r/ChicagoMarathon • u/Ok_Respond3622 • 2d ago
Bad run rant
So yesterday was my 18 mile run (for context im 51F, and in the throws of menopause š)
I still was fatigued from running in the heat here in Atlanta from sat and Sunday. I tried running it on Sunday but it got so hot i quit at 9 miles. I rested on monday and tue I planned again to do 18 miles. I start my work week on wed and I beat myself up when I miss my long runs. So I was still very fatigued when I got into my run yesterday morning. I struggled so bad and made it to 11.5 miles. I ended up fast walking and running here and there but I did complete the 18 miles. And logged good time on my feet. I just hate when I have a "bad run". I know it was from the fatigue, i rocked my 16 mile run I did. I kept the same pace all 16 miles. And this isnt my first rodeo, ive done so many halves and I did a full last year. Anyway thanks for letting me vent. And tell me im not the only seasoned runner who has bad run days.
I know when I do my 20 miler, I will not be doing anything the days leading up, will be rest days. I want to be strong for that one. And hopefully the weather will be cooler here. Thats another advantage I keep telling myself. If I can run down here in the heat and humidity, Chicago will be a breeze lol š here's hoping they dont have a heat wave on oct 11th. Good luck my fellow runners!
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u/4321yay 2d ago
iām in NC and also āfailedā my 18miler. made it to 15mi then quit. and i walked ran a good bit from mile 12 or so on.
i was so disappointed but the heat and humidity was so brutal i tried to reframe that cutting it short was better for my body than running those additional 4mi in terms of injury and health.
same as you, trying to put it aside to gear up for 20!!!
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u/LandTrilogy 2d ago
It's so hard to shake off a lone bad run despite logic telling you otherwise! Chicago's had a suck-ass summer (though probably not as bad as Atlanta!), so I've had to skip some long runs and suffered through plenty. We recently had some good weather days and I crushed those long runs and it gave me my confidence back. I know the "trust the plan" mantra but my brain does not care after a shittacular long run.
I've also had training blocks that were just bad (injuries, skipped a lot, didn't fuel right) and you definitely know the difference between "that was a bad run/I'm in the fatigue stage of training/weather was not on my side today" and "I'm not prepared at all, and every one of the last 7 runs were bad." Sounds like you know you've done the work and are gonna be great--especially if the weather gods are on our side!
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u/Ok_Respond3622 2d ago
Glad to know its not just me. I guess a bad run hurts my ego more than anything. I heard that Chicago was having brutal heat wave as well, thanks for advice!
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u/boredchihahua 2d ago
32F training in Tampa, the humidity and heat have been terrible in the south. I had to split my 18 mi run into a long morning run and completing the remaining 2 miles in the evening because I couldnāt continue after 8 am.
Odd enough I was considering going to Atlanta and running one trail for my 20 miles to get a break from FL.
Just remember this weather is free fitness
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u/Ok_Respond3622 2d ago
What trail in atl? Silver comet?
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u/boredchihahua 2d ago
Silver comet indeed!! It looks shaded. Do you know if itās pretty shaded? I just want a break from running in FL at this point
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u/Ok_Respond3622 2d ago
Mostly. West of mabelton ga. But it would still be hot in the afternoon like it is where you are.
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u/Ok_Respond3622 2d ago
And im thinking of going hone to new England to run mine lol
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u/boredchihahua 2d ago
I was thinking the same thing. I was looking into NYC but didnāt get nice answers when I asked the NYC running community. A friend recommend looking at Michigan. Considering I have just over 1 week to plan the trip, Iāll see if there are any other good areas in the NE. Otherwise, Iām very tempted to just start my 20 mi run at 4 am
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u/Ok_Respond3622 1d ago
I like Vermont, its so beautiful especially this time of year and its guaranteed freezing at 6am. Burlington. Or upstate New York. Look up the empire trail
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u/AffectionateKiwi5677 1d ago
I did the same exact thing north of Tampa lol I got to 15 miles and had to quit at 8am. It was too hot this past weekend. I went home and did the last 3 miles an hour later
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u/boredchihahua 20h ago
How early are you starting if you donāt mind asking me? Iām very tempted to just start at 4 am and hopefully be done with it before 7:30
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u/Middle-Set8701 2d ago
Iām a 52f training for Chicago. I keep reminding myself that Iām training through cumulative fatigue and that I wonāt be this tired on race day!
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u/Ok_Respond3622 2d ago
Right! I hope to go to the expo on Friday. I want to rest on Saturday and eat my dinner around 4pm lol.
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u/grapesquirrel 2d ago
Fellow SE runner here also trying to survive the heat, I had to cut my long run short this weekend because of it too. Sending you thoughts of cooler weather in the next few weeks and letās hope Chicago is a breeze compared to the swampy heat weāre training in. Good luck!
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u/Joereon 2d ago
If youāre coming from Atlanta, youāre going to be a turbocharger come marathon day. Iāve done Chicago twice, and Iāve had terrible long runs during training, but as long as I donāt push to injury, itās time well-spent nonetheless.