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[Posting on behalf of /u/Percinho who is busy trying on his new tri suit that he got on Black Friday sale]
I’m in marathon training - is it normal to feel absolutely drained after long runs? I did a half marathon weekend before last pretty quickly and was completely out of gas at the end. Last weekend I did 18 slow, with gels along the way, and was dead on my feet when done. I might have been able to force in two more painful miles, but eight? Don’t think I had it in me. I have two more long runs ( 19 & 20) with some 12-14 milers mixed in. Is this normal? Or normal-ish?
Yeah, it’s residual load from weeks of training. I bonked pretty hard on my second to last long run, felt miserable my whole taper, and set a 30 minute PR last time. It’s very normal.
100% normal, it’s amazing what a good taper and carbo load will get you through for those extra race day miles.
I’ve only run one marathon, but something I read while I was in training that helped me get through the long runs is that those are where the changes to your body really happens. Getting in the miles throughout the week is important, but it’s those long, exhausting runs once a week that really trigger the changes that increase your endurance for a longer distance the next time. I think it’s the exhaustion that tells your body to make the changes it needs to so you’re less exhausted the next time. I’d remind myself of this at mile 18 of a 19 mile training run when I felt terrible and wanted to walk the last mile. “This is where the changes happen. Keep going.”