Running thread

[gaz76]

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but until you've completed a marathon you don't realise how training is a crucial factor. I got bogged down with a few injuries leading up to the race and being honest with myself I probably only carried out half of the proper preparation. Because I completed 18 and 20 miles leading up to the race I thought I'd be fine but who can account for a calf strain half way through. Is that through bad diet, not enough stretching or sheer bad luck. ? On the plus side I felt fit all the way round and fuelled up properly with water at each station. Can you have too many SIS gels.?. I had 2 for each hour.
Anyway I'm itching to do another one, I've got the bug and I have post marathon blues;)

Think the calf thing is quite common, i seen loads at both london and manchester(did I mention I did both!!) with calf problems, myself included at london and my calf wasnt right all week in the build up to Manchester, weirdly its totally fine now.
I know what you mean about looking for the next one, Ive signed up for next year, and have just been looking at the athens marathon which is on the 14th of November, flights are cheap just have to figure out getting it round work and the mrs!!

 

[gaz76]

He finished it in 5 hours. Not been in work though. His brother said he still cannot believe he offered to take his place and actually complete it with no training what so ever.

Blimey, sounds like a painful one if hes still not back in work. Fair play though 5 hours running is not easy

 

[Paladin]

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but until you've completed a marathon you don't realise how training is a crucial factor. I got bogged down with a few injuries leading up to the race and being honest with myself I probably only carried out half of the proper preparation. Because I completed 18 and 20 miles leading up to the race I thought I'd be fine but who can account for a calf strain half way through. Is that through bad diet, not enough stretching or sheer bad luck. ? On the plus side I felt fit all the way round and fuelled up properly with water at each station. Can you have too many SIS gels.?. I had 2 for each hour.
Anyway I'm itching to do another one, I've got the bug and I have post marathon blues;)

I thought I had everything planned too, but it was my first marathon, so I didn't have any past experience to draw on.

Porridge for breakfast at 8am, but my run didn't start until 11:50am, and I think I was in need of food by 4pm, when I started to struggle. I had taken water, SIS gels, salt tablets, and a few Jelly Babies, plus a banana at the half way stage. I also grabbed a burger from a stand at the cricket ground, after the run.

I only touched on this on Sunday. I was drying myself after a hot bath when I got home, and suddenly felt dizzy. Next thing I know, my wife was shaking me, as my son stood behind her. I had fainted, fallen and cracked my head against the cistern, and was lying in a pool of my own vomit with a bleeding head. Also, blocking the bathroom door.

Heat syncope - that's something I didn't account for. I've got a lump on my head, but no lasting damage. But it has brought me to the decision that this was a once only event for me. It was a great experience though, and I'm so glad I did it.

This is my celebrity supporter, just past the half way point.

 

[Pezzer2]

I thought I had everything planned too, but it was my first marathon, so I didn't have any past experience to draw on.

Porridge for breakfast at 8am, but my run didn't start until 11:50am, and I think I was in need of food by 4pm, when I started to struggle. I had taken water, SIS gels, salt tablets, and a few Jelly Babies, plus a banana at the half way stage. I also grabbed a burger from a stand at the cricket ground, after the run.

I only touched on this on Sunday. I was drying myself after a hot bath when I got home, and suddenly felt dizzy. Next thing I know, my wife was shaking me, as my son stood behind her. I had fainted, fallen and cracked my head against the cistern, and was lying in a pool of my own vomit with a bleeding head. Also, blocking the bathroom door.

Heat syncope - that's something I didn't account for. I've got a lump on my head, but no lasting damage. But it has brought me to the decision that this was a once only event for me. It was a great experience though, and I'm so glad I did it.

This is my celebrity supporter, just past the half way point.

Jesus mate thank god your ok. I had a hot bath and felt terrible as well. I couldn’t sleep and was Hallucinating all night.
At the end I thought never again but I’m itching to go again as I have unfinished business.

