The long run - 25 miles

Today was the day of the lonnnnggggg run. I ran a 5.7 mile loop and had planned to run four or five loops depending on how I felt. I took a 3-5 minute break between loops to refuel, rest up, change out clothing, etc.


Each lap was solid and pretty comfortable at about a 9 minutes/mile pace and I was sure I'd get all 5 laps in. As it was, I pulled out part way through the fifth lap when I detected something potentially slightly amiss in my left knee. I figured I had already pushed way beyond perhaps what I should have and I don't want to risk injury when this was just a trial run. I still logged just over 25 miles so I'm not disappointed, although 28 would have been even cooler.

The interesting thing is that the running itself was fine. However, I didn't realize that the STOPPING running part is the hard part. Once you stop, everything hits at once, and it all hurts - feet, ankles, hips. I feel fairly beat up now. Ibuprofen, ice, nap, stretching, arnica gel - hitting it from all angles.

I needed to do this run for me and no one else. I had to know if I had it in me and didn't want to wait until spring to find out. I suspected that I would hold up, that I could just keep on keeping on. Now I am sure and I know I can do that marathon. Plus the race course looks to be much flatter than what I run on around here.

Things that rattled around in my head:

• Jake saying that most of running long distances is mental
• Pam Reed writing that most people can run twice as far as what they think
• Knowing that people with less conditioning than me can run marathons
• Keep it steady, but don't use energy trying to go slower. Get in the groove and stay there.
• Keep the focus straight ahead (I tend only to look about 10' in front of me and I kind of zone out on it.)
  

I was happy that I never had to have the mental debate about whether or not I should/could keep running. I just did. Much to my surprise, that part took care of itself.

I listened to an episode of Whad'ya Know (NPR) for a few laps, then switched to tunes. I listened to Laura Story's Great God Who Saves probably 20 times. It's so uplifiting and the perfect tempo for a long run:

When I stumble and my faith is small, I will call Your name, great God who saves. And I would have despaired if I had not believed that You would come to me, great God who saves. And in my darkest hour, Your mercy and Your power are reaching out to me, great God who saves.

I got this NOVA special from Netflix:

A baker's dozen of self-professed couch potatoes are put through the wringer to become long-distance runners -- and ultimately compete in the Boston Marathon -- in this thought-provoking "Nova" special that puts a fresh twist on reality television. In addition to tracking the would-be athletes' progress over the course of a nine-month training regimen, the program also educates viewers about what's going on inside their bodies.

It was interesting to note that the participants went through a nine-month training program yet it seemed that these runners did not have the comprehensive tailored program that they should have had. They did their weekly long run as a group and had some benchmark medical testing (I'd love to know my VO2 max), but there was no mention of nutrition education, resistance training, stretching, or injury prevention. There were many injuries - and most of the time the response was complete cessation of running. I wonder how necessary that was? And most of the women started the program technically obese, and most finished obese with no significant weight loss. To their credit, all 12 who started the marathon finished - but at what cost I wonder? Finishing times ranged from around 4:20 to 6+. Did they suffer injury or difficult recoveries? Their longest training run was a single 20-miler. Given a 9-month program, that seems like somewhat minimal preparation. It was an enjoyable little documentary though.

Transitioning

Work and life have taken on a volume, intensity, and urgency that I am not accustomed to coping with for such an extended period of time. I am so tired of saying "if I can just make it through this week" because the next one ends up being just the same if not more of a struggle. For instance, today, I ate ALL of my meals IN my car. I ate my oatmeal with berries this morning, then a peanut butter sandwich and apples, and a snack of pretzels, then dinner was a hastily made scrambled egg and cheese burrito in a tomato pesto wrap. All homemade and pretty healthy, but still....in the car???

My running and gym time, although another demand on my time, are KEY to being able to deal. It gives me a structure, an opportunity to feel successful and positive, and the mental side of running has given me a different perspective on life's challenges. As with running, when things are tough, I remind myself that it will get better. The road will flatten or head downhill, the rain will stop, and my energy will be replenished. I'm still heading up that long grade but I'm sticking with it...relaxed and steady. Eventually I'll crest the hill and conditions will improve.

The gym has been a lot of fun lately, partly I guess because I don't have races disrupting things. I do think I am gaining strength and endurance. We are doing some high reps (28-36 on some things) and new exercises - particularly some non-machine things that appeal to the lifting purist in me :-)

I am taking the next two days off (except for a tennis lesson) and then Saturday I plan to do my longest run yet - something approaching marathon distance - to provide a baseline for the next few months. I am excited and of course, nervous because the unknown always makes me nervous. The next two days I need to focus on sleep and carbs. I'd better go work on the first of those two goals now!

I behaved

I did manage to skip the organized half-marathon run, but I happened to be driving by as some of the runners approached the finish. It did look like fun! Good for them!

I ran from Gateway Baptist to Food Time and back - exactly 8 miles - and with a 64 minute time, that was exactly an 8 min/mile pace. I was pleasantly surprised at my pace since I had planned to hang back a bit on this run. That speed seems to put me in my groove. However, my goal for Friday's long run is to run a steady 9 minute mile. I have a 5.7 mile route planned out so that's about 51 minutes per lap. And if I manage to do that four times, that's 22.8 miles. Physically, there is no reason why I can't gut that out and mentally, I refuse to back down. I'm looking forward to it.

Self-control

On facebook today I saw that the VT Tri team was putting on an informal half-marathon from the chapel to the end of the Huckleberry Trail and back. This year it's the Jordan Chang Half Marathon - the winner from the previous year has naming rights! So clever and so cool. It's free but they even offer water stops. I just love the whole idea of this relaxed gathering and would so love to do it. However, I have a big run planned for next Friday (~20 miles) AND I'm completely exhausted AND I did a workout at the gym that had a pretty heavy hamstring focus AND my left foot has been bothering me.

But I really, really want to do it (insert sound of whining adult-acting-like-child here). Jake talked me out of it (for the most part), calling it "ill-advised." I had to place an emergency call to him...like an AA sponsor. Save me from myself. But I can't start deviating now. Plus, if I were him and I put thought into a plan and someone just did whatever they wanted I'd be annoyed.

On a more positive note, I did my sumo deadlifts today for the first time in...well...ages. I didn't do anything heavy, but I miss those lifts that require more in terms of style and technique. I really have to find a way to work those back into my regular routine. Can't say I miss squats too much, but DL and bench are keepers.

Kids are sleeping at Oma's. I have big plans to do ZERO work, watch a movie, and go to bed early to hopefully recharge my batteries.