Update

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Many of you know that I recently ran a marathon as an experiment to find out for myself (and those of you watching) if one really could run and finish a race of that distance without doing very much, if any, long distance training.  Most endurance-type athletes spend hours and hours and miles and miles per week training for an even such as this.  During the three months leading up to the race, I ran just over an hour ONCE.  All other running was done in short, high-intensity distances of 400 to 800 meters.  I ran, on average, anywhere from 1 to 4 miles PER WEEK.  I did only our TCF CrossFit workouts, and added in workouts from CrossFit Endurance 2 to 3 times per week.  As you may or may not know, CFE workouts are mainly sprint interval types of workouts with some time trial distance workouts sprinkled in.  I'm happy to say that I did finish the marathon in 4 hr and 10 min., but I was hoping for faster than this.  This was my first race of any distance, and as such, there were a few non-conditioning things I learned that I could do better next time:
-Although I thought I was hydrated enough, I could have done a better job of this.  If you think you're drinking enough, you probably need more.  
-Electrolytes are way more important, and way harder to get than I imagined.  Making them a priority before and on race day is essential.  They could have delayed the leg cramps that I started feeling about mile 19 that kept me from getting a sub-4 time.
-You can never practice running technique enough.  As you might have noticed, we're having a running technique workshop soon.  This is good information to know and practice, and ingraining it into your normal running mechanics will keep those mechanics from breaking down as you get more fatigued.
-a myriad of other little things like how tight to tie your shoes, ice baths afterwards, etc., could have made the whole experience more notable as far as my time goes, but some things you just learn as you go.  Who knew?  And there are so many of these "little things" that unless you know to ask, many more experienced runners won't think to tell you. 

My point is this, I'm extremely happy with how the workouts we do here prepared and conditioned me for the marathon.  I feel that if I was more prepared on the nutrition side of things, I would have done better.  Will I do it again?  I'm not sure at this point.  But I do feel that I'll be even more ready if I do.  I'm also sure that I'll train the same way.  

Workout of the Day

Press 1,1,1,1,1
Push Press 3,3,3,3,3
Push Jerk 5,5,5,5,5

 
Some of the ladies gettin' their press on.

QUOTE:"All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move." - Benjamin Franklin

Comments

[Dave M.]

Did 125 on the press, 140 on the push press, and 125 on the push jerk. All three of these loads were a PR for me.

[Matt]

Feelin' pretty blah tonight. Only managed 170 on the press, 185 on the push press, and 155 on the push jerk (chose to focus on split jerk so I kept the weight down). Nice photo, I'm the "lady" gettin my press on at the far end opposite Katie :))

[Lori]

Arms still tired from last week.
Press x 1 = 80#
Push press x 3 = 110# PR
Push jerk x 5 = 120#
Finally broke through the 115# curse on my push jerk.