tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post1186045593836286813..comments2024-03-18T06:43:02.161-05:00Comments on Taking the Long Way Home: 12 Things I Learned From My Worst RaceWendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-56464071504350711192021-07-20T16:27:37.159-05:002021-07-20T16:27:37.159-05:00My first marathon was a rough race - I learned a l...My first marathon was a rough race - I learned a lot about my fueling needs for the distance. I learned also that I don't need big, huge workouts in training (I did Hansons which has a high ratio of faster running each week); I respond well to mileage and then workouts are best in smaller doses for me. Laura Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12733300278691735528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-41354434224458612812021-07-17T20:07:09.236-05:002021-07-17T20:07:09.236-05:00These are all great tips! Finishing is winning - i...These are all great tips! Finishing is winning - it so important to not take yourself so seriously. Yes you want to train hard and have a great race, but if you lose sight of having fun along the way, what's the point?!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07176401115805884697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-58035707961737870762021-07-17T12:36:24.647-05:002021-07-17T12:36:24.647-05:00This is so great! Races can be wild cards, and run...This is so great! Races can be wild cards, and runners need to be able to roll with the proverbial punches, be realistic, and have a great time. Having fun is almost always my primary goal and that has served me well.Runs With Pugshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03171128110788554302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-25783022688667665622021-07-15T07:04:39.401-05:002021-07-15T07:04:39.401-05:00I should have finished my PR marathon faster too, ...I should have finished my PR marathon faster too, but I had a glitch with my phone. My medical assistant kept calling me throughout the race. I should have turned on airplane mode, which I learned to do after that. I probably lost 5 minutes with that. But on the other hand, it gave me time to catch my breath and regroup. It didn't throw me off. Marathoning is always an adventure!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-7934664709767002802021-07-15T07:02:44.740-05:002021-07-15T07:02:44.740-05:00I do know!!! I mean, I called my husband at mile 1...I do know!!! I mean, I called my husband at mile 18 to come and pick me up!!! WTH?Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-67421065335416889022021-07-14T20:26:58.660-05:002021-07-14T20:26:58.660-05:00I've learned something from every race I'v...I've learned something from every race I've done. Including that I personally need to carry my own fluid so I don't get nauseous during the race (my first LA Marathon, after mile 13 I was stopping at most of the aid stations, trying to make myself vomit because I thought it would make me feel better). I even learned something during my best marathon, my PR race. I should have finished about four minutes faster than I did but I didn't fuel correctly and totally ran out of gas.Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808535651561822721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-63834379160732070042021-07-14T06:58:48.521-05:002021-07-14T06:58:48.521-05:00These are all wonderful tips. My first marathon wa...These are all wonderful tips. My first marathon was a disaster. I should have DNFed because I was so mangled but I stubbornly kept going. So foolish. But I didn't want to "waste" those 18 weeks of training, ya know? Gah...Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03951737314384873087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-82836199555052481312021-07-14T06:27:59.074-05:002021-07-14T06:27:59.074-05:00We should celebrate any finish line! No matter how...We should celebrate any finish line! No matter how you get across it. Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-91992251279579615962021-07-14T06:27:07.090-05:002021-07-14T06:27:07.090-05:00Exactly!!! If I learned anything from that first m...Exactly!!! If I learned anything from that first marathon, it was that. 16 weeks of training down the drain? No way. Of course, I always want to do well, but when it's not happening, plan B is to just enjoy the experience.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-27604562492437931732021-07-13T19:45:10.395-05:002021-07-13T19:45:10.395-05:00I think my first marathon went pretty well because...I think my first marathon went pretty well because I was really open to just having a positive experience and I wasn't worried about my time. It was my 3rd marathon that was the worst. It was a warm, humid day and i went out too fast. The good thing about tough races is you can usually learn something from them!Lisa @ Mile by Milehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12739298325369206085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-24853763118468660292021-07-13T18:57:42.746-05:002021-07-13T18:57:42.746-05:00All of our races have something to teach us. Even ...All of our races have something to teach us. Even now, after so many years of racing, I always learn something. So many runners lose sight of the fact that racing is supposed to be fun. For 99% of us, this is not our job, it's a hobby. We should come out of it feeling proud of ourselves. Deborah Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09723497728598811234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-84069897326757362532021-07-13T16:51:42.923-05:002021-07-13T16:51:42.923-05:00Good for you!!! Fun is the way to do it.Good for you!!! Fun is the way to do it.