DC Cookie: Going the Distance

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Going the Distance

Somebody please ask me how on earth I thought it would be a good idea to go from running a 10-K to running a half marathon? I just officially signed up for this race. I have 95 days. In this god-foresaken Mid-Atlantic summer humidity (which makes outdoor training much closer to a Kenyan expedition than a traditional Canadian climate), I'm going to need all the discipline I can muster.

Somehow I think 6 miles on a Marriott treadmill twice a week is not exactly adequate preparation.

14 Comments:

At June 21, 2006 9:17 AM, KassyK said…

Wow, I wish I could give good advice. I thought walking 3 miles home daily was major excercise.Lol. Good luck, you'll do great!!
At June 21, 2006 9:22 AM, Anonymous said…

cookie - have you signed up for the Army 10 miler? Its a good one. i'm signed up to do it again this year. 6k to 10 miler is easier to swallow than 6k to 1/2 marathon.
At June 21, 2006 9:53 AM, Anonymous said…

crazy cookie!
At June 21, 2006 10:01 AM, Carrie Broadshoulders said…

y'all is all CRAZY. unless someone is chasing you, and only then if they have a weapon or something, should anybody be running 13 miles. much less a real marathon.

the most I will run in one turn is six miles and even that I feel is a bit much. though Toronto sounds fun. can I just pay and not run?
At June 21, 2006 12:13 PM, Phil said…

carrie is right.

Take a load off...put up you feet....take it easy. No one needs to run that far.
At June 21, 2006 12:30 PM, Marci said…

Woo! Everyone should run! Half-marathon is a good distance. Training here in the summer? Sucks.
At June 21, 2006 2:34 PM, Raincouver said…

Well, you could train by jogging up to TO... that would be kinda fun. Otherwise, consider lassoing the Kenyan.
At June 21, 2006 3:38 PM, Heather B. said…

But just remember how good it will FEEL, when you've completed it.

Or remember how awesome that V&T will taste, when you've completed it.
At June 21, 2006 5:12 PM, Mamma Bear said…

I am so proud of you. While I am complaining about an hour on the elliptical I will think of you doing a half marathon...WOO WOO!
At June 21, 2006 5:38 PM, Beakerz said…

As a personal trainer and triathlete, yea, the 6 mile treadmill ain't gonna cut it.

Tappering might be your best best. How long do you have to train for it again?

Start hitting the weights, running hills and get those miles in.

Start with buying two new pairs of shoes: One to train and burn up the road with until the race, then a new pair for a week before the race to just taper down with and race with.

You can totally do it!

Training in the heat is good, so if it's cold you'll be Really set, but make sure to take in TONS of water. No fair cramping up just for being stupid.

Stairs? I guess so. Matters on your knees. I'm not a big one on stairs because of the Pounding it gives, while the eliptical will give you a nice 'off-day' training change.

Timed runs are good, but I'd count your distance more. But more than anything, you gotta get outside. As you know, it's a whole different thing- treadmill to road. (stay off the sidewalks as again, that packed concrete will make for extra pounding. Not a HUGE difference, but enough if you're getting in the miles.)
At June 21, 2006 6:47 PM, DC Cookie said…

I've got a pretty intense training schedule set up with long runs on Sundays. I'm actually at 7 miles right now, and I still have 95 days left. Lots of time!
At June 21, 2006 7:08 PM, Washington Cube said…

I have friends who run marathons on a regular basis, and I know they are constantly at the gym and run city streets daily, sometimes twice, to be up for it. I think it's admirable that you are taking this on during summer when you could be sipping frou frou drinks with paper umbrellas...like Phil. ;)

P.S. I think he laces his ice cubes with comet dust.
At June 21, 2006 9:33 PM, Tyler said…

WooHoo Cookie!!! You'll do a great job!

Needtsza has some great advice for you. Much better than I could give.
At June 23, 2006 8:58 AM, Anonymous said…

Cool! You'll do fine. I've done triathlons, marathons, &c, and a few things I've learned.

On the treadmill, elevate to 2% to better simulate running outside.

Run the race like you've trained. If you run with a water bottle? Run with a bottle during the race. If you never drink sports drinks while training, don't do it during the race!

There are a few others, but that'll do for now. You'll do fine.

Thaimex: I always heard the opposite for running. All the training programs I've seen for marathons max out at 20-22 miles. Cycling and swimming always train for more. Hm.

-Jon