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Be still my beating heart
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Yes I get them in training fairly regularly and recently have worked my way through them fairly well without losing TOO much pace (during a session) but they do slow me down. I actually embarrassingly get nervous before sessions too:o so there might be something to what you're saying... It could well be the nerves...something i'd never considered before. If it is that then hopefully the race practice over the coming months will help with that. Thanks RQRacoonQueen wrote: »Do you get stitches often? Do you get them while training? Perhaps try and figure out what is causing the stitch especially if you only get it in races...perhaps its the nerves causing it.
Yes it's the first time I've taken the day off completely before a race, let alone 2! I'm not sure it had any impact. My legs felt great on the day, no problems there. Good idea to document the details of the food/stitches though cheers.TRR_the_turd wrote: »Nice seeing you again yesterday. Personally I'd never take the day before a race off. I find I feel very sluggish race day. I guess that's your first time trying it and I suppose you may not do it again. Getting to the route cause of stitches can be a bitch. I've never really suffered myself but if you're getting them in training too you should maybe document your food and see if there is a link there.
Well done again. Some good photos on Rathcoffey FB. Missed your presentation but I suspect I was plodding around the roads of the village still at that point... Hope you got some nice cake
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Rathcoffey 10k Race report
50:43
2min 50 sec pb
15/99 women (even though I'm down as a man in the results!)
Going in to this race, I really didn't know what was realistic. All I knew was that 6 x 8(ish) min/miles shouldn't have posed TOO much of an issue. Yes it would be hard work, but I thought I'd be well capable of that at this point and training would suggest so too (in reality I know I'm well capable of this). I've run close to this pb in training a few times at this stage so in all honesty, I thought I'd run 48.40ish or possibly even better. Training going great. Miles building up nicely. Ran a great HM effort tempo of 60 mins @ 8:30 and felt really good and could have continued and 3 x 7:38 min/miles during a 5k effort training session the week before so feeling really confident and happy with my capabilities and goal (anything between 48:40 and 50:rolleyes:)
Crazy nerves all week though and no one could mention the 'R' word to me without me breaking out in a sweat. I have a love/hate relationship with races but I think I hate them a little more than love
No doubt about it, I need race practice and this is one of my resolutions. To race more. Even if it's just a tempo as part of a Parkrun, I need to experience it more. I did a 5 mile in November, a 5k in December and have made great gains in training since them so all good and positivie for my Rathcoffey goal.
So the plan was 3 x 8 min/miles (depending on how I was feeling, I might go a bit easier or harder) and then get faster and faster and faster as the race went on :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:....
I honestly felt the 3 x 8 min miles to start with was being conservative. That DNF last summer still haunts me so I vowed NEVER to let that happen again so always start out conservatively now in races to ensure that never happens again.
So the first 3 miles went to plan. No problems, felt good, running hard-ish but felt strong and running within myself and felt like I could easily keep that up for the duration of the race and was reigning it back if anything. Got into a nice little group and for the first time in a race I understood what an advantage it is running with a little group and the benefits it brings to be working together. I was feeling comfortable. First 3 miles, 8:01, 8:02, 8. Wasn't concerning myself with the watch at all but glanced now and again. Happy days all good..
Then the stitch arose around half way through mile 4. Not too severe to start, and I felt I had a handle on it, but it got progressively worse and just wouldn't go away. Right under the left ribcage which is the same spot as where I always get them. I had to alter my gait a lot to try and run with it and kind of bend over from the waist to allow me to continue running.
I often get them in training and deal with them ok lately but they do slow me down. Did my usual controlled breathing, 2 in 2 out, blowing out hard on the exhales but it just wouldn't go. Tried my other tricks of pressing on the area really hard and then pulling the flesh out from the body which sometimes works. Nothing would. I have red marks on the area where I was hurting... Mile 4 8:18. Decided not to look at the watch at all after that as I was just concerned on doing my best for the rest of the race and not dropping out (god-forbid!!!) and felt that watching the watch would just dishearten me.
Never normally bother with water in races of such duration and ignored the earlier water station but into mile 5, I started feeling faint and like keeling over. Maybe the exertions of dealing with the stitch had taken too much out of me
Then like a mirage ahead, 2 guys appeared outside some houses holding some plastic cups. Grabbed a cup and tried to drink it but started hyperventilating when I put the cup near my mouth. It was like a panic attack or something. Can't explain it. No matter how much I slowed down I couldn't breath properly and drink the damn glass of water. I was in a bad place 
Mile 5 8:27. Breathing a disaster. There was a bit of a hill to deal with somewhere around here (I think! my race memory is terrible) but no matter what, I wouldn't let myself walk. I've never walked in a race and wasn't going to start now.
