My running "failure" today

devilnuts

devilnuts

Barefooters
Feb 24, 2011
193
117
43
#1
So today I started out with a goal of running 23 miles. I fell short of that and only got to 17.8 miles. I was pissed at myself, but then I realized...I was pissed about running "only" 18 miles. HAHA.

I knew from the outset it was going to be rough because I've done "long" runs the last two weekends. I should have had an easy week this time, but I looked at my training/race calendar and realized that I would have to run 23 miles next weekend and then a 30K race the following weekend. I didn't exactly like the 20 miles followed by a 25K race, so I decided to just do a really, really slow and painful 23 mile run this weekend instead and switch my easy week to next week so I could rest before the 30K. Nope...didn't make it.

I have a friend that has run a few marathons and he was shocked that I was running these "long" distances. He asked me why? I said because I've never run a marathon and I need to get up to that distance to make sure my feet can handle it. I mean, I've sometimes increased just one mile and it was insanely tough doing that barefoot. So I want to get that distance at least once before I run a real marathon. He seemed to be against it, but as is usually the case, I'm tired of so called "experts" telling me how I should run, what I need to do when I run, etc. I have done my research and collected the data that I needed to make a training program that fits me. But it still left me "disappointed" that I didn't get my goal...until I stop to think...How many people just get up on a Saturday morning and go run 18 miles? I guess I've got most of the population beat...haha. Time for a beer.
 
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#3
Time for a beer indeed, but I do get you. I can see maybe in shoes having the buffer to not complete the distance before you beat yourself into it at race time, but I can't see doing that barefoot. My feet take strain at small increments of distance or speed and maybe that will change, but somehow I don't expect it to. I expect I will run a marathon or several on my own barefoot before I do it in a race.

That said, yes, sir, you and your 18 miler take the crazy for today. Enjoy that beer!
 
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#4
No need to be disappointed at all, just consider it a stepping stone on the way to a very successful marathon run. 18 miles is nothing to sneeze at, I would definitely say it was a well earned beer.
 
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#5
LOL...thanks, guys. I know I'm just being a perfectionist, but I really wanted to get that distance as my next major run will be a 26 miler in about a month. That will let me see if I am truly ready for a marathon or not. I think that I was just running on surfaces that were too rough for the first 7 miles or so and it was also still dark so I hit a few more rough patches than I normally would have. I just keep thinking that the marathon is going to be on the road mostly so it should be a bit easier to run.
 
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#7
rickwhitelaw said:
Hey devilnuts. Don't beat yourself up. That's still a great long run. Questions - what was your limiting factor on stopping your run early? Also, are you racing the 30k or just treating like a training run?
Click to expand...

My limit was really just my body. LOL. My feet were not doing so well and neither were my legs. It was just too much running for me. I had some serious thoughts about why I am even doing this. I mean, I am getting a little bit more distance in, but I'm not getting much faster. It seems like I end up sabotaging myself when I start to make progress. So I was just all around sucking...hahaha. As for the 30K, it is both race and training. Since it is difficult to gauge your race pace on training runs (at least it is for me), I use races to really measure my progress. I can try using my training runs to see how I'm doing, but nothing seems to compare to actually getting out there with other people and running with/against them. I don't know how to explain it, but there is a huge differece. You don't set PRs on your training runs...you do that during races. You know? So I use all the races that I do as a training/racing exercise. They can give me some sort of quantitative measure of my improvement or lack thereof. Don't get me wrong, my training days can do that as well; I can go run 6 miles without it even really being an issue and that is something that I couldn't really do before. My 5.7 mile MAF run the other day was just 1 min slower than my 10K race in late January. And my MAF run had a decent hill in the middle of it where the 10K was flat. So I know there is improvement, but the races give you a different perspective.
 
#8
Let us know how your 30k goes. I can't offer any advice. It sounds like your training plan is much better that mine (just run when I can). I did suffer in my marathon and it was a lack of mileage. I'll follow a better plan for my next one. I think you will do fine. Just give yourself some recovery time during your taper. Good luck to you.
 
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#9
" I have a friend that has run a few marathons and he was shocked that I was running these "long" distances. He asked me why? "

I think the worst people in the world to ask for running advice (likewise the people most likely to give it to you) are "serious" marathoners. Ask your marathoner friend why he thinks there's something special about 26.2 miles. It's goofy number that has no connection to anything in the natural world.

Just run your distances. You could go out right now and run 30 miles with no trouble whatsoever. Betcha! Just pace yourself and don't worry about arbitrary limits, they're psychological.
 
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#10
BFwillie_g said:
" I have a friend that has run a few marathons and he was shocked that I was running these "long" distances. He asked me why? "

I think the worst people in the world to ask for running advice (likewise the people most likely to give it to you) are "serious" marathoners. Ask your marathoner friend why he thinks there's something special about 26.2 miles. It's goofy number that has no connection to anything in the natural world.

Just run your distances. You could go out right now and run 30 miles with no trouble whatsoever. Betcha! Just pace yourself and don't worry about arbitrary limits, they're psychological.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
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#11
Yeah, well, I told him to come out and run barefoot and see who wins...lol. He might beat my by an hour with shoes on, but put us on a level playing field and it won't even be close. LOL

Thanks. 30K this weekend and 26 miles next weekend. Should be fun...lol.
 
#12
You ran as far as your body would let you and then listened and stopped. How many in shoes would have cut their safety valves out of the loop, carried on and been out for months. 18 miles and lived to barefoot another day - Sucess.
 
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