“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Eat, Sleep, Over-train?


Less than 4 weeks from the day that I'm supposed to run the marathon that will qualify me for the Boston Marathon I am having the most horrible training runs I have ever experienced.  Having one bad training run is to be expected every now and then....but 3 in a row?
Here is what I have come up with to explain why:

Diet? Could be, I have eaten pretty clean the last 6 months and then this past month with J working so much it has been a struggle to prepare my meals ahead. Which means I'm not eating enough and when I do, it's not the best food choices. I'm running an average of 30-40 miles a week + fitness bootcamp 3x a week...I NEED to consume enough calories to fuel my body.

Sleep? I have been dealing with some issues lately that have been weighing heavily on my mind and heart.  I have always been a great sleeper. Never tossed and turned, but the last few weeks sleep has NOT been my friend. "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."~1 Peter 5:7
I know this verse well and just need to apply it right? Sometimes easier said than done...but then I wouldn't need faith if everything was easy.

Overtraining? This is the option I like the least! Is it possible..YES.  Will I cut back on my training only 4 weeks out? NO.  Smart? I'm not sure...I've never been this close to my goal of a BQ....This week my total mileage should be 60 miles by Sunday......my concern= cutting back now could cost me in the end.

My plan in action:
Last night I took the time to plan my meals and snacks for the week.  Then, I went to bed.  WAY earlier than normal.  I left the laundry piled up, the dirty dishes in the sink, and went to bed when the kids did at 8:30pm. Because I am Type-A with a dash of OCD you have to know that I NEVER have dirty dishes in my sink....EVER.  But I woke up this morning and the funniest thing happened.....the world was still spinning!!! It didn't stop just because I went to bed early and left the house a mess.....
I realize that the pressure I feel to "keep up" is all self inflicted...no one is putting that pressure on me...except ME.
So, my goal for the next 4 weeks is to ease the pressure to "keep up" a little...get more sleep and eat better.....

as far as "over-training"....would love to hear your thoughts on that...

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Grace and peace,

9 comments:

Eric said...

My thoughts...
1. Diet. Yes, it matters. It can contribute to lethargy on training runs. I find that this has a nearly immediate positive and negative effect for me. If I eat poorly, my next run is affected. When I clean up my diet, the negative effects go away quickly.

2. Sleep. Yes, this matters, too. It's not as easily correctable for me, but it is nearly as immediate. When matters are heavy on my heart, I struggle to sleep well. A good night's sleep has been the key to my good race performances. I can even overcome other physical problems if I'm well rested.

3. Overtraining. I don't think it's likely. Remember, you're at peak mileage of marathon training. You're supposed to be tired. When you begin your taper in a couple of weeks, you'll be fine.

So, what I'm saying is this. You're taking the right actions with diet and rest. Those probably caused the lethargic training runs. Stick to your training. Believe in your training. Be sure to taper the last couple of weeks. Celebrate your training on race day. You got this!

Julia said...

I can totally relate to so much of what you said...especially the diet and sleep lately. as soon as i get into my work/school routine...i lose so much focus on taking care of my body and i can tell a difference in my workout routines for sure. as far as overtraining...at least for me in the past...the other things you mentioned have gone into that...sometimes I get a "burnt out" feeling at lower mileage just from being mentally and physically exhausted in other areas. sounds like you are doing the right things though and have a plan. you are so close to race day too! yay!

Julie D. said...

I agree with the comment above, I don't think overtraining is the culprit. I know I feel that way at the peak of training every time. Totally and completely spent. yes, if you are lacking the calories and fuel...I would think that would totally hurt the quality of your work outs. I'm with you in the sleep department. I too have been wrestling with all that is on my heart and mind and struggle on a daily basis to give it back to the Lord. That verse and others, I repeat over and over praying that the Lord will take my anxious thoughts and replace them with His peace. Easier said than done sometimes. "Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and thanksgiving. present your requests to God and the peace of God that SURPASSES all understanding, will GUARD, your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Rest well, April. Have a great week.

Jen @ Run for Anna said...

First of all, I'm pretty sure you look like the first picture when you're running, and not the second.

It's really hard for me to get the sleep I need...not enough sleep is always the biggest culprit (as far as I can tell) for my bad training runs. It looks like, though, you have a pretty good idea of what's going on with you and I'll be interested to see how you go forward. Whatever you do, I'm positive that BQ will be yours in just a few weeks!! :)

Zaneta @ Runner's Luck said...

Just be smart :) Get more sleep, drink more water... you'll do fab and BQ for sure! I'll be praying for you!!

Jose said...

I think you have a great plan in place. Keep it up, you'll do great!

Glenn Jones said...

Is there someone knowledgeable that you can speak to about the symptoms? It's better to show up on race day a little undertrained than overtrained....

ihaverun said...

Your plan sounds perfect to me. I think sleep will help cure anything, so hopefully you will be able to put your mind at ease and get some shut-eye.

So excited for four weeks from now!

Jill said...

There's so many factors that come into play for a bad run and sometimes it's not an easy answer. I one poor long run after another, sleep horribly, and my diet wasn't the most ideal in the summer of 2009...but when I stepped on the start line of my marathon, all the prior training paid off and I had an amazing race and ran my first BQ. It's not always the case but it just goes to show that sometimes determination outweighs giftedness. Adjust the things you can (I don't think it's overtraining, but I haven't been following along for the whole training cycle either) with the diet and the sleep but don't start cutting back now. I have, though, had success with a 3-week taper so you could consider that. Just my 2 cents :). Nice job with the planning in advance, I am not the best at this either and really need to get back on track!

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