Cathy Christian's Rock n Roll Marathon Report

It has been 24 hours since I crossed the finish line of the Rock and Roll Marathon, and I am still in awe. Awe that it really happened, awe that it went so perfectly, awe that I am capable of doing 26.2 miles when just a year ago doing a 5K was a stretch for me. In awe of me.
The back story:
Until 3 years ago, all I had done was the Danskin sprint triathlon. That’s it. I wasn’t fast in any of the three sports, but my accomplishment came in finishing. I didn’t even want to join RTB because you had to do 2 events, and that scared me. The Danskin was all I thought I had in me. (I didn’t even get a wetsuit until RTB made me, because I thought wetsuits were for the good people, the ‘athletes’.)
But then Hope came along and I knew I needed what it was offering, so I gritted my teeth and decided I could do 2 triathlons. That first Hope year I did 4 tris, including an Olympic (I came in next to last because it took forever to run 6 miles), then I got talked into doing the Seattle Half Marathon in November 2007. I’m sure many of you have heard the stories of our Saturday training runs - I never asked how far we had to go because I knew there was no way I could do whatever miles we were going to do, and Shaun Linse talked the whole time so I never realized my whole body was screaming at me to stop this nonsense. But amazingly to myself, I completed the Seattle Half (oh, there’s another story there, but not now!).
The second Hope season, more tris and another Half. I’m learning about myself all this time. I’m a professional writer, I like process, I make lists. For this unfamiliar world of athletics, I used these skills in deciding what works for me and what doesn’t. I learn to take my wetsuit off immediately out of the water, I hear the word ‘electrolytes’ for the first time, I find out what a ‘hip flexor’ is and why mine hurt after doing a mile run – and how to eliminate that pain. I learn I have ‘quads’ and ‘hamstrings’ and I even figure out which one is where in my body. I learn how to use clip-on bike pedals. I start thinking about food as ‘carbs’ and ‘proteins.’ I discovered that using a camelback was essential to me. When Patty Swedberg mentioned that it made me hunch over I decided to strengthen my back muscles instead of giving up my camelback. When I found a pair of running shoes that worked (and were pink, to boot!) I bought two more pair. When the soles of my feet hurt, I discovered that even though they still look new, running shoes don’t last forever and when they break down your feet hurt.
I didn’t get much faster, but I got more efficient.
Getting to the Marathon
Then one day Angela Meeks says “let’s do the Portland Marathon!” I say “Okay!” But during a 3 week trip back east to work I got plantar fascitis (I had no clue then why it hurt to walk, the diagnosis came later) and when I got better there was not enough time to train for Portland in October. Then Jessi Richardson tosses the Inaugural Rock and Roll Marathon at us and I signed up.
Now, understand that during these two years I was ashamed that I couldn’t run well. I would run and then I would have to walk, then I would run again. I thought I was supposed to run the whole way, and physically I just couldn’t do it. So I settled into doing what I called a “trot.’ I trotted well, though, but it was a pretty slow trot, but at least I was ‘running’! I secretly didn’t think there was any way on this green Earth I could trot for 26.2 miles. I figured something would happen to my body (like I couldn’t do Portland) and I wouldn’t REALLY have to do this one.
My ex-husband pleads with me not to do a marathon because he is afraid I will injure myself, and that is a real concern for me, too. I heard all the stories about people who couldn’t finish a marathon, how they hurt themselves and were in rehab forever, how hard it is on your body, how it takes weeks to recover, and all the injuries you get. Those possibilities didn’t excite me, either. Then I discover that the reason there are so few women in my age group is because they have all run themselves into the ground earlier in life – they now have bad knees, bad ankles, bad everything – and I’m fresh!!! Me, who has never done anything like this, has good knees, good feet, good everything. Another great decision: make sure I don’t injure my freshness, even if it means being consistent instead of fast.
The training plan was another new thing. I looked at several in the marathon book and threw up when I saw how much running you have to do to train for a marathon. Then Angela casually mentioned a “Run/Walk” plan – and I think, “People actually train to walk?” So I did my own investigation and find that yes, people do train to run/walk marathons – and there is no shame in it. And I don’t have to trot the whole way! I can run/walk!!!!!!
Karen Nolting blesses my run/walk plan. I train according to schedule, but I start having trouble when the plan gets to 4 minutes run, 1 minute walk. Can’t do it. I start to back it down to 3/2 or 3/1 and now I’m getting worried. What if I can’t get to 5/1 like the plan says? Well, then, I guess I can’t do the marathon. I’ll be last, I won’t finish, I won’t make the cut off. I will have failed. I am not happy, which surprises me because I now realize I really want to do this marathon.