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-13965709574402494042021-07-13T13:13:24.037-05:002021-07-13T13:13:24.037-05:00Every "bad" race usually teaches us &quo...Every "bad" race usually teaches us "good" lessons...we just got to pay attention and listen to them and learn from the turmoil. I'm totally embracing the just-have-fun approach this go-round. I'll get the required long runs in, but I'm honestly so thankful I can go 26.2 miles that I don't care what the clock says as I dance (figuratively) across the finish line.Kim at Running on the Flyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03028968906430207641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-53663831792722084312021-07-13T11:09:01.861-05:002021-07-13T11:09:01.861-05:00Exactly what happened to me the first time! Relaxi...Exactly what happened to me the first time! Relaxing and soaking it all in was definitely a game changer the second time around. Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-15396985058535020232021-07-13T10:55:20.237-05:002021-07-13T10:55:20.237-05:00Although not my first marathon, my first Chicago M...Although not my first marathon, my first Chicago Marathon was my worst race ever. My biggest takeaway from that race was learning to not overtrain but also to remember that it should be fun. I was so serious and rigid with that training cycle and it definitely came back to bite me in the butt!KookyRunnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03687318401455266836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-40765282322210197742021-07-13T10:41:27.732-05:002021-07-13T10:41:27.732-05:00He's so perfect for me and I don't always ...He's so perfect for me and I don't always like it, lol. Tough love!Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-25552240995757763282021-07-13T10:40:18.293-05:002021-07-13T10:40:18.293-05:00We really do need a Marcia!!! And a coach. Serious...We really do need a Marcia!!! And a coach. Seriously, I went from 5:25 in this marathon (gack!) to 4:17 in my second marathon.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-54911846432890183692021-07-13T10:38:35.294-05:002021-07-13T10:38:35.294-05:00Please do! I'd be honored!!!! Thank you.Please do! I'd be honored!!!! Thank you.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-12130687901332669142021-07-13T09:18:58.689-05:002021-07-13T09:18:58.689-05:00This is BRILLIANT. Please may I share it on Facebo...This is BRILLIANT. Please may I share it on Facebook next week for my #MotivationMonday post?The Gaborone Runnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15951125773361296619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-90476620732394316682021-07-13T08:40:28.603-05:002021-07-13T08:40:28.603-05:00This is excellent advice, Wendy! When I think back...This is excellent advice, Wendy! When I think back to my first marathon I cringe. It was in 2003, and I had no clue what I was letting myself in for. I think I ran two or three "long" runs of about 13 miles beforehand. No wonder I came apart. The race deadline was 5 hours and I finished in 4:38. <br /><br />Your tip about hiring a running coach is great. I never had one, but for that first marathon it would have helped enormously! And yes: we all need a Marcia in our lives!Catrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05813581612058054899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-8343857067017590622021-07-13T08:08:51.953-05:002021-07-13T08:08:51.953-05:00This is a great post. It's good to know that ...This is a great post. It's good to know that bad races happen to all of us! The thing about a first marathon is that there's no way to know what to expect. But you can learn from every race, and get better and better at it. Glad your husband refused to pick you up that day- he sounds like a wise man!Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08118496863906264340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-56978420901869881412021-07-13T08:07:32.368-05:002021-07-13T08:07:32.368-05:00I'm not an expert on marathoning and the best ...I'm not an expert on marathoning and the best thing I ever did was to hire a coach. It's all about your goals, I guess. I considered it money well spent.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-61394372903209884972021-07-13T08:03:03.886-05:002021-07-13T08:03:03.886-05:00I read this post before but it is great that you r...I read this post before but it is great that you repeated it. They are all valid points. Except that I don't think you need a coach (well maybe some runners do) because it's expensive. It's really important to set no time goals for your first one at any distance and realize that even if you are perfectly trained, anything can happen that day. Hello monsoon rain. The most important thing is to have fun.<br /><br />I've only run ONE marathon. I had lower back pain the day before from a long bus ride to NYC. And it hurt from mile 13-26. My feet which normally hurt did not. Go figure. <br /><br />If I do another, I hope to apply what I learned...thanks for the reminder.Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15383271437202673669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-57862600176453575342018-02-03T08:44:15.266-06:002018-02-03T08:44:15.266-06:00Loved reading about your experience! I too struggl...Loved reading about your experience! I too struggle with the mental strength and it can throw me off sometimes. I can see how not listening to music could help get you more into a zone instead of an off song coming on and ruining the rhythm. Thanks for sharing!<br />Kit <br />Www.kitstanwood.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241952745130903760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647157930116406632.post-15218805634282617092017-05-21T14:33:28.833-05:002017-05-21T14:33:28.833-05:00You would think after one month, your shoes would ...You would think after one month, your shoes would be broken in! My feet hurt really badly in that first marathon. I think it's just something that happens.Wendy at Taking the Long Way Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934786207724059919noreply@blogger.com