Sunday, March 15, 2009

The 20 miler

Yesterday was the 20 mile training run. Conditions were pretty grim - cold (low to mid 30's) with a constant rain. I woke up early, as I have been every day lately, and headed out the door into the darkness around 6 am to plant bottles of JRP's new concoction for me - water + carb slam (dextrose) + BCAAs. Then I parked the car and...ran! Somehow it still amazes me that all one has to do to run, is to well, start running. Unlike other sports, there isn't much in the way of preparation, and there are no good ways to procrastinate once you are dressed and at the starting line.

Anyway, I enjoyed the heck out of my run. I think the weather helped push me - I knew if I could do 20 in those conditions, I was in good stead. And for the first time ever, my stomach didn't completely rebel. I believe the "concoction" was helpful, that and not eating much along the way. I had a few bites of banana but that was it for food. It was nice to not be out of commission for the rest of the day and actually able to function, do work, and not nap! My body is getting stronger and tolerating these demands much, much better than before.

Whenever I finish a longer run, I always wonder how the heck I ever did it. It's a long time to just keep going (for me, 20.5 miles in 2:54).

I was soaking wet, cold, but exhilarated! I'm looking forward to 22, then 24, then finally the big 26.2 mile run!

The song that got me through the final few miles was Switchfoot's Dare You To Move. I think it's actually about about someone hitting rock bottom, but the lines about "I dare you to move, I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor" just spurs me on!! Apparently this song/video has hit the mainstream...there's quite a bit of that crossover happening for Christian groups.