I do the Kirkland Half as a training run, and I struggle with 4/1. The next weekend I do the Tacoma Half. The night before I just happen to load Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ on my Shuffle. That day was another struggle with 4/1, which eventually gave way to 3/1. Then I saw a long hill and I just said “screw it.” ‘Beat It’ came on and I marched all the way up that hill, replaying that song. I did it well, too, passing running people. It was another good decision, but at that moment I didn’t know how good.
I mentioned my struggle to Angela. She had just read something that says that if you run a 15 minute pace (me!) than you should be at a 2/1 run/walk. Really, I think. Isn’t that like failing? Or cheating? But the next Saturday is our 20 mile run and I am willing to try anything (because I really want to do this marathon now, and I know I have to be prepared and not have any pain so I can focus on the mental part.)
So I do. Elizabeth McCarty is my running partner and usually faster than me. But that Saturday she is not feeling well, so she is up for my 2/1 pace. And it works. I cannot believe how well I do. Now I’ve got it! The next two long runs are easy (another shock) and it is finally a week before the marathon.
I start crying. I cry whenever I think about the marathon, which is a lot. My friends ask me about the marathon and I start crying. My boss in California calls to wish me luck and I start crying. My ex asks how I’m doing and I start crying. I visualize the finish line and tears roll down my cheeks.
I’m crying because I know everything is in place. I am prepared. I am ready. I can do this 26.2 miles.
The Day
Seattle was on display – blue skies, great temperature, although definitely too warm for this event. My camelback is filled not only with electrolyte-enhanced water but also stuffed with a banana (in case I get hungry) and chocolate gels, sunscreen, 2 bandaids and Body Glide wipes, with a visor hat hanging off the back. My cell is in my bra, my Shuffle is full of my running songs, (including 20 consecutive plays of ‘Beat It’), my Garmin is set to 2/1, and I have a small plastic bag that contains a few pretzels and energy bar pieces. I Vaselined my feet and Body Glided my body. My shirt is pink, my headband is pink, my wristbands are pink, my socks are pink, and so are my shoes. Jessi jokes that I could just carry a rolling suitcase, but I'm going to be out there longer than the rest of our team and I need all the tools I can muster, knowing, of course, the most important tool is my brain.
Elizabeth and I run together for the first 15 miles, enjoying Lake Washington, the bald eagle, the people, seeing her sister, the excitement. The sign that split the Half from the Full made my heart stop a second – I could change my mind right there; but Elizabeth turned right for the Full so I did, too. Going east on the bridge was great, but by the turnaround it was too hot and so was I. We both were slowing a bit, and the tunnel came none too soon (except for the band inside the tunnel – it was so loud my ears hurt!) But there was a water station on the other side, and that’s when I made another great decision; I threw water all over me and cooled down. Did that the rest of the way and didn’t have a problem with the heat again.
At about mile 16 Elizabeth decided to go ahead; I was having trouble with 2/1. Another great decision: I could no longer do 2/1 but I sure could march to ‘Beat It.’ So I did. For 9.2 miles it was me and Michael Jackson – and I never missed a ‘beat’! I passed spectators and yelled that it was my first marathon – they cheered me on. I looked at the views of Seattle, thought how lucky I was, knew I was supported from above and below, was strong. Several times I had been told, “you only get one first marathon, so enjoy it.” I did.
The only issue I had was the need to pee. Before mile 24 I never had to; I imagine I was sweating it out as fast as I was taking it in. (I only stopped four times on the route, twice to refill my camelback, twice to stretch, for a total of about 3 minutes.) But going down the viaduct, I had to pee very badly. There was no potty in site. Well, I did what I had to do – I trickled a bit at a time for 2 miles, didn’t want to make a mess in my shoes by doing it all at once!
Jessi and I were texting each other’s mileage along the way, (she being in front and my being last), until I poured water down my front and ruined my phone, so I didn’t know how anyone would know when I would be coming in. But Angela was watching online and let Jessi know where I was, so when I came down the ramp (still marching to ‘Beat It’, mind you!) there my team was! I was pretty close to crying at that point – it was the best feeling to know that these women that I so admire and respect and love were there to greet me.
Would I change anything? Yes – I would bring a small camera like Connie Many did to take pictures, and I would remember that my cell phone was in my bra when I poured water over me. That’s alI I would change.
What did I learn? It really IS about the journey and all the little decisions you make to get to the goal. It is the small steps that take us there, that coalesce into an accomplishment. I learned to listen to everyone and use what worked best for me.
Until today I didn’t REALLY comprehend the breadth of that concept. So yes, I’m in awe of myself. The best decision I made was to surround myself with a community of women that helped me get to a place I didn’t even know I needed to go– the place of complete, utter accomplishment of a goal I never even suspected I had in me. The place of loving me.
.
Life is soooooo good!

