http://connect.garmin.com/activity/122017260
Växjö marathon 2011 will be a race to remember. As you know I have had one year of excellent training. This was the time when a new record was to be set. Sub 3:40. Hopefully even 3:37. This didn't happen.
Pre race events
Wednesday evening I started to feel ill. During the night I realized that I had got the Winter Vomit Disease. A total disaster! I puked huge amounts during the night and next day I had 38 degrees fever. We decided to go to Kalmar anyway (me and Jonatan).
Thursday and Friday - very difficult to eat anything. The fever was gone on the Friday but the stomach was totally upset. Disasterish of course from a running a marathon perspective. Took some medicine for the stomach. Decided to at least go to Växjö and see how I feel.
Saturday morning
Wake up. Didn't feel good in the stomach at all. Had some yoghurt and off I went. Arrived at Växjö at 10:00. Start at 11:00. After a few toilette visits I decided to not start the race. Went back to the car at 10:48. Took a few running steps and felt that it wasn't that bad after all. What the heck - lets try, at least on lap (out of 8). 7 minutes before the start I went to the start position.
The race
Since I hadn't eaten for three days I decided from the start that I will do this very very slowly. Maintaining a low HR. I think that I had appr 150-160 during the first 1/2 marathon. I never even reached 85% during the race. I would say that my HR curve was pretty much even during the entire run, appr 160 HR.
First part of the race
The first 21.1km felt easy. Yes I ran slowly and the HR was low. The weather was fantastic. I think that a lot of other runners were really fast this time. I think that a lot of personal records were set during this marathon. Ideal conditions! Anyway during the first half I had no problems with the stomach or fatigue. As some of you know I normally eat a lot during a marathon. I eat what they serve. One of my strenghts I think. This time - impossible! I tried to eat - couldn't do it. The only thing I could eat was a small small slice of a banana during each lap. Appr 5-10grams of a banana. Not much. I think this was the biggest problem during this race. Hence I didn't get any energy during the race and I hadn't eaten in three days.
Second part of the race
I started to feel tired. No energy at all. The legs were not as fresh as they normally would be considering the slow pace and low HR. I realised the obvious reason. No food for three days = no energy during a marathon. I still thought that I would be able to make it. Time didn't matter so I took one step at a time. The last two laps were tough but not impossible. The legs were tired and the entire body felt fatigue. But still - doable. What I also wanted to see, for researches like Mr US Coach, was how my HR etc is affected of a winter vomit disease with no eating during three days. A little bit - I did it for science kind of thing.
I crossed the finish line at 3:56:11. A good time of course considering the circumstances. How fast would I have been able to be had I not had the disease? Noone knows. Sub 3:40? Probably. Check the HR curve and compare it to Öland marathon this year.
Aftermath
Felt very bad during the evening. Stomach was totally rioting. I will not go into any details but I can say that I spend most of the evening on the toilette. Strange - no problem during the race - huge problems afterwards!
Looking ahead
There is something called "Wintermarathon" in Stockholm Nov 5. Should I go for that one?
El Maco
Växjö marathon 2011 will be a race to remember. As you know I have had one year of excellent training. This was the time when a new record was to be set. Sub 3:40. Hopefully even 3:37. This didn't happen.
Pre race events
Wednesday evening I started to feel ill. During the night I realized that I had got the Winter Vomit Disease. A total disaster! I puked huge amounts during the night and next day I had 38 degrees fever. We decided to go to Kalmar anyway (me and Jonatan).
Thursday and Friday - very difficult to eat anything. The fever was gone on the Friday but the stomach was totally upset. Disasterish of course from a running a marathon perspective. Took some medicine for the stomach. Decided to at least go to Växjö and see how I feel.
Saturday morning
Wake up. Didn't feel good in the stomach at all. Had some yoghurt and off I went. Arrived at Växjö at 10:00. Start at 11:00. After a few toilette visits I decided to not start the race. Went back to the car at 10:48. Took a few running steps and felt that it wasn't that bad after all. What the heck - lets try, at least on lap (out of 8). 7 minutes before the start I went to the start position.
The race
Since I hadn't eaten for three days I decided from the start that I will do this very very slowly. Maintaining a low HR. I think that I had appr 150-160 during the first 1/2 marathon. I never even reached 85% during the race. I would say that my HR curve was pretty much even during the entire run, appr 160 HR.
First part of the race
The first 21.1km felt easy. Yes I ran slowly and the HR was low. The weather was fantastic. I think that a lot of other runners were really fast this time. I think that a lot of personal records were set during this marathon. Ideal conditions! Anyway during the first half I had no problems with the stomach or fatigue. As some of you know I normally eat a lot during a marathon. I eat what they serve. One of my strenghts I think. This time - impossible! I tried to eat - couldn't do it. The only thing I could eat was a small small slice of a banana during each lap. Appr 5-10grams of a banana. Not much. I think this was the biggest problem during this race. Hence I didn't get any energy during the race and I hadn't eaten in three days.
Second part of the race
I started to feel tired. No energy at all. The legs were not as fresh as they normally would be considering the slow pace and low HR. I realised the obvious reason. No food for three days = no energy during a marathon. I still thought that I would be able to make it. Time didn't matter so I took one step at a time. The last two laps were tough but not impossible. The legs were tired and the entire body felt fatigue. But still - doable. What I also wanted to see, for researches like Mr US Coach, was how my HR etc is affected of a winter vomit disease with no eating during three days. A little bit - I did it for science kind of thing.
I crossed the finish line at 3:56:11. A good time of course considering the circumstances. How fast would I have been able to be had I not had the disease? Noone knows. Sub 3:40? Probably. Check the HR curve and compare it to Öland marathon this year.
Aftermath
Felt very bad during the evening. Stomach was totally rioting. I will not go into any details but I can say that I spend most of the evening on the toilette. Strange - no problem during the race - huge problems afterwards!
Looking ahead
There is something called "Wintermarathon" in Stockholm Nov 5. Should I go for that one?
El Maco
Yes, once this "shit" is gone you are still in a very good shape and if nothing but Stockholm is to be considered you should of course go for "Vintermarathon"
SvaraRaderaI wholeheartedly agree! Wait until you are fully recovered before you decide, but it sounds like you will be good to go on November 5th for Wintermarathon!
SvaraRadera