I think I have reached the point where I have to say I overdid it. I’m over-trained, my body is shutting down on me… At this stage I’m able to run for about 45 – 50 minutes and not even at my fast pace. But then legs just… they just stop. Fatigue kicks in, cannot lift legs, strides are very short. Maybe the amount of strides is same but… being so short means covering less distance. Same distance but more time needed to finish run…
I think I’m done. Still have maybe 5 runs booked till the end of the year and that will be it. No more until the end of the season. Low, low, low…
Haven’t felt that in ages… honestly. Haven’t felt this way ever. Even at the beginning of the year when I thought that I was in a bad shape I wasn’t. Now I know that. Back then I was miserable or just little bit down. Now I’m really bad. Overtrained, overweight… Can’t run marathon even in 3:30… What the hell happened?
But, as you all know already, when there is marathon I follow. And here I was Saturday morning in Longwood. First time for me there. First time, so couldn’t miss it. Was that wise? Probably, definitely not. Should have given my legs a rest. Should stop running 20 km a day without bigger breakes. But again I have ignored my head and body. Yeeea, what could go wrong? Flat course… relatively. Or at least that’s what I thought. Was proven wrong at the end of the run. Maybe I wouldn’t have seen those humps if my fitness was OK but for now it wasn’t flat for me. Lately I have noticed that I’m starting run at full swing and after 10 – 16 km my fuel is gone and remaining distance is a constant struggle or even fight with tired body. For the last 3-4 marathons (including this one) I had so many thoughts about DNF. Was feeling really bad, that idea of stopping, jumping into car and just driving away was very tempting. Haven’t done that but so many times I was rally close to ‘throwing the towel ‘. This run wasn’t different.
Before the race I was feeling OK (unfortunately usual gut feeling bad race will be good, feeling good race will be bad wasn’t working any more). All thoughts focused on the run to finish in 3:30. Should be easy. Week before in Szczecin got small injury and ended up over 4 hours as a pacer but wasn’t counting that time. Previous runs on hilly courses in Dingle, Tyrone were ones were I was getting around 3:30. So, I couldn’t imagine that on a flatter course I would be struggling. But at the end of the day that was the case. But, lest’s start from the beginning. Sunny day, high number of runners. All because of couple distances you could run that morning. 10 km, half marathon, 20 miles and full marathon. I heard that it was biggest crowd to date recorded on the EOI marathon. After inspiring briefing talk by Rory Mooney and kind of ‘Fergie dryer’ from Ger we gathered at the starting line. Plan? Not really. Wanted to get 3:30. Started in pace 4:35 – 4:45 first 10 km. I know that for most of you that is probably jog but for me, especially now it is ‘light speed’. What happened after? You are guessing correctly. Fuel cut off. Not even fumes left. Run with strong will not legs – literally just moving 2 mm above the ground. No speed in them. Why I run again so fast at beginning of the race? Don’t know. All I know is that I had to pay for that stupid idea by feeling big, big, big pain. Really I had to look bad if Andrew offered to give me bottle of Lucozade when passing me by. On each of the 6 loops remaining after initial first 13 km I was just thinking about how slow I’m running and how easy would be to just walk away from that race. Haven’t done that. Maybe my head is stronger than I thought initially. On lap number 7 I even walked, was really exhausted. Seamus helped me with small Mars bar and Redbull. Sugar into blood. That did the trick but just for about 10 minutes. Anyways, have finished my jog in 3:47. Mentally struggled. So, just packed my assignment into car and drove back home.
Why it is going from bad to worst for me? Weight, heavy legs, no rest, head… These were my thoughts on the way back home. Couldn’t relax knowing that following weekend I was suppose to pace Galway Bay marathon. Will I last, will I keep my pace… steady pace? Questions, questions, questions. Just relax… That is what I need now.
Was alone so no pictures.
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Wish I could help you bud but im just useless ha ha
You ok…Probably doing better now than me… Looking at your Runkeeper
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Don’t give up , you probably just need a rest/break for a bit, not that I know anything about running!!! Take it easy and don’t be too hard on yourself !!
I’m not… Just can’t force my body to do what I want…
Take care Alan and listen to your body!