Mile 6, stitch abated and eventually got my breathing under control and started feeling somewhat normal again and regained a bit of strength. But here's the thing I'm most disappointed about. I gave up then. 8 fcuking 19 min pace for mile 6 and I had no excuse anymore not to pick it up. I felt awful but why couldn't I dig deep at that point to try claw back some more time. But I felt awful and I didn't really care anymore. That's just not cool. Me not care about running? That's just ridiculous. I put so much into my running. I base my eating, sleeping and breathing literally around my running so why couldn't I dig in for that last 1.2 miles and kill it to make up some pace. So what if I puked all over the finish line or collapsed? I'd have been fine within a few seconds. I've swallowed back puke in a race in the past so I have it in me to do what it takes but I didn't yesterday...
I'm most disappointed about the last 1.2 miles. An F-fcuking-minus for effort here. I'm pretty much ashamed of myself for that mile and no amount of kind words will make me feel otherwise.
Oh and I got something in my eye about 1/4 mile from the finish so couldn't even see where I was going as my eye was watering so much. Thank god there are no finish line photos!!!!!! I must've looked like I was crying:o
So I'm going to leave it at that and move on and actually move on from this point with even more motivation and greater aspirations that I had before that race. I learned a lot yesterday.
Yes, I am improving and it's all going in the right direction. When I started out in this game, I'd never have envisaged in a million years coming 15th out of 99 women in any kind of race except for one to the bar. In another year, I know I can make lots more places in a race like yesterday. I know I can make the top 10 if not better within a year. This gives me heart.
I need to get to the bottom of the stitches issue and some stuff has been suggested to me above that I can start looking in to. Obviously the nerves thing has to be worked on too as I'm a disaster in relation to this problem.
Thanks again for those ideas and all the comments in general. Extremely helpful stuff in there. Cheers folks.0 -
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Drink is a lot of carbs. You may simply need to eat a bit more carbs as drink can be great fuel for running though the dehydration side effect is a big downside
If you notice that after drinking moderately that you put in a good session the next day then tailoring your eating that you have some extra carbs the night before a race or big session is something worth looking into. Bear in mind drink also makes people hungry so you could be eating less when off it also.0 -
On the stitches again - I used to get them all the time, in training & races. But now they've stopped. (Want to know how? Just buy my book! - kidding!)
They went away when I stopped eating. Say I'm taking part in a run starting at 11am. I simply don't eat that morning. Just a little water. If I'm running at 6pm, I will eat at 12.30/1pm and not again until after the run. If I leave anything less than a 4-hour gap, I am guaranteed to get a side stitch. How many hours do you leave between the last food intake before a run? Btw I'm pretty confident this is not the right approach, and no-one in their right mind would advise it, but it is the only thing that works for me.0 -
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+1 to this, you train at running in order to race well but another piece of this puzzle is training your nerves. At the moment, your nerves are like a skittish filly (sorry CM if you're reading thisBungy Girl wrote: »Ososlo, just a thought on the nerves thing. Would you consider doing some short races where time is irrelevant such as XC, trail, mountain running, a hilly or off-road parkrun etc. Good for race practice without the pressure that (inevitably) comes with having a time goal. You can leave the watch at home (or ignore it). I think if you're doing a standard distance it's very hard to avoid comparison with previous races but the beauty of XC etc. is that no two races are ever the same (even the same course can be different year on year depending on conditions) so comparisons are pointless.
), all over the place and bucking you like crazy. Nerves are good. They focus our mind and body for the challenge ahead and help with the release of adrenaline at the right time. (That's my take anyway.) The key concept is 'at the right time'. You will benefit enormously form channelling and owning your nerves instead of the other way round.
Remember years ago, a title fight between Tyson and Lennox Lewis. Lewis was the underdog. When they came out of their dressing rooms and approached the ring, I said to myself 'Lewis is in the zone, totally'. He had this far away focused look about him, like he was already in the ring. That night, he owned his nerves, he owned the fight and walked away world champion. I walked away from that night £90 richer It sounds like you might be using up all your 'nerve credit' in the days, even weeks before a race?
This works for me but you should be able to work out something similar that works for you:
Ex, a Sunday race
Monday: confirm that travel arrangements are in place and you know all you need to know about race no pick up etc. forget about the race.
Tuesday: forget about the race. If it comes into your mind, look at the thought then calmLy place it aside.
Wednesday: enjoy a less intense training day. Forget about the race.