With a little help from my friends...

People can't understand why a man runs. They don't see any sport in it. Argue it lacks the sight and thrill of body contact. Yet, the conflict is there, more raw and challenging than any man versus man competition. For in running it is man against himself, the cruelest of opponents. The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies within him, in his ability, with brain and heart to master himself and his emotions." - Glen Cunningham; 2-time Olympian

Running… with the Rock-n-Roll marathon looming, my training has focused mainly on running. Last week while running 20 miles with my marathon & ½ marathon training pals I found myself running alone. I have come to realize that will happen. I’m fast, but I start slow. I surge, but I get tired. It is really hard for me to stay with the pack. During this run I focused really hard to just run at a steady pace. But I still was alone for most of it. This really isn’t a bad thing for me. Knowing that my teammates are ahead or behind me is comforting and I’m ok with that. But even knowing that I’m not alone during these long runs I find my mind playing tricks on me. Cathy calls it “mind chatter”.
I won’t revisit every mile of my 20 mile run… and without a garmin I can’t really recall anyways. But there were some moments that stuck in my mind.
My morning began at 5:45am – rode to Seward Park with Shaun where we met Jessi. What a beautiful day. We were to meet Ruth, Jan and Stacey (Jessi’s friend) at mile 7. Cathy & Elizabeth started earlier so we’d meet up with them afterwards for a dip in the lake.
Mile 1-7: I started off with Jessi & Shaun. We were running along Lake Washington. It was beautiful. They pulled ahead of me… they were in my sights for the longest time but they slipped away until I couldn’t see them anymore. So I ran. I feel heavy and that early in the run my mind was wondering if I’d make it at all…
Mile 7-11: I made it to where we were meeting Jan, Ruth & Stacey. They were waiting for me and we refueled and stretched a bit. Then we were off. Again, I saw them all slip away. As I was coming up on the street that we had to go down I saw Jan waiting for me. She didn’t want me to miss the turn and get lost! I was so tired and Jan’s feet were fresh and ready to run. I felt like I was holding her back. I slipped behind but she always was in my sight. We reached the turnaround together and headed back the way we came. It was so kind of Jan to hang with me but I just couldn’t keep up with her pace. At least we were half way there.
Mile 11-15: We met again at Jan’s car to refuel and stretch. Again, we were off and I slipped away from the group. We were at Lecshi and I decided I needed to walk through the town before running again. Walking really pushed me behind everyone. But I knew I had to keep moving. I was just under I-90 and coming to the path by the water. I knew I was getting closer now and felt I needed to dig deep and stay focused on running. I found a good, long song on my ipod and I ran. I keep thinking that this is feeling ok. Happy thoughts. I ran all the way to Genese Park (Danskin swim & transition area). I think this was about mile 14 or 15. I decided to walk awhile and get my heart rate down. At this point I needed to take in the sights and sounds of this beautiful day and just enjoy it.
Mile 16-18: Started running again. I really wanted to focus on my running pace. I didn’t want to finish by walking. Looking ahead I didn’t see the girls. I starting to feel the pressure that everyone was waiting for me, again. I was hurting. I was having so many doubts come across my mind. I keep thinking this is the hardest thing I have ever done. Not just this day of running, running in general. I’m alone out in the middle of Seattle. My eyes welled up and I was about to cry. Why? Why do I let these thoughts in my mind? I had to get a hold of myself… All this time I’m moving. Run, walk, and run again. I get to mile 18. I know this because we have to run the 2 mile loop around Seward Park to get in our 20 miles. I get to the parking lot and figure 18 miles is good for one day. I’ll wait for the girls at water… but my destiny for this day wasn’t to end this way.
Mile 18-20: I’m walking in the parking lot towards the inviting lake when I see a familiar face. It’s Cathy running towards me. She gets closer and I say hi. Once she realizes it’s me she says “Hi Connie” and then almost breaks down. She was on mile 16 of 18 miles. I think the longest run she has had before that was maybe 14. She was debating if she should stop. I knew that she needed to finish. She would have never forgiven herself if she stopped. I told her we’d finish up the last 2 miles together. In a strange way I felt like an angel that she came upon a friend at the moment she needed me most. I forgot all about my pains and all the emotions that I had been having the last 4 hours. We finished up our last 2 miles together. We did what we set out to do that day.
To all of my running partners ~ Thank you for encouraging me and believing in me when I need it the most.

Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?' " - Peter Maher

Just keep moving forward & BE STRONG

Joanna's thoughts on the West Seattle 5K

Amy talked a group of us into running in the West Seattle 5k this morning. The group ended up being Amy, Teresa, Rachel, Kathy G and myself. The course was an up and back along Alki Beach so the view and water were amazing and it was FLAT... which I was LOVING after the Kirkland 5k hilly course. I took off at the start at a comfortable pace that I thought I would be able to maintain. About a 1/2 mile into it I realized that I forgot to use my inhaler (it's a new thing and I'm completely not use to it) but since I was feeling good I decided to keep going. I just tried to focus on taking slow deep breaths as much as possible. I also turned up a music a little more so I couldn't hear my breathing... which can sound scary sometimes. I looked down at my watch at the 1st mile marker and was in the 12 minute range. A 12 minute mile is the best that I have ever run. WHOOHOOO! Doing good, feel good, just keep moving. My excitement lasted only about another quarter of a mile before I started going downhill. My breathing was becoming a little out of control so I tried to walk a few steps in hopes of getting it to stabilize. Walking hurt more than my running did so I started to jog again. My breathing got worse so I faced the fact that I had to walk for a while. It still amazes me how mental running and racing is. I always assumed that the person in the best condition finishes first. I wasn't until last September that I realized your need to mental condition yourself right along side of your other physical conditioning. Within the first quarter of a mile of walking, I had completely talked myself out of running another step and was almost to the point of just not finishing. It is crazy how fast all though negative thoughts come flooding into your head. First was the list of things that I screwed up during the race... didn't use my inhaler, planned food and water around the wrong time time (I thought it was at 9a but it was really 9:30a), started at too fast of a pace to maintain, I'm too hot, I'm tired, I didn't get enough sleep, I've been up since 5a, I need water and there isn't any, why didn't I think to bring water with me and so on in this big repeating loop. Kathy, who is excellent at pacing, went flying by me. While cheering and encouraging her, my negativity for myself just got more intense. Then as I rounded the half way point, there was this AMAZING view... the water and beach were quiet and inviting with crystal clear snow topped mountains in the background. As I took a moment to realize how lucky I was to be outside to take in the view, a breeze came off of the water and cooled my burning up face. That was all it took to be able to fight off the negative thoughts. I wanted to finish strong. I wanted to look strong as I ran past Amy, Teresa and Rachel. I wanted them to keep running and was worried that if they saw me walking that it would make it easier for them to give up on their running. The last time I rode my bike with Amy, she mentioned that I was the rabbit that she kept trying to catch. I didn't want to make it too easy for her to catch me and if she did, I wanted to at least be running so it would mean more. Instead of paying attention to my head, breathing or watch, I started picking out people ahead of me that were walking and one at a time made it my mission to pass them. Slowly and steadily I was able to pass all of them. Then after you pass them, I tried to make sure I was moving quick enough that they couldn't pass me. This kicked my head into a more competitive place and I was able to run the entire second half of the race. At some point past the 2 mile mark, I realized I was under 30 minutes. That moment of realization that you might actually be able to beat your best time is