Duck Feet

A record of my journey to attempt to complete a full marathon and a half marathon (39.3 miles) in one weekend. "Duck Feet" is a reference both to my ridiculous underpronation (look it up) and to the dog who supports me. It also doesn't hurt that it sounds like a Marx Brothers film. email: [email protected] twitter: anthonygiffen tumblr: wellthatsjustgreat.tumblr.com

[run-done]

[duckfeet]

Me: I don't want to run

Me: But i have to run.

Me: But running stinks

Me: But i have to run

Me: but i don't want to run

Me: but...

Me: ....

Me: *dying whale noise* oh my gosh fine i'll go

Me after running: THAT WAS GREAT

[beyondrunning]

Be sure to follow me for more inspiration!

[thedreamsinmyhead-deactivated20]

[runforendorphins]

[shutupandtakemygalacticcredits]

http://Star-Wars-Daily.tumblr.com

[crazysexyfierce]

Key Basic Stretches for Runners

[bi-llowy]

Cannot stress how important stretching is!!

[duckfeet]

39.3 Lessons from the Goofy

An ongoing series of lessons learned through the preparation for and completion of 39.3 miles over two days 3. Have the right goals. If you know yourself, and you're training regularly, you can set goals that are challenging yet still achievable. I realized that "Finish The Goofy Without Getting Swept And Without Injuring Myself" was a smart goal for me based on where my fitness level was as I began. It required me to commit to the long training runs but didn't cause me to get discouraged when I felt "slow." And a nice offshoot? While I've never before trained to get a PR (personal record) for time, the Goofy training got me in good enough shape that my next goal is to set a personal record in my next half marathon. The first three lessons were all intimately related for me. Can't set goals without knowing myself. Can't truly know myself without the training experience. Need to know the goal to determine the training plan. Ag

[vneckandacardigan]

On a (somewhat) related note, I just signed up for Graze. You get a box of healthy snacks delivered to your office every week for just $5, which is pretty incredible (at least by New York standards). 

If you wanna give it a try, you can get your first box free by using the code: 7FHTTNZ

Happy snacking!

[pinkseersucker]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH This has been in the UK for a few years and I am obsessed with it - I start and stop my deliveries each time I am over there and cannot believe I missed a US launch. Get involved team, get involved. 

[mbinboston]

Just signed up. Ended up getting the lightbox… We’ll see how long that lasts.

[muchtoyourchagrin]

Love this idea.

[duckfeet]

Hmmm

[duckfeet]

The medals below the stripe are from the training races that prepared me to get the medals above the stripe on WDW Marathon Weekend! Six months of work! Now...what's next?! Ag

[duckfeet]

39.3 Lessons From The Goofy

An ongoing series of lessons learned through the preparation for and completion of 39.3 miles over two days

2. Know yourself. 

I'll talk about goal setting later, but part of being able to set a goal is knowing realistically what you are capable of. This is another reason why training is so important. Six months of training at a variety of distances in all kinds of weather after all types of eating and hydration strategies helped me to learn a lot about my body. That knowledge allowed me to set challenging but attainable goals, make realistic plans for each run, and adjust to changing conditions during runs.

As a beginning runner it's very easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to other people your age, or your weight, and think their pace should be your pace or their goals should be your goals. I can think of no easier way to end up injured and disappointed. 

Running is an amazing opportunity to learn things about yourself you never would have discovered otherwise. Allow yourself the full benefits of that opportunity.

Ag

[duckfeet]

39.3 Lessons From The Goofy

An ongoing series of lessons learned through the preparation for and completion of 39.3 miles over two days

1. Training matters. 

Our training for the Goofy (The Walt Disney World Half Marathon and Marathon on back to back days) started about 6 months prior and we stuck to an "at least three times a week" running plan all the way through. As the plan reached into November and December, it had us scheduled to do long runs back to back and it was very tempting to start "tapering early" and bag them. But we did every long run we could, including a ten miler and a twenty two miler on back to back days. It was no fun doing a twenty two mile run in my neighborhood, but it helped prepare my body for what was to come. Without those training runs I believe I would have shut down around mile twenty on day two. As it was, the training made the half marathon ridiculously easy and left me less hobbled after the 39.3 mile weekend than after either of my previous full marathons. 

People finish marathons and long races without training. But I know I did much better and was much less banged up thanks to the preparation. And if anyone tells you that you don't need to have some back to back long runs as part of your training for an event like the Goofy, they may be idiots. ;-)

Ag

[duckfeet]

Yeah. So this happened. :-)

[duckfeet]

Yes. I had to buy him all three medals. Ag

[wellthatsjustgreat]

We finished! And if you think that’s the last you’ve heard of this you must have never met anyone who ran a marathon before. :-) (at Walt Disney World Marathon)

[duckfeet]

10 second update from mile 18. #goofychallenge

[duckfeet]

Serious tape job before tomorrow's full. KT Tape has helped a lot during training. Here's hoping it helps get me through tomorrow.