Country Music Marathon - RunMarathon

I was feeling great about tempo the first 10 miles. Doing my goal of about 11 min mile like I wanted to. Not fatigued. But lost my peeps and didn't find them again until the 1/2 and full split at mile 11. I am normally dead and cranky from mile 13-17 and having amanda push me on really helped. My hip and legs were holding up until the wind/hill series from mile 16.5 to 19.5...my legs were like jello after that. Not to mention I lost about 10 minutes b/c dust kicked up crap under my contacts and I couldn't see or open my eyes. And then ran those next few miles with my head tucked and my hand covering my eyes a bit...ugh it hurt so dang much. My arms, neck, core and back much better this time so stregth training and hey maybe my new swimming? helped there. I think I just don't have enough training to handle 18 miles and beyond. I just get so fatigued and feel like I have no energy left. It is not so much the pain or my heart (not to say that I am not in pain) but really I just run out of steam. And then just so tired I didn't have the mental fight to keep pushing to at least come in under 5:30 which I could totally have done...I was also feeling so 'faint' I didn't want to drop at the last mile and not finish.

Train with more hill work.
Do more long runs. I just have a different race after 18 miles and it blows my times.
Wear sunglasses no matter what the weather report says. (have a better back up plan for my contacts). I didn't even have a case with me or drops).
Eat/sleep better week of race.
Do not plan my biggest fundraiser 2 days before the race.
I may need to drink more water on course. I have done 3 now and never have to pee...is that normal??? I was always afraid of the 'overhydrate' issue..but maybe that is part of why I get so at end fatigued??

I made sure I had banana and muffin as I walked thru finish. Stayed to cheer everyone in. Stretched a lot. Ripped out my lens for good b/c my eyes got red again with more dust...I think they are scratched up good for a bit (eyes and contacts). Got home. Ice bath for 10-15 minutes. Showered. Vitamiins, Tylenol, Dinner with BT gang about 6 pm that night. Boy did I eat that dinner!! I think it was the best I ate all week.


Not enough hill work training for this course. I realized too late that with my fundraising dinner the same week, I did not sleep enough nor eat enough the week of. I even skipped meals rather than building up. It was just too busy and stressful of a week. I hate to say it too but also running with my period...sorry TMI but I was just depleted of energy and I felt it.

The weather killed me. It was very sunny the front half and I just prefer cold and overcast. Lame I know. 2nd half the wind was just soooo tough...and during numerous hills. It just knocked my petite frame all over the place. It really slowed my pace down, hurt my eyes and wore me out to finish well.


I am done with Nashville as a full marathon. Besides the insane hills, I was not happy both times with the 'rock and roll' on course...they hardly played and some of them played lame songs, the number of crowd is low for 2nd half...and parts of the course that are just boring. Maybe NYC spoiled me but it sure is great running thru different areas with a million people cheering you on. Also, 75% of runners/walkers at Nashville are doing the 1/2 and they just clog up the first 9 miles.