tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post3854617309411901413..comments2023-04-25T14:45:00.278-07:00Comments on Love, Live, Run: 2011 Grandma's [Almost] Marathon - Recap and Lessons LearnedAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724748180010657149noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-88767388361025032992011-08-09T16:18:31.775-07:002011-08-09T16:18:31.775-07:00What a heartfelt account of an extremely challengi...What a heartfelt account of an extremely challenging day. You are a wonderful story teller. I was holding back tears reading this which seems silly, but I was. I am so proud of you and the effort you put in striving to achieve more. I want you to know that I am running again and you were my motivation. I'm just a 3 miler but it's a start. I hope your toe heals completely and doesn't bother you much longer. Love your last sentence, well said!!!Karna Davisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-1569918764086563742011-07-18T21:41:24.468-07:002011-07-18T21:41:24.468-07:00Great post Vera. You really lay it all out there a...Great post Vera. You really lay it all out there and I enjoyed reading about your experience. Sorry that the race did not go better for you, but it sounds like you really identified your problem areas. I'm looking forward to following your training here and on the DM.<br /><br />MikeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01569950702355094761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-77744444345720687082011-07-17T12:39:03.561-07:002011-07-17T12:39:03.561-07:00Vera, I went through the same thing during my Half...Vera, I went through the same thing during my Half in March. I overtrained, I was not listening to my body nor paying attention to the stress factors in my own life (my dog recently died). <br /><br />I did finish the race, but I literally drug myself to the finish line. I did a great Hunchback of Notre Dam imitation! <br /><br />From that moment - I trained and raced differently. I was mindful of who I did and didn't listen to and most importantly, I trusted my own instincts. After intensive therapy and rehab, I am back stronger than I ever imagined. <br /><br />You are doing the same. G'ma is a blip and you will soon thank it happened to prevent yourself from further harm, in other races.<br /><br />Hugs!Charlene Ragsdalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01004092949116252295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-17876058749088988372011-07-17T12:34:14.531-07:002011-07-17T12:34:14.531-07:00Vera, I know just how you feel. I had a similar e...Vera, I know just how you feel. I had a similar experience at the LA marathon. The weather sucked at the LA marathon (as you know), but I definitely felt like I was tired from overtraining and missed my goal time by 40 minutes! Don't worry-you will have many more marathons to come. Thank you for sharing your experience!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-74878438904618640472011-07-13T17:17:34.443-07:002011-07-13T17:17:34.443-07:00Vera, your story was amazing and made me cry. Than...Vera, your story was amazing and made me cry. Thank you so much for sharing what was clearly so painful. You have so much to be proud of. I know I've learned from your experience, both in regards to running and regards to the toll stress can take on our training. <br />You are inspiring!<br />LeslieLeslie Chisumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-34910147063097030172011-07-13T08:20:39.192-07:002011-07-13T08:20:39.192-07:00I don't know if I ever told you that I DNFed m...I don't know if I ever told you that I DNFed my Ironman in 2004. It was a gutting experience and for months afterwards I questioned the decision to quit. Then one day my husband said "you didn't quit, your body did." and it clicked. Sometimes there is no going on. There are so many lessons I walked away with from that experience. You got there a lot faster than I did. Smart girl for knowing when to say when and understanding it is a learning lesson.Ann Brennanhttp://www.annsrunningcommentary.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-72029524891372375262011-07-12T14:10:58.000-07:002011-07-12T14:10:58.000-07:00So sorry to hear that it wasn't your day, Vera...So sorry to hear that it wasn't your day, Vera, and I know what you mean about overtraining. It's the story of my life: one DNS after another. At least you made it to the starting line. :)<br /><br />I'm betting you'll nail the next one.G. E. Anderson ---https://www.blogger.com/profile/11194863913108812712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-26595328593514995752011-07-12T10:46:49.017-07:002011-07-12T10:46:49.017-07:00Great honesty all the way throughout! I personally...Great honesty all the way throughout! I personally have never run a race in my life, but would like to get started soon. (My mom used to be a very avid runner until her knees gave out. She she's always been a great inspiration on that.) I have also always wanted to do the Grandma's race. When I go there to eat I see the photos on the wall and think, "Gosh that looks like fun! Right on Lake Superior too." :)<br />Your blog is so full of advice and ideas. Thank you! xEmilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05748161901485484298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-34168413220032162322011-07-12T05:00:21.955-07:002011-07-12T05:00:21.955-07:00great post... tough day for you, nobody likes a DN...great post... tough day for you, nobody likes a DNF but take it as a learning experience and it will help you in the future.