 

[Pezzer2]

Think the calf thing is quite common, i seen loads at both london and manchester(did I mention I did both!!) with calf problems, myself included at london and my calf wasnt right all week in the build up to Manchester, weirdly its totally fine now.
I know what you mean about looking for the next one, Ive signed up for next year, and have just been looking at the athens marathon which is on the 14th of November, flights are cheap just have to figure out getting it round work and the mrs!!

I did feel a slight twinge at the start but I wasn’t concerned then bang it just gave way. It’s the top half of my calf which connects to the back of the knee. It’s certainly a new one for me. I’m just resting now and doing the R I C E method

 

[Paladin]

Jesus mate thank god your ok. I had a hot bath and felt terrible as well. I couldn’t sleep and was Hallucinating all night.
At the end I thought never again but I’m itching to go again as I have unfinished business.

The last three miles were weird. I had it in my legs to run, but every time I set off to jog for another stretch, I got all light headed. Hence not much running towards the end, in case I collapsed and got carted off to hospital. There was no way that was happening after months of hard effort.

My first 21k took 2:21. Second half was 3:21.

 

[supercity88]

The last three miles were weird. I had it in my legs to run, but every time I set off to jog for another stretch, I got all light headed. Hence not much running towards the end, in case I collapsed and got carted off to hospital. There was no way that was happening after months of hard effort.

My first 21k took 2:21. Second half was 3:21.

I reckon you didn't fuel well enough based on what you've said. You ate some carbs before the race, but a fair amount of time before and probably had a drop in blood pressure as a result. Did you have any major carbs after the race? Something sweet is always good to have post-race to get some energy back. In a race like the marathon once the fuel is gone, a bit like dehydration, it takes a long long time to get it back.

Depending how hot your bath was that could have had an impact as well. Your body was probably still trying to regulate temperature after the run and maybe went into shock from the heat.

If it hasn't happened to you previously it's probably the fuelling. I wouldn't let it put you off trying again. Something more serious like a blood pressure issue you'd expect to have had previous episodes like this.

 

[Paladin]

I reckon you didn't fuel well enough based on what you've said. You ate some carbs before the race, but a fair amount of time before and probably had a drop in blood pressure as a result. Did you have any major carbs after the race? Something sweet is always good to have post-race to get some energy back. In a race like the marathon once the fuel is gone, a bit like dehydration, it takes a long long time to get it back.

Depending how hot your bath was that could have had an impact as well. Your body was probably still trying to regulate temperature after the run and maybe went into shock from the heat.

If it hasn't happened to you previously it's probably the fuelling. I wouldn't let it put you off trying again. Something more serious like a blood pressure issue you'd expect to have had previous episodes like this.

I think I agree with you, in retrospect. Towards the end, I had slight nausea, so refrained from taking gels or food. I just tried to get through it. I couldn't even take a chocolate bar from the Alzheimer's people, in case I was ill after it.

Still, it's all immaterial now really. I don't think I have any serious health issues, and I'm too old to be thinking of taking up marathons as a hobby. This was definitely a bucket list thing, now well and truly ticked off.

It has been a fabulous experience and journey though, right from signing up in February to the run itself. The support from here was a huge help too.

 

[m7mcfc]

Blimey, sounds like a painful one if hes still not back in work. Fair play though 5 hours running is not easy

He came back to work today. 5hr 8 min he did it in. Not bad for a 50 something year old with no prep what so ever who smokes and drinks like a trooper.. Spoke to him about it today and he told me he had his first cigerette break at 7 miles. Unbelievable.

 

[gaz76]

He came back to work today. 5hr 8 min he did it in. Not bad for a 50 something year old with no prep what so ever who smokes and drinks like a trooper.. Spoke to him about it today and he told me he had his first cigerette break at 7 miles. Unbelievable.

Thats impressive, I stopped at mile 3 for my first one, 7 miles is a great show of stamina!!