Real David H.

older. wiser. slower.

Worry wart

✴︎

9.8.2011

It seems like I’ve talked quit a bit lately about the various mind games I’ve battle this summer. I feel like it’s so easy to get fixated on something and then I can’t shake it.
As I enter the crucial homestretch this month, I actually am feeling more at ease about things. That said, though, I’m suddenly paranoid as hell this week about the final two really big runs.

Am I running enough?

Is my long run too high of a percentage of my weekly mileage?

Am I really doing a Google “long run percentage of weekly mileage” search?

Yes, I did.

It turns out that I’m completely normal in my way of thinking; there are no clear-cut answers with that.

Duh. I knew that.

I also knew that mileage for marathon training typically varies from 30 miles to 150 miles a week. Why the paranoia? Why am I even questioning this?

Well, it was a 20-mile long run last year when disaster hit. I haven’t forgot that. To settle my mind a bit, I added my mileage since “official” training began and my long run mileage – to date I’ve ran 325.7 miles since June 20; 125.7 of those are long run miles; that’s 38.5 percent of my miles.

Assuming I get through the rest of this week as planned, that percentage changes to 42 percent. That percentage would then go down next week with a shorter long run planned.

Based on my research of other people’s research, I’m just going to keep doing my thing and not worry about it anymore. Just like everything else with running, different things work for different people – that’s the No. 1 advice I give to people.

Why I continue to drift off and fret about things is something I need to stop doing. Saturday morning can’t come soon enough for what to me is the most important run of my training for the Baltimore Marathon. 20 miles.

Image: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

11 responses to “Worry wart”

Molly

commented on

September 8, 2011

not sure what happened on you 20 miler last year. I was marathon training last year, and on my last training run before the big day, I pulled my hamstring. Completed the race, but marathon training for me this year, has a cloud of fear hanging over it. Not fun. Hope your run goes great!My recent post and overnight, it all changed

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1. David H.
  
  commented on
  
  September 9, 2011
  
  Long story short, I had an ITB injury that made its appearance on the 2nd 20-miler last year. It's been a long road back, with constant mind games going on as my mileage has gotten higher.
  
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Jim

commented on

September 9, 2011

Running presents such a mental conundrum at times doesn't it? Something always hurts on me 2 weeks leading up to marathon day. As soon as I start running the race it mysteriously goes away.
Wishing you a successful long run and Baltimore marathon!
My recent post bikerly: Ran 1 mile. To celebrate week 6 of #runstreak I biked to the local Labyrinth and ran it barefoot 3 times – my most u… <a href="http://t.co/5OKj2GE” target=”_blank”>http://t.co/5OKj2GE

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Steena

commented on

September 9, 2011

You lost me in the math part.But really, if you're unsure if you're doing enough, go take a look at my pitiful training on my DailyMile, and you'll feel assured that YES, you are plenty trained, you are setting yourself up for success, and have nothing to worry about.

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1. David H.
  
  commented on
  
  September 9, 2011
  
  I'm not going to look at what you're doing and compare — that's my point. You gotta do your own thing, even if Hal or Jeff really say you're "supposed" to do something else.
  
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  1. Steena
    
    commented on
    
    September 9, 2011
    
    It's not about comparing THAT way, but you've have what appears to be very smooth training. No noticeable bumps in the road.
    
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Kaitlin

commented on

September 9, 2011

You're doing an awesome job, David! I get soooo up in my head, and really freaked out before my marathon! Now that you're building up for such an awesome event, it's normal for it to take over your mind. But no worries, you'll CRUSH it ! 🙂

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Melanie Hylton

commented on

September 9, 2011

My first trip to your site, Dave. (‘Bout time, huh?!) It’s awesome. Makes me a proud stepma 🙂 I’ll be sending up special prayers “fed-ex” as you prepare for this upcoming marathon. You’ve come a long long way since the day you decided to put personal health at the top of your priority list. Now, if the rest of your family would just follow suit…. 🙂 Love u.

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Derrick

commented on

September 9, 2011

I find if that if my long run is over 33% of my weekly milege, that's a yellow flag that either:
1) The long run is too long
2) I'm not doing enough non-long run miles.

So at ~38% I would have to say you are pushing that limit, and it's good your asking these questions. If that's working for you, then great but since you raised the questiom, I wouldn't recommend extending your long runs until you increase your overall mileage because I believe you are in gray area as far whether your long runs are too long.
My recent post Leisurely Labors

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1. David H.
  
  commented on
  
  September 9, 2011
  
  Thanks for your take on it. One thing I failed to mention, but I think is important, is my base mileage prior to “official” training. Combine just an extra few weeks, and the overall percentage drops. It's an interesting discussion that doesn't happen enough. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
  
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Mom

commented on

September 9, 2011

I know as you do what is in the back of your mind right now and mind games are tough. I am right there with you when it comes to things like this. Once you get your head wraped around it all, things will come together and you will be awesome.

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