also incredibly motivating. I've never come in under 40 minutes on a 5k before in my entire life. The first time under 45 minutes was just a few months ago in February at our team 5k run test. Earlier in May I finished the Kirkland 5k in 41:45. Realizing that I had a chance to beat my current PR definitely kept me going. I did have to fight the negativity again though when the "if onlys" started up. If only I hadn't walked. If only I had walked faster. If only I had walked less. Thankfully that was short lived cause if I was going to beat my own record with the walking, that means that once I get to the point of not needing to walk I am going to rock the 5k :). The Garmin placed me finishing at 40:34. I cut a little over a minute off my time and am proud that that. And more proud that I didn't give up and completely throw in the towel like I have before on other races and other trainings. I'll get there. Hitting a 5k under 40 minutes will just have to be left as a goal for another day. The gals I races with all did amazing. Teresa and Amy came in so soon after I did that I missed seeing them cross the finish line cause I went to go grab a much needed water. I was there to watch Rachel finish with a big smile on her face. I think Kathy and Amy also broke their 5k times from Kirkland by at least a 1-2 minutes.

Diana's First Tri Blog!

Finished the first tri of the season today can’t believe what a great day it turned out to be. I woke up to a bright and sunny day. Arrived at Lake Sammamish and couldn’t believe how many people were there. This was the first year that I had participated in the Issaquah Triathlon that takes place every year in May and I was not sure what to expect. Made sure to get my transition area set up and then I headed for the water to get warmed up for the swim. I did the friends and family wave with my friends Sean and Elizabeth. Sean was the person who had called my bluff last year and got me into this tri thing. At first I was a little intimidated, but after a little bit I just tried to focus on swimming and not everyone around me. Came out of the water and saw Jaapje there cheering me on….she has been thinking about getting involved with tri’s and wanted to see what it was all about. I then headed for the bike part thinking about a quick transition since Sean had made it out of the water ahead of me and I needed to catch up. Got on the bike, at first legs were a little tired, but about half way through I got past by these two people that had a really good cadence going and figured I could do that. Just before the turn around point there was a guy yelling that I needed to fix my sunglasses, since they were on crooked, at that time least of my worries, but explains some of the pictures that were taken. Made it into the transition area and got ready for the run. I headed out of the transition area and saw my husband who was waiting to cheer me on. I asked if he had seen Sean yet and he let me know that I had beaten him back….stopped for a quick photo opt and headed on my way. About that time I started to try and fix my crooked sunglasses which completely disintegrated in my hands….my poor Maui Jim’s they have been with me on so many runs and bike rides and now sadly they are finished. About this time I saw Teresa, Tina and Joanna cheering me on. I think I asked Teresa to hold my broken shades, but I could have just shoved them at her…thankfully she took them as I headed on my way to the run. It was a little different running on the fields compared to pavement or gravel, but I made it through. As I was heading towards the last 100 yards of the run I saw Patty….first question was whether or not I was ahead of Sean? I let her know I was and she told me to run faster….which I did as I was nearing the finish line I saw all of the Raise the Hope gals along with my husband cheering me on. What a great feeling! What a great day!

