On Tuesday night, I spent the evening doing what I do best - drinking champagne. Tim’s mom brought some Veuve Clicquot in duty free on the flight over, so we got to live it up and pretend like bubbly is a normal part of our weeknight routine. Life was good.
.
Fast-forward to Wednesday, and you might be able to imagine how I was feeling. Just a little dehydrated, grumpy, irritable and annoyed at the world. By the time lunch rolled around, I was happy to sit on the couch, eat candy and call in sick to work. AKA avoid checking emails and refuse to open my computer. After an hour of reality television (ahem, Million Dollar Listing LA) I realized that eating sugar and watching TV wasn’t going to cut it. I hopped onto the treadmill and told myself just to run until I felt better.
13.1 miles later, I felt better. Much, much better.
In some weird twisted scenario, the grumpy, bitter Vanessa with a stomachache and a little bit of a hangover managed to get a half marathon PR - by a lot. If you’ve been reading for a while, you might remember THIS POST. It’s from back in February, when I geared up for a sub-2 hour marathon and instead cried, was sick and crossed the finish line in 2:18.
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| Still giddy and unaware of what's to come. |
This time, I started running at 6.1 pace on the treadmill, and then upped the pace by .2 mph each mile. Maybe it was the fact that I had plenty of extra sugar in my system, maybe it was the fact that I needed to run the grumpy out of my body or maybe I just had something to prove, but I managed the 13.1 miles in 1:51:20 - an 8:30 pace.
Needless to say, this is completely unofficial and totally doesn’t count as an actual PR. I didn’t stop at all, but it was on a temperature controlled treadmill and I kept the incline at 1% - AKA completely flat. I am, however, super excited for my next half marathon. It’s the Women’s Half Marathon in Nashville this September, and I’m running it with some great blogging buddies - Suz, Beth and Jenny! I don’t know if my time there will be 1:51, but if all goes well I should be able to beat my PR of 2:01 from the Dalton half last October.
Do you ever drink alcohol the night before a race?
I always avoid it because I think its dehydrating, but I always seem to run pretty well hungover, which I attribute to the extra calories/carbs. Anyone else have a theory that encourages champagne/wine consumption?
Do you find it easier or harder to run on a treadmill?
Lately, I’ve been finding that I run slower on the treadmill than outside. However, I have an easier time with long runs on the treadmill because I can watch television, and that makes time fly by.
Runners dilemma re: the treadmill. Easy to keep pace, but mind numbingly boring. I think I would like the treadmill better if I had one in my house and could watch whatever, but I'm stuck slumming it at the gym where all they have on is the news channels. Typically, I find it easier to physically run on the TM and it does help me improve my pace when I finally get back out on the road.
ReplyDeleteWow, speedy lady! If I don't start doing some serious speed training you three will have to spend 30 minutes waiting for me at the finish next month. I have no doubt you are going to set a PR in Nashville!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! You are absolutely going to PR at your next half, no question. The excitement of being at the race will give you a little extra push.
ReplyDeleteThat's exciting and a big confidence booster for your next half! Congratulations: A PR is a PR!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! That is so awesome! Doesn't matter if it is on the treadmill you still ran that far and that fast! I hate doing speed work on the treadmill but sometimes I do like to just zone out and watch tv and run. Winter I use the treadmill the most but sometimes in summer too when its too hot or there's a rain storm.
ReplyDeleteI never drink before a race but after becoming hysterical when my sister was rushed in for an emergency c-section the night before my last race my friend ordered me to drink wine (and she's a doctor, so who was I to argue?). I ended up relaxed, got a good night's sleep, and felt great in the morning. Come to think of it, Ashley made me drink wine the night before the race we did together. So I guess my point is go for it, although jury's still out on whether or not shots are helpful. Great job on the hungover run!
ReplyDeleteHaha, shots are a no-go. But a glass or two of wine or beer works if you're used to it!
DeleteWay to go speedy!!
