you were going to make a pit stop and figured things weren't good when I didn't see you after that.
I hit the wall in Sand Run and struggled the rest of the way, only gaining a little bit of a second wind in the last couple of miles.
I say give it another shot on the Towpath!
Brett those conditions had to be about the worst you could have run in with your past electrolyte imbalance issues. That humidity was awful. My stomach was a wreck out there and I wasn't even running my own race pace. I'd say go for it at towpath. Hey you've got to get it right one of these times right?
I'm going with the majority...give it another go with the Towpath Marathon.
Brett, sorry to hear about it. It felt like a pretty humid day to me and it made my breathing ragged in the 5K I ran. I say go for Towpath. It will be a nice surface, close to home and I will be out there!!!
Argh!! I wish you would remembered Mike and I were behind you! I had electroyte caps with me and it may have helped!!!
Go for the Towpath Marathon, why not?
That cramp sucks. Good luck out there!!!
Wow so many comments. Glad to see people actually care enough to read. Well maybe it's just a morbid sense of curiousity?
Nooo please don't run the twopath!!
Post a Comment