Question for runners - energy level and quitting the run

[pete6032]

For those who are runners, what is the threshold that makes you say "I'm running X miles today, not X + Y miles today." IE What makes you decide that today you should run 4 miles instead of 8. Do you base it on long-term energy, sleep the night before, or yesterday's diet?

Also when you are running and you "hit a wall" or feel like you can't run any further and need to start walking, what is the physical feeling that is inducing that "can't do it any longer" feeling at that moment? Is it that your legs hurt, or you are breathing heavily and feel overwhelmed in a cardiac kind of way? Or is it something else?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Realistically, you should have a training plan that varies distance and intensity throughout the week. If you feel like that, you change the plan and move the higher intensity or longer runs around in the week. For me, I vary the distance/intensity based more on how my joints/muscles feel. Cardio-wise, I usually just slow down a bit if I'm feeling unwell. If my body starts to ache or hurt, I cut the run short very quickly.

 

[Megatomic]

Good question, I don't really know why I choose the miles I do, unless I'm working up to a race. I do know what I want to achieve for the week and sometimes I have to hit a certain number to get that.

Maybe I should get more scientific about things, but I fear I'd stop enjoying running if I did.

 

[deadken]

Short answer: My schedule.

Long answer: The threshold tends to be more about 'how much time I have' instead of 'how far am I going to go'. I typically run 2 miles each morning before work (Tues - Fri). I then do a longer distance for the weekend. I used to run both Sat an Sun, but now since I run a local runner club (LIRRC) 5k every Wed, I take Sunday off (as well as Monday).

What I'm trying to say is: For me, I decide how much time I have, and then decide how I can use it. Running 1 mile each morning was good until I realized that the time it was taking me to get ready and to go was a poor ratio compared with how much time I spent running. So, I bumped it up to 2 miles each morning and now feel that the distance better matches the time spent preparing.

Hitting a wall? I haven't had that happen yet. Well, not while running. I've always felt that I can keep going. Sometimes, during a race, I'll feel 'spent'. As if I just don't have more energy to go faster, but I haven't yet felt that I couldn't go further. Having said that, the furthest I've run was 13.1 miles. I don't know if I'd feel that I couldn't go any further if I was running a full marathon.

I think that in the past reducing my weekly mileage (from around 17 MPW) to my current weekly mileage (around 15 MPW) might have had a bigger mental impact. But, I made the decision that with all that I have going on this Summer, I don't want to run on Sundays. Having a slight knee problem (which didn't seem so slight at the time) gave me a good reason to look to doing something else other than running. So now I bike on Sundays if I have the time. That way, I don't feel guilty about not running, I 'cross train' (which helps reduce the possibility of injury), and I have a different activity that puts me with a different group of people (typically I run solo, so riding with a buddy has a very different appeal). I am trying to look at things with a positive attitude and for now it is working.

Cliff Notes on what has worked for me:
Decide how much time can be spent for exercise
Use that time as effectively as possible (run from my house whenever possible (IE: no driving someplace to run))
Adjust things as necessary (distance, time spent, which exercise, etc...)
Remember to mix things up a bit every now and then (the same routine over and over eventually led to injury and the need to add in a different sport)

 

[smackababy]

I used to run a lot for sports training (never enjoyment). During which, I would either be told how far to run or I would run for what I was training for (in the military we had to run 1.5miles for out fitness test, so I trained running a bit over 2), which is probably why I never enjoyed it. It was work and a means to an end; strangely, weight lifting isn't the same feeling though.

As far as 'the wall', during long runs I almost always hit a point where I know I can't do anymore. I just tell myself "just another quarter mile and we'll see how we feel" (and yes, I refer to myself as 'we' when talking to myself >_> ). After that quarter, I'll do the same thing. I learned your body can go a lot longer than you're conditioned to think it can, and I would push it. Setting those small goals always helped me push harder.

 

[nickbits]

The distance I ran was mostly random and not based on external factors (except time). I did 4 or 8 miles on weekdays and 13 or 26 on the weekend.
As far as walk breaks, when I wasn't in shape it was due to bring out if breath. Now if I need a walk break it is usually from pure exhaustion. Pain doesn't really play a factor--I would just power thought it. But that may not be smart since after the run I can be down for a bit.

 

[ControlD]

What I do is go into most runs with some general goal like "I think 5 miles sounds good today". The goal is generally based on what I have been running for the past few runs plus a little bit (hopefully). Once I get into the run, if I am feeling good I will up that goal a little bit. If I feel bad I might lower the goal. Some runs I keep short if I have been doing decent mileage already during the week.

My general rule for stopping short due to pain is if I am just a little achy or sore then I keep going. If the pain is sharp/intense and localized then I stop immediately and walk back to my car. I have learned the hard way that "powering through it" can be a bad idea, especially as you get older. If I want to quit because I am having a bad run energy-wise I just try to keep going to meet my daily goal.

 

[JBT]

I've only been running for a few months. I find if I just slow down a little bit the longer lengths seem much more do able.
I find that if I run for more than I a couple of miles I need to go pee. How do you seasoned vets handle that? Its never happens in a race but training it happens often. If I an trying to keep a good time stopping and finding a place to do my business seems counter productive but it makes the run much more enjoyable!

 

[ControlD]

I've only been running for a few months. I find if I just slow down a little bit the longer lengths seem much more do able.
I find that if I run for more than I a couple of miles I need to go pee. How do you seasoned vets handle that? Its never happens in a race but training it happens often. If I an trying to keep a good time stopping and finding a place to do my business seems counter productive but it makes the run much more enjoyable!

I have that same issue, particularly when it is very hot outside. I just hold it until I can find a bathroom or at least a nice tree. I also make sure to use the bathroom right before I run. The more I run the less of a problem this seems to be, but hot days are still an issue.

 

[smackababy]

I've only been running for a few months. I find if I just slow down a little bit the longer lengths seem much more do able.
I find that if I run for more than I a couple of miles I need to go pee. How do you seasoned vets handle that? Its never happens in a race but training it happens often. If I an trying to keep a good time stopping and finding a place to do my business seems counter productive but it makes the run much more enjoyable!

I follow the advice I always give my GF anywhere we go and she complains about having to pee: should have went before we left.

 

[JBT]

I follow the advice I always give my GF anywhere we go and she complains about having to pee: should have went before we left.

Yeah I understand that. I ALWAYS go before I run, but 30-40 minutes in.... there it is....

 

[ControlD]

Yeah I understand that. I ALWAYS go before I run, but 30-40 minutes in.... there it is....

I just attribute it to being over 40. That might not be the case for you however. Once your body gets used to the routine it gets better.