Alan – about 4 posts ago, a number of people were telling you that rest & recovery was a key part of training – but did you listen ?…
“You can go to the well too often” is an Irish phrase that essentially means that you can’t keep taking from your body.
I suggest you talk to a good coach, cut your races down & look after your body and get ready for next season – you are a 3:05/3:10 runner but you are obsessed with quantity over quality – this is a wake up call. Talking to doctors – one of the hardest things to come back from is severe over training – you haven’t got that yet but you are on a collision course for it. Take heed of the warning signs.
Am not trying to be obnoxious, just calling it straight as you have an immense talent and passion for the sport & I’d prefer for your sake that you didnt get badly impacted from over training
Definition of madness is to keep doing the same thing & expect a different result – change now for your own good.
Rest, recovery, sleep, diet & change your training… and definitely your race schedule
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Sorry pal I don’t know you so I’m going to be blunt. You are fucking nuts. Firstly, if I’m reading this right, you hoped for 3:30 and got 3:47. Right? And you are beating yourself up this much over that? That’s a bad day out not a career ending disaster. Where you trying to qualify for the Olympics or something? You need to get some perspective. And yes you are overtraining and what’s more you know it!!!! So why don’t you do something about it? Rest perhaps? Month off? Start again. If you want to run every single marathon out there than go ahead but expect consequences. Anyway excuse the rant from a stranger but i don’t think I’m telling you anything you don’t know. Looking forward to you kicking my ass in a race sometime.
Niall. Thank you. I know you are right. Just had hard time to admit I’m overtrained. When running always trying to get as fast to finish as a can. Now paying for that. As well need to learn myself how to cruise just through the run… And enjoy the scenery. Thanks again stranger…
Alan it’s good you have accepted your overtraining now u can fix it when I did 12 marathons in 12 months in my first year of real running I overtrained ended up having to have all kinds of tests done my body was showing symptoms of Hodgkins lymph nodes swollen all over my body not being able to get to the top of the stairs with out being dizzy and faint a big list of nasty symptoms I had to pull back a friend of mine who is also a running coach took me under her wing nursed me back made me do the whole 30 I was drinking kangen water resting for weeks no exercise then I felt my energy come back I was mad to run she still said no rest a bit more I listened her I also took some natural remedies that help repair your tired thyroid Siberian ginseng and liquorice extract I think it’s called b vitamins iron I’ll forward list to u give at least 6 weeks between marathons till your back to full power and you will be back to full power stop beating yourself up your doing terrific your just in a rut be wise step back pick the 3 biggest problems and attack them to me your times are fantastic your a great runner stop beating yourself up so bad
Head up Alan. I think you know already what you need. Sometimes we have to experience the bad, to fully appreciate the good . You will come back from this . Good luck ))
You’re a fantastic runner and an inspiration Alan. Just body worn out for the moment. Rest, and come back stronger than ever
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Plenty of rest buddy is good for a tired soul u are only human although u run like a machine bro!!
Allan, is service time. Be pation, rest it,
Some good advice here Alan, maybe you will take notice. You have great talent, but you have no patience with your body. You need to listen to your body and that word you hate to hear ‘rest’.
Take care, it was great run in your company in Galway on the 3rd.
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make a strategic retreat to advance Alan
could be lead poisoning from biting all those medals Alan!
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Chin up dude, looks like u forgot about runners most important rules – rest is as important as training & listen to your body. Take ur time, rest and u will come back stronger.
Alan, Just take a break. Don’t think about marathon. Divert your mind for 6 weeks. Do you play chess?
Leave off cardio for 6 weeks, use the opportunity to work on core strength training and build/repair muscle.
To lose weight without losing muscle, these seem to be the key points.
Eat Enough Protein. …
Maintain Strength/Intensity/Weight On The Bar. …
Reduce Weight Training Volume and/or Frequency. …
Get Pre & Post Workout Nutrition Right… …
Don’t Reduce Calories By TOO Much. …
Incorporate Calorie/Carb/Nutrient Cycling. …
Take Diet Breaks When Needed. …
Avoid Excessive Amounts Of Cardio (Or Just Don’t Do ANY At All)
Prioritise what you think is important Alan. For some people its accumulating medals for others its improving PBs. My own experience – keep running marathons but your times will stagnate and theres the greater risk of injury – and that’s no fun!
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