[ecoli]

Originally Posted by Iangolf

I think I have to train somewhere new. All of my runs start from my house but unfortunately I live on a hill so it's great starting off with a nice downhill for the 1st few kms, but my last 3/4 kms I climb about 50-60 metres which on the longer runs is a killer. My last two LSRs my pace for the last 4k is about 30-40 seconds slower than the rest of the run and I'm not sure if it's because of the hill or because I am knackered.

Nothing wrong with the pace slowing on an lsr. As long as the effort is there this will stand to you both physically and mentally simulating the final stretch of a race.

[ecoli]

Originally Posted by tang1

Plantar faciitis it is, at least two weeks of no running. Could be worse, at least i haven't been told DCM is a no go. niteowl1 he told me to manipulate the area with a tennis ball in a socked foot 4-5 times a day and do heel drops, leg on a step and lower the foot down below level of step till you feel stretch on plantar, hold for 5 secs and bring foot back up. Made sure to say do it with both feet.

Have a mild case of this myself. As well as the tennis ball the physio mentioned freezing a bottle of water (coke bottle or something) and using that too as it allows me to roll the foot but also ice the inflamation at the same time. I have reacted well so far any time I have done this.

(Just in case people construe this as medical advice its not its simply a way of killing two birds with one stone that I have found helpful)

[Mr Slow]

Originally Posted by Pageant Messiah

Thanks for that Mr Slow. It was good to see how your first marathon went. I read your own log from start to finish.

I have one regret though. This post ....



FFS is all I can say to that. FFS (Coming from someone who will struggle to hit 4:30 and was thinking about setting a 5 hour target)

Her time was actually 4:29:15 and she had an army of advisors and trainers.

I was deluded, running the marathon opened my eyes, I've done 5 now and the big lesson is to enjoy your first, you only get one shot at it. After your first it becomes about time and it's a race, your first is an experience!

[rasher_m]

Originally Posted by npresto

Ran my 14mile LSR on Sat morning. It was the same course I ran my 12mile LSR the previous week but I added a small 2 mile loop with a hill to extend to 14miles.

I was fine the day after the 12 mile but after the 14 mile I was shattered and my legs are still sore today. A callus on my right foot dug in and gave me a blood blister.

I've 989km on the runners. I think my runners are shot.

Should blisters be burst?

Should hard skin be filed down a bit?

As said by a previous poster, negative thoughts started running through my head near the end of the run. Doubting if I can pull off the marathon.

I'm also feeling sore today, i ran my lsr last night and it took me hours to fall asleep. My muscles in my legs felt like they were being torn apart when I went to bed last night.
I also increased the lsr by two extra miles like you did so my verdict is that the extra two mile was a bit of a stretch. I'm planning on not increasing the mileage for the next lsr and just doing the same distance again to get used to that distance and then pushing it for the following lsr all going well PG.
I also have a lot of hard skin but my thoughts on it from a novice point of view anyway is that it keeps the soles of the feet tough so that they're not sensitive but I don't have irritating calluses so not sure about that one.
I have read that you should just put a dressing on blisters and not burst them but again I'm not that knowledgeable on the subject. I know I got a huge one on my back from running with a back pack but it burst itself and I kept it covered and exposed it to air when I was at home. This is what the Chemist told me to do anyway.

[slim4life]

I would be really interested to get some advise on blisters too. Im no expert but I always found that if i used a sterile pin (just put the pin in boiling water) to burst the blister and drain it that it felt allot better right away and I could usually run again the next day. 1 area on both feet built up blisters for months every time I would run more than maybe 6km. done 17.5km LSR saturday and didnt have a bother with either of them. the dead skin left after i drained the blistered seems to have built up a callous. My thinking was that the callous protects the area from blisters now? I know in allot of toher sports (rowing etc) they are happy to buold up callous to protect their skin??

[Trampas]

LSR on Saturday was the 1st week I needed to bring more water.

Heart rate rose over the last few miles is a sign to drink more so lesson there but apart from that I am going fine thankfully.

For stretching I do dynamic stretching rather than stand a pull.

Follow the lessons advised by my physio.

Frank this weekend and then I will be hitting the course for must of LSR runs as I would like to run every part of the course before the big day so mentally I know where hills end.

Keep up the good work everyone

[Runchick]

Originally Posted by npresto

Ran my 14mile LSR on Sat morning. It was the same course I ran my 12mile LSR the previous week but I added a small 2 mile loop with a hill to extend to 14miles.

I was fine the day after the 12 mile but after the 14 mile I was shattered and my legs are still sore today. A callus on my right foot dug in and gave me a blood blister.

I've 989km on the runners. I think my runners are shot.

Should blisters be burst?

Should hard skin be filed down a bit?

