Questions for RUNNERS!

Part of the training plan that my husband did for his half marathon had him working up to run the full 13 miles and he did a couple 10Ks leading up to his half marathon because his training schedule had him running that far anyway. I think it would fit into your training quite nicely. In fact one of the last 10ks he did was about two weeks before his half marathon and he ran to the race, ran the 10k and then ran home in order to get all his miles in for that day.

 

I agree, the 10K a month before is a great jumping point.

I have registered for a few 5Ks and 10Ks over the next several months as I train for the 1/2.

 

I had a running question for you ladies - -

What do you do when a dog runs after you?

I have had a few recent experiences where my heart almost completely stopped as I thought I would be attacked by some large dog. I thought about buying a tazer or some pepper spray to take with me on my runs, but then that is just one more thing you have to carry. Any suggestions?

 

Yes, a month is more than enough time to recover from a 10k race. You'll be 100% within a week. If you don't RACE the 10k, you'll be fine the next day even. Just work it into your training and have that be your "long run" for that week. I generally have people increase miles for 2 weeks and then one week back down. For example, last week my clients did 10, and the week before that 8. This week only 6. Then we'll do 10 and then 12.

As far as the dogs, it's only happened once. I stopped running to show them I wasn't a threat and they gave up on me.

 

Chips are just things that attach to either your bib or shoe that track your time when you cross the finish line.

Dress in moisture wicking materials (no cotton) that you've worn to train in (so you know there are no surprises). Dress as if the temperature were 20 degrees warmer than it is and you weren't running. So if it's 50° you'd wear what you'd wear if it were 70° on a normal day. So, I'd wear shorts and short sleeves.

Shoes should be purchased at a running specialty store only. You need experts in RUNNING to look at your feet and your gait to give you the perfect ones for you. I'd do that as soon as possible, to avoid injury.

Unless something is wrong, you probably don't need a doctor. Unless you just want clearance to run, which your general practitioner/family doctor can do.

 

You can do it!!! And you will be so proud of yourself. it's a tough tough thing, but worth it!!

Dogs - I have had this happen. I stop and hold my hand out palm down (slowly) so they can smell it.

shoes - I agree - specialty running store - they know what they are talking about.

Once I got over the 8 mile long run in my training - it became much easier. From a lot of people I've talked to - apparently the 8 mile mark for the 1/2 marathoners is a big one - it makes you or breaks you.

Use your training time to figure out what works and don't change it up w/in 2 weeks of the race - for instance if you don't rehydrate during the race w/ gaterade - DO NOT use it during the race - it will go right through you and you will poop yourself.

Walk running the race counts - some trainers will advise you to run 10 minutes walk 1 minute intervals to store your energy. I saw lots of people doing this for the race. I personally wasn't able to do this - it's hard to walk/run/walk/run - but I've been recently training myself to do this.

 

oh & my dog would totally run after someone and then try to herd them or smell their butt!!! Or trip them - like she did to me tonight!!

 

Not if they can help it.

There will be porta potties on the course. I've never soiled myself during a race, although it has been close. I've seen it happen, though.

For half / full marathons, I walk through the water stops. Partly so that I can actually get the water IN me rather than down the front of me. And partly because it gives me 10 seconds to catch my breath and get my head back in the game. That way, I'm breaking the course down into 2 mile increments, because I'm just running to the next water stop. It helps me mentally. And it doesn't slow me down any since I'm only walking for 10 seconds every 2 miles and I easily make that up and more by having taken that break.

 

For the record, if I were ever in a position where I might WIN the race, I would definitely not be above peeing myself to make that a reality. But, I'm a very middle-of-the-pack runner and 2 minutes here or there doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things, so I stop. But only if there is no line.

 

I run faster

It's happened to me once too...most of the dogs here are fenced or have an invisible fence but thankfully the one that did chase me was friendly and slow and I was able to out run it

 

Lucky it was friendly!! Definitely don't try to run from them!! Most dogs are friendly, but if you're running, you seem like more of a threat.

http://news.runtowin.com/2007/09/26/what-do-you-do-if-a-dog-wants-to-chase-you.html

 

That's good to know! Thanks Angie

 

Angie, thanks for posting that link. Some great information to ponder.

 

I've only had it happen once in 4 years, and it was during Run Across Ohio when we were in the middle of NOWHERE. We were probably the first people to run by that house in the history of the universe. lol