<br />A couple of things I noticed in your training that you might want to consider. I dont think anyone that is in training for a marathon should ever run more then 23 miles as a training run (not sure what galloway says about this) unless you have a deep base of many years of long distance running. For most people this will only cause fatigue that they will not recover from before the race. There is little to nothing gained by doing those extra miles.<br /><br />Also although its currently trendy trying to run a negative split in a marathon is a fools errand. I run with many very experienced marathoners as well as teach a marathon clinic and I dont know anyone who is able to run a negative split unless they ran way, way to slow in the first half. The last 6 miles of a marathon are super hard. Even when I run marathons as part of my Ultra marathon training (at training pace) the last 6 miles are tough and it is almost impossible to keep pace little lone speeding up. I would suggest trying to run an even split.<br /><br />Just my opinion however.<br /><br />Good luck training for your next race!!chris mcpeakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15488479732649522465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-72388298350129107572011-07-11T19:44:13.308-07:002011-07-11T19:44:13.308-07:00Vera I so admire your strength and honesty, and I ...Vera I so admire your strength and honesty, and I thank you deeply for what you have given to me: time, energy, patience. You got heart, girl! I have no doubt your next marathon will ROCK!!! Love you! ~WendyWendy K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-79692427488137573242011-07-11T18:13:08.595-07:002011-07-11T18:13:08.595-07:00I'm glad you share this painful experience wit...I'm glad you share this painful experience with us. I can also read that there will be more marathons to come.Luchttp://trainingforboston.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-66804174331033342232011-07-11T17:55:52.551-07:002011-07-11T17:55:52.551-07:00That's a great post, Vera! You had a hard run,...That's a great post, Vera! You had a hard run, and there is not shame in hitting the sag wagon if you are in distress. This month I learned to listen to my body. It's a hard lesson, but a good one to learn!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4328728894046139243.post-30749530828896492242011-07-11T17:49:04.590-07:002011-07-11T17:49:04.590-07:00Thanks for sharing your heart + soul here, Vera.
...Thanks for sharing your heart + soul here, Vera. <br /><br />I read every word and wanted you to know that you've always inspired me with your grace + passion for running. I'm nowhere near most of you in mileage or pace, but I have similar struggles and desires to be the best I can be. <br /><br />One thing that I've noticed about you is that you give so much of yourself to others (leading the Galloway group, blogging consistently, etc), which is such a gift. A full life like the one you lead sometimes has a not-so-funny way of piling on extra responsibilities + stresses + energy-zappers when you least need them, when you're already spinning the plates as fast as you can. No fair! I'm sorry that turned out to be the case for you (w/the home financing issues really causing so much grief and loss of sleep...ugh...hope that's resolved itself by now), because you did a lot right during your training. <br /><br />Great advice about trying to really listen to what your body tells you, esp leading up to an important race. Nutrition, overtraining, keeping stress in check...those are things that I think most ppl struggle with (esp ppl who run not only for themselves, but to inspire others, too, as you do).<br /><br />Shaking my head in agreement when you write about how our minds sometimes make us feel like we can do more than our bodies can. Other times, it works in reverse, where our negative talk gets the better of us (and our bodies). Still so much for us to learn about the way our body + mind can play tricks on us! ;-)<br /><br />It sounds like you gave yourself room to be human, and didn't minimize the effort it took to get you to Grandma's (and your other marathons). You were strong enough to overrule your heart and allowed yourself to stop. I think that's a truer reflection of how serious a runner you are than any medal you might have gotten. <br /><br />Glad you gave yourself a few weeks to just breathe + BE. We all need to take those breaks. You've come thru w/your indomitable spirit intact...way to go, Vera! You show that the beauty in the human experience is that we still aspire to do so much, even when we know the work is hard and the payoff may not be there waiting for us in the end. Like you said, it was just one day. Just one race. The important thing is your health, your family, and love. And you are abundant in all of those most important things.<br /><br />You may not have nabbed that Grandma's t-shirt or finisher's medal this time, but the things you take away from the experience make you the wonderful person that you are.<br /><br />Cheering you onward, Vera!Ilona Meagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11867386558261264623noreply@blogger.com