The Wall
Wild onions.
Well, this weekend I'll get to go and find The Wall, which is totally new ground because I mean - it’s THE Wall.
Now, I’ve experienced my fair share of partitions on shorter runs, but because I’ve never run more than 20 miles in one shot, I’ve never experienced the infamous marathon Wall. So, in preparation for my first marathon in four weeks (OMG!), I expect to be making its acquaintance with this weekend’s 22-miler.
Since that fabulous and life affirming 20-miler a few weeks ago was wall-less, I asked some of my runner friends and Iron-variety teammates about when to expect the said construction. They've responded that it usually makes an appearance around mile 20. Now I understand that this may have set up some kind of self-fulfilling prophecy (“oh, it comes at mile 20…” – aaaand cue mile 20 meltdown), but I’ve told myself to just keep my eyes open around the 20-mile mark in an attempt to try to head off the crash. I thought this a much better strategy than to bank on the nanochance that I’d somehow get through the run without the encounter.
All right, so here’s where I am – I need Wall warding advice.
In previous runs, I’ve passed through partitions by picking a flower or breaking off a little twig from a tree and taking a long whiff.
Wha - !?
OK, let me explain…anyone ever pick wild onions or sassafras and then smell the freshly broken part? OK, remember how that smell feels? Well, in my weird, fatigue-provoked metaphysical way, it’s an easy rock jump to believe that breathing in something that’s alive will kind of bring me back to life, in a way, when I am otherwise all done with a run. I know it might sound hokey, but hey, whatever works, right?
So, that said, I’m open to all advice, no matter how odd, unconventional, or certifiably nut-job it may be. Really, there is nothing too unbelievable or wild, fear not judgment or public ridicule, we’re all friends here.
(ah, Pandora...)
posted by Wil at 2:42 PM
7 Comments:
For me, there was no wall in my training. I hit it at mile 23 during the race, and I think the only reason I did was that I hurt myself, and that somehow pushed me over the edge. I also think the wall doesn't come for everyone. With proper trianing, nutrition, planning, and such - it doesn't HAVE to. You could very well be the one who gets to the end of the race going - That's it??? AWESOME!!!! I wanna do it again!
So, don't set yourself up to hit it. Know it's there - but heck, for you it may be mile 30, and it's only a 26.2 mile race... ;) I'll be thinking about your training run this weekend! Run a good one!
When I hit the wall, I fall to the ground and roll from the left to the right whining and crying like a one year old with gas.
No really, I have had marathons were I hit the wall at 14 miles and ones where it never came up. All you can do, I think, is stick to your game plan and pray your training was comparable to your race, (i.e. if its a hilly course you better have run hills).
Really when it comes down to it, it will be more fun when you think about it than when you did it. A lot of times marathoners i have spoken with, including myself (yes I talk to myself) comment that the race was a cardiovascular breeze, (not winded) but pummeled the body.
The best thing that you can do to avoid the dreaded wall is to go out slow and stick to a pace plan your first 10 miles, and pay close attention to electrolytes, hydration, and fuel. Go moderate for the second 10, again paying close attention to electrolytes, hydration, and fuel. THEN reassess and if you feel good, GO FOR IT as fast as your legs will carry you! If you don't, keep putting one foot in front of the other (aka relentless forward progression) and the finish line always comes eventually! It's perfectly okay to walk it in if you need to! :)
I've never run that far, but I totally agree with nancytoby's advice to pay close attention to electrolytes, hydration and fuel.
Karyn's training advice to me is to eat a gel approx every 45-60 minutes. You may need to adjust that a little, up or down.
I've run a few marathons, and gone beyond that distance in training, but I've never "hit the wall." Not everybody does hit it, probably depending on your genetics and your training.
How do you dismantle a wall? One brick at a time. One stride at a time. That's all I can say.
I'm with Shadow Spawn on this...
One brick at a time. That's how I got (what seemed like) halfway across Laos carrying a wounded Hmoung to our extraction point.
One brick at a time...
Peace and all good,
Kermit
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