As said by a previous poster, negative thoughts started running through my head near the end of the run. Doubting if I can pull off the marathon.

Hi npresto I find the same - when the mileage creeps up all of a sudden the legs really start feeling it, its amazing how much harder a few miles can feel. But as has been said on here before, your legs will remember those extra miles next time and it won't be as hard. Not sure on the blisters but I've definitely read that you shouldn't touch the hard skin. I'm walking around today in sparkly new runners, breaking them in before tomorrow's run. I got 350 miles out of the last pair before I noticed the beginnings of blisters on my heels so changed them right away. Might be an idea to change them alright.

I suppose the negative thoughts are all part of the training. This marathon training is tough, physically and mentally. When these thoughts creep in I just keep believing in the plan and jump on this board to see I'm not alone ...mind over matter and all that

[Runchick]

Originally Posted by ncmc

Thanks Tang, I really had nothing left in the tank at the end, part of me was thinking.... "I have to do twice this distance in 2 months"

I know I will have a lot more training done and I will be doing a slower pace in October, but it was a timely reminder of the challenge ahead!

I know, how on earth will we be ready in 9 weeks Well done by the way ncmc, great running yesterday

[Pageant Messiah]

Here's a novelty. Am posting this whilst on the tail end of my 21k LSR. Have no energy left to run and am in bit of pain so am walking the last 4k. Going to be my first half marathon either way so I am finishing it !!!

[career_move]

Good stuff PM No pain no gain and all that

[tang1]

Originally Posted by Pageant Messiah

Here's a novelty. Am posting this whilst on the tail end of my 21k LSR. Have no energy left to run and am in bit of pain so am walking the last 4k. Going to be my first half marathon either way so I am finishing it !!!

Don't forget to stretch after PM.

[Pageant Messiah]

2 hours 48 min for half. At least I'm in the 3hr cut off for the race series half. (read that here on boards seems very short for me)

Stretching away here - have no idea what I'm doing - probably look like mr bean

[ncmc]

Originally Posted by Pageant Messiah

2 hours 48 min for half. At least I'm in the 3hr cut off for the race series half. (read that here on boards seems very short for me)

Stretching away here - have no idea what I'm doing - probably look like mr bean

Nice one PM, don't worry what you look like stretching, I normally look something like this...

[Satanta]

Originally Posted by Trampas

LSR on Saturday was the 1st week I needed to bring more water.

Heart rate rose over the last few miles is a sign to drink more so lesson there but apart from that I am going fine thankfully.

Very interesting. Thanks for that piece of information. My HR rose sharply at the end of my long run on Saturday. It left the last couple of km hard (maybe they's have been hard anyway).

I drank about 75cl for a run lasting 2:43, so I'll try to be smarter going forward. I threw away about 25cl because I couldnt be bothered carrying the water bottle and left another 50cl at the last water drop because I didnt want to carry 2.

[Younganne]

Cause of Foot Blisters:
Blisters on the feet are usually caused by friction, usually between skin and sock. Excessive moisture due to sweaty feet or wet conditions can also lead to blisters. Wearing runners that are too small or tied too tight can also cause blisters.

Prevention of Foot Blisters:
To prevent blisters altogether, make sure your runners fit properly. Your runners should be at least 1/2 a size bigger than your normal shoe size, since your feet swell when you run. You should have a little room in your toebox.

Look for running socks or socks made of synthetic fabrics (not cotton!) such as Teflon or CoolMax, which wick moisture away from your feet, preventing the sock from bunching up and causing blisters. Also, buy socks with no seams and a smooth surface. Some runners wear double-layer socks created to deter blisters. (1000m socks) The idea with those socks is that any friction occurs between the two sock layers instead of your skin and the sock.

You can also spread Bodyglide or Vaseline on problem areas.
But go easy: Too much and you'll be sliding around in your shoes.
Don't remove calluses with a razor or emery board. The callused skin serves as blister protection for your feet, so if it's removed, you'll be more at risk for blisters.

Use Compeed or similar blister plaster on the blistered area and if prone to blisters put a blister plaster on before the blister develops using it as a preventive measure. If you do this, just make sure the plaster is applied smoothly (no wrinkles) and not too tight.

Treatment of Foot Blisters:
If you already have a blister and it's not painful, just leave it alone, since the skin serves as protection. It will eventually break and the fluid will drain. If the blister is painful, then you should sterilise a needle in boiling water and once cool, carefully pierce the blister. Press the fluid out and use an antiseptic cream on it. Cover the area with a blister plaster to protect against infection and provide cushioning.

While running the marathon, if you develop a painful blister, stop at one of the first aid stations. They should be able to treat your blister and hopefully get you back in the race, running pain-free.