ReplyDeleteI know I'll be in a minority here, but I always have a glass of wine the night before a race. I regularly drink a glass of wine (or two) at home with dinner, so it's not a departure from my usual routine. And I'm a creature of habit, if nothing else. I also regularly drink 100+oz/water daily so I head off dehydration. I find that a glass of wine is relaxing, so my nerves aren't out of control the night before.
I trained for a half marathon in college once. Training buddy and I ran every Sunday morning hungover. Raced without a hangover and both of us took about 10 min off of our PRs. :)
ReplyDeleteOh-oh-oh I know what 6.1 pace feels like (I normally do km/hr but tonight did miles/hr) ..... and eeeerrrrmmmm I managed 2 miles.
ReplyDeleteKUDOS to 13.1 at 6.1 +++++
:-)
It's a PR for sure! I'm racing in Nashville too. Yay! That race has some serious swag. Love it.
ReplyDeleteWHOA!!!!! That's CRAZY fast!!! You're gonna break 2 in Nashville without a doubt! (BTW, are you doing a meetup that weekend?)
ReplyDeleteHey nice PR! I actually always drink a glass of red wine the night before a marathon. It's a tradition. It started when we were overnight guests the night before a race and ended up at some random neighbor's house at a party. They served hot chicken wings and malbec and that was my pre-race meal!
ReplyDeleteThe marathon the next day was my first BQ so I stuck with the wine. I decided to forego the hot wings, though, for future races!
You're probably set to PR no matter what since 2:18 is below your capabilities. However I wouldn't get too excited about the treadmill pace. Most home treadmills don't hold calibration over time and it's a lot easier than road running no matter what.
ReplyDeleteGood job on a double digit weekday run :)
I love that you're a health blogger and you talk about getting hungover. Seriously, no sarcasm. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI am still so envious that you can run that long on the treadmill!!! I get so bored, I can't only make it about 3-5 miles at the most. I guess if I was watching a movie or tv shows the time would go by faster but I don't know lol
ReplyDeleteYikes. I can't fathom running that far on Satan's Sidewalk. You have infinitely more will-power than I to be on that thing for that many miles.
ReplyDeleteWell done! You are basically amazing.
HA!!!! Satan's Sidewalk. That is soooo appropriate. I'm stealing it!
DeleteI never drink before a race, but I rarely drink in general, so that's not really surprising.
ReplyDeleteI love how speedy I feel running on the treadmill, that's why I love it for speed workouts. You're totally set for a sub 2 hour half!
Hey....Whatever works. carb loading with champagne seems like a pretty amazing way to prep for a race in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWow! I usually have a glass of wine or a beer before a race. Because I usually do most nights. I don't want to change anything.
ReplyDeleteI strongly dislike all things treadmill
Does this mean we need to have a "bottles up" night the night before the race? :) Whenever I have had too many drinks the night before, I ALWAYS feel better after I run….I think it's something about sweating it out. I don't normally PR though!
ReplyDeleteRunning that far on a treadmill is awesome, well done! I will never drink alcohol the night before a race...not good. I've been running for 31 years but I've never run on a treadmill. I'm lucky our weather allows for outside running throughout the year.
ReplyDeletethat is dang speedy and crazy rockin for 13.1 miles!!! wowwww friend! your paces are just incredible to me! keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI dont drink alcohol before a race either.
ReplyDeleteGood job for running that distance on the treadmill. :)
Good job! You are way stronger now; you ran 50 miles last week for goodness sakes! I think you are going to rock it for your next half!
ReplyDeleteThe last marathon I did was in Medoc, where you are required to drink some of the finest wines in the world as you run. First time I did it I only managed 26 glasses, last year I was very pleased with drinking 56 glasses (not full glasses obviously, only about a third of a glass each glass) and running the 26 and a wee bit miles in 6 hours 15 minutes. I'm sure drinking helps.
ReplyDelete