Yakima River Canyon Ride

Congrats girls - You look awesome! how were those hot temps and LONG miles?! 34 of them! You look fantastic and very happy!

My bike, my ride...

As most of you have heard, I tried spinning again (after attempting it once last year and hating it) with Jessi and Rachel at LA Fitness and had the complete opposite experience this time! I think there are a few reasons why:

1.) I lost weight since Jan 1st on WW, duh I know it should be obvious to me but it always surprises me how much more endurance I have, especially when trying the standing part.
2.) There aren't too many people in the class, so the room doesn't get overheated and miserable and unbearable. I think because it is in the morning helps with this too!
3.) I am meeting team mates there! Jessi and Rachel are also coming to the Mon class and it always helps me get my butt out of bed when I am meeting people there. Me, I will cancel on, but not other people? Hmm that sounds like a whole different blog topic..so I won't expound on how wrong that is right now.
4.) I have so much energy after the class!

Anyway I digress with all the reasons I love spinning, the point of this blog was this.

My first day at this class the instructor said to sit down if we needed to but to make sure we push ourselves and I never felt any pressure to do more than I ever feel I can. So she said "it is your bike and your ride", do what you can do. That has become my motto and I say it to myself a lot during particularly tough times in spin class, I find it helps me to dig that little bit that I need to get the most out of each song and each class.

As I was spinning on Saturday and my mind was wandering during a long climb up a big hill, it occurred to me that this motto could apply to every single workout. Even during a group workout you are really only working for one person - yourself. Only you know how far is deep enough or too far - for you. So I decided right then not to look at the better bikers and compare my ride to their ride...because it is my bike and MY RIDE and I am going to get all I can out of it!

Found this in "Everyday Sports Nutrition for Women". Interesting!!! have any of you experienced this???

Marathon Training Weight Gain
Tip #16

Marathon training weight gain…is this an oxymoron? Many people pursue marathon training in hopes of losing weight, only to find they are adding pounds as they progress through the weeks of training. It doesn’t make sense at first, but there may be real reasons why you are gaining weight.

“Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.” Orison Swett Marden



So, don’t be discouraged. Instead, check if any of these points are relevant to your habits during marathon training. Instead of cowering in fear of these potential weight promoters, identify that they are real issues that can be easily corrected. Then, don’t just walk boldly through them…take charge and run through them to stop the marathon training weight gain.



Weight Gain from Good Intentions
Are you overdoing it with carbohydrate calories while attempting to build/maintain fuel stores?
Carbs are the most important fuel for runners, but maybe you’re taking in more than you need. Try cutting back on your portions. Also, remember that carb calories from Gatorade Endurance or other sports drinks are only necessary if you are exercising longer than an hour or in extreme heat.



Are you overdoing beverage calories while attempting to stay hydrated?
You need to stay hydrated for safety and optimal performance. However, marathon training weight gain may be caused by drinking extra liquid calories. Water, sugar-free drinks like Crystal Light, caffeine-free iced-tea, non-fat milk and sports drinks as needed are best. Fruit juice has nutrition, but is very high in calories. Also, beware of that extra Starbucks specialty drink or that extra glass of wine. Smoothies can be healthy, but sometimes are the calorie equivalent of an entire meal.