Thursday: make a list if you are so inclined for the day. Make a pace band if you use one.Forget about the race.
Friday: enjoy an easy day including strides. Forget about the race.
Saturday: enjoy the buzzy fluttery feeling in your tummy now and then. Do a mental/paper check list tick off. Prepare kit for the morning. Have a glass of wine. Have an early night. Forget about the race.
Sunday: breakfast, dress, leave. Preferably get a lift. Get in the zone. Chat if you have to but use any quiet time to get in the zone. Warm up. Stay in the zone, focused and relaxed. Breathe slowly and deeply before and during warm up.
Go. Now is the race.
Hope this helps. Running is the base but there are many add-ones that complete the whole..0 -
This works for me but you should be able to work out something similar that works for you:
Ex, a Sunday race
Monday: confirm that travel arrangements are in place and you know all you need to know about race no pick up etc. forget about the race. Feign injury to confuse the competition.
Tuesday: forget about the race. If it comes into your mind, look at the thought then calmLy place it aside.
Wednesday: enjoy a less intense training day. Forget about the race. Run a blisteringly fast session
Thursday: make a list if you are so inclined for the day. Make a pace band if you use one.Forget about the race.
Friday: enjoy an easy day including strides. Forget about the race.
Saturday: enjoy the buzzy fluttery feeling in your tummy now and then. Do a mental/paper check list tick off. Prepare kit for the morning. Have a glass of wine. Have an early night. Forget about the race.
Sunday: breakfast, dress, leave. Preferably get a lift. Get in the zone. Chat if you have to but use any quiet time to get in the zone. Warm up. Stay in the zone, focused and relaxed. Breathe slowly and deeply before and during warm up.
Go. Now is the race.
Hope this helps. Running is the base but there are many add-ones that complete the whole..
Fixed your post DG... 0 -
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Hey O fab honest report. What sticks out is the mental aspect of racing for you - I felt nervous reading that! The anxiety, the nerves, you poor thing! I'm with the others on this - race practice seems to be the key.
Your report reads to me like you were travelling well, got a stitch, lost time and mentally gave up after that. To only miss the target by 45 secs with all that going on is still pretty remarkable. We all know how much you love running, how important it is to you and I for one appreciate your honesty. Can't wait to read about how you tear up your next race - this little hitch just adds to the excitement
@DubGal - brilliant advice there, very zen, might have to steal some of that 0 -
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You should write a book about this. That's super stuff right there. Yes it does help a lot! Very insightful. Will have to try that glass of wine the night before. That's obviously where I went wrong:)This works for me but you should be able to work out something similar that works for you:
Ex, a Sunday race
Monday: confirm that travel arrangements are in place and you know all you need to know about race no pick up etc. forget about the race.
Tuesday: forget about the race. If it comes into your mind, look at the thought then calmLy place it aside.
Wednesday: enjoy a less intense training day. Forget about the race.
Thursday: make a list if you are so inclined for the day. Make a pace band if you use one.Forget about the race.
Friday: enjoy an easy day including strides. Forget about the race.
Saturday: enjoy the buzzy fluttery feeling in your tummy now and then. Do a mental/paper check list tick off. Prepare kit for the morning. Have a glass of wine. Have an early night. Forget about the race.
Sunday: breakfast, dress, leave. Preferably get a lift. Get in the zone. Chat if you have to but use any quiet time to get in the zone. Warm up. Stay in the zone, focused and relaxed. Breathe slowly and deeply before and during warm up.
Go. Now is the race.
Hope this helps. Running is the base but there are many add-ones that complete the whole..
when I first started doing races, I used to drink a bottle of wine the night before! That didn't really help much
This post has been copied and pasted and saved!0 -
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martyboy48 wrote: »Think it's Bulmers74 himself....
Only saw this now you cheeky feckr May I remind you that you hit the O40 category first 0 -
Really good idea but to really take the pressure off I won't be able to tell you guys about it so you'll never know if I do them or not:). But you know what, you're dead right about less pressure with a non-standard distance race.
Not sure about the old XC running! Yiz are a hardy bunch made of tougher stuff than the likes of me with my namby-pamby road races but it could be a bit of fun all the same! Thanks BG! Great ideas there.
Would actually love to try a mountain run sometime...
www.imra.ie
Go do it.
Say nothing to nobody 0 -
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Bungy Girl wrote: »
+1, xc is good fun :-) you don't need your watch either as pacing is out the window, just run!!
Next time your Southside go a bit further, there's some lovely runs from dunlaoghaire-sandycove-dalkey or killiney hill, beautiful!0
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