Are you better hydrated compared to pre-marathon training?
Being well hydrated is a good thing. Marathon training weight gain from rehydration is just normalizing your weight. Be careful not to over-hydrate. If you feel bloated, have a headache and have gained weight during a run, then you are drinking too much fluid. Back off and adjust.




Are you attempting to eat healthier during marathon training? If you were skipping meals and eating junk, then you may be taking in more calories just by eating real food at regular times. For example, if you switched to healthier fats (like olive oil instead of butter)…good for you from a health standpoint. However, healthier fat choices are not always lower calorie choices, so you still need to cut back on the portions of any type of fat. If you started eating bagels for breakfast (instead of nothing), okay, but some bagels are huge (and therefore a huge jump in calories). In your attempt to avoid marathon training weight gain, think both quality and quantity.


Weight Gain from Mind Games
Have you added calorie rewards?
Have you said, “Wow, look how much I ran...I can have that not-usually-eaten-cookie or that extra bowl of tortilla chips with that extra margarita”? In that case, the extra calories burned in running are wiped out by the extra calories eaten. Be realistic. One mile burns one hundred calories.



Are you resting more than usual?
Are your running miles in addition to your normal activity or in place of it? It is common for some people to rest more during training, thinking, “Wow I ran far...I can relax the rest of the day”. Another way to look at it is in hours. Before marathon training a typical Saturday was a few hours of golf or tennis followed by grocery shopping, laundry, yard work and then out with friends. You were moving constantly. Now a Saturday involves two hours of running followed by vegging on the couch most of the day and ordering a pizza. So, keep up the momentum even on days with long runs. I am not against rest and recovery, but don’t be a marathon training sloth.



True Physical Changes
Are you building muscle?
You are working your muscles when you run, so there may be a small weight gain. The addition of muscle is unlikely to be the primary cause for marathon training weight gain, but could be one of many small changes that add up. (It is another story if you are doing heavy duty weight training, as this could add significant bulk which could be counterproductive to your training. It may be best to do this type of muscle building in the “off season”).



Are you building glycogen stores?
Good for you since glycogen is the stored carbs you need to make the distance. The reason that glycogen storage could add weight is that your body automatically stores water with the glycogen. This is the reason that an Atkins-type of carb-deprivation causes fast weight loss as water loss. Atkins, with its water loss and lack of carbs, would be a total disaster for anyone training for a marathon. Glycogen storage, then, is one of many small changes that add small amount of weight, but this is the type of marathon training weight gain you should expect and accept.




Are you losing inches?
If you are experiencing weight gain, but a loss of inches, you may be losing body fat…excellent. When it comes down to it, your body composition (fat vs. lean) is a better health predictor, and likely performance predictor, than body weight alone. So, take a few measurements (hips, waist) and take note of improvements over the weeks. You can also get your body fat tested by someone trained in the accurate techniques. You may be on the right track and not even know it.




Is the body just freaking out after a long run?
It is yet to be determined how much fluid shift occurs because of inflammation and the other resulting joys of marathon training. However, this would more likely be like a short-term gain followed shortly by a return to normal weight. The best advice is to track your weight over time and look for personal trends.




Are you experiencing “rebound hunger”?
It’s common for some runners to have little desire for eating after a long run. The first concern is skipping the ideal time for recovery nutrition . The weight-related concern is that eventually your running-related hormone changes return to normal and you are left feeling famished. You are so hungry that you make choices on impulse, often with no regard for quality or quantity of the calories. Result: a higher calorie intake than is needed. Repeat this pattern for a few weeks with the resulting marathon training weight gain.




Marathon Training Nutrition Tip of the Day: Make a list of the possible reasons for your marathon training weight gain, find solutions for the reasons on this website, and let the melting begin!

Contact me with your marathon training weight gain or nutrition questions.

Check out more marathon nutrition training blogs.

Everyday is your day to succeed