I felt like crap today.
My legs were tired and I just felt empty.
Instead of thinking about it, I just put my running gear on and ran.
3 miles into it I felt right. Kicked up the pace and my brain finally shut off. My body did what it was supposed to do. I don't know how better to explain it than I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing right at that moment. With my thoughts finally giving way and me tuned into the hum of my body, I felt close to something divine.
New Milestone
I finally reached 40 miles in one week. And, did 17 miles at one time. Or something very close to that.
Yesterday morning's run was not only long, but terribly hot,and terribly slow. I felt pretty good throughout most of it, though. Because I was running with a group also training for a marathon, we all did a pretty good job of taking care of ourselves during the run, including lots of water stops and electrolyte replacement.
Here's a couple lessons I learned on yesterday's long run:
1) Ice down the bra helps a lot
2) At about mile 12, I start to need more than just gels
3) I don't know what to eat after mile 12 because I tried a powerbar and, as before, it sat in my stomach like a rock and caused lots of cramps and pains. So I need to keep experimenting. Something more substantial, but not so hard to digest.
Not too bad, actually. Considering I had a hard week of running leading up to that, my body managed to maintain fairly well. Some ITB pain crept up during the run, so I need to start being more cognizant of stretching regularly and start icing after all of my runs. It was also suggested that I get a foam roller made specifically for stretching the ITB. Not sure what this is so I'm going to do some investigating today.
Overall, it felt good. I'm on track.
I know I will have moments in the future when I look back on this period of my life, and in those moments I'll wonder if it's really worth it to work this hard for running. And to my future self I want to say "Yes, it is most definitely worth it. I feel better than I have felt in years, and am in probably the best shape of my life." Should that not be enough, I just need to picture Judy's legs. The leader of our running group is 50 this year and she has the most fantastic legs on any woman (or man) I've seen!
Yesterday morning's run was not only long, but terribly hot,and terribly slow. I felt pretty good throughout most of it, though. Because I was running with a group also training for a marathon, we all did a pretty good job of taking care of ourselves during the run, including lots of water stops and electrolyte replacement.
Here's a couple lessons I learned on yesterday's long run:
1) Ice down the bra helps a lot
2) At about mile 12, I start to need more than just gels
3) I don't know what to eat after mile 12 because I tried a powerbar and, as before, it sat in my stomach like a rock and caused lots of cramps and pains. So I need to keep experimenting. Something more substantial, but not so hard to digest.
Not too bad, actually. Considering I had a hard week of running leading up to that, my body managed to maintain fairly well. Some ITB pain crept up during the run, so I need to start being more cognizant of stretching regularly and start icing after all of my runs. It was also suggested that I get a foam roller made specifically for stretching the ITB. Not sure what this is so I'm going to do some investigating today.
Overall, it felt good. I'm on track.
I know I will have moments in the future when I look back on this period of my life, and in those moments I'll wonder if it's really worth it to work this hard for running. And to my future self I want to say "Yes, it is most definitely worth it. I feel better than I have felt in years, and am in probably the best shape of my life." Should that not be enough, I just need to picture Judy's legs. The leader of our running group is 50 this year and she has the most fantastic legs on any woman (or man) I've seen!
Lost!
Yeah, it's goofy, but I'm doing it anyway - I'm posting lyrics to a favorite song.
These lyrics resonate with me in many of the same way running does.
(Coldplay - Lost!)
Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I would cross
Just because I'm hurting
Doesn't mean I'm hurt
Doesn't mean I didn't get
What I deserved
No better and no worse
I just got lost
Every river that I tried to cross
Every door I ever tried was locked
Ohhh and I'm...
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
You might be a big fish
In a little pond
Doesn't mean you've won
Cause along may come
A bigger one
And you'll be lost
Every river that you tried to cross
Every gun you ever held went off
Ohhh and I'm...
Just waiting until the firing stopped
Ohhh and I'm...
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
I'm
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
Ohhh and I..
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
Running is a beautifully competitive sport. You are always chasing a rabbit, but the one you ultimately compete against is yourself. That's one of the many places life and running intersect for me.
Many times I've caught that rabbit. Once you catch it, the fulfillment is gone. The fun was in the chase. It's an equation that can set you up for a lifetime of despair or for a lifetime of self improvement. Yeah, getting that rabbit doesn't fill that need, but that's ok because the need is to get better. And there is always room for better.
So, I'm smitten with myself tonight. Comparing my mile times this afternoon to a few months ago. I'm a big fish in my own little pond.
The shine will soon wear off, but I'm appreciating it for now. And I'm appreciating my knee for magically healing enough for me to run 4.5 miles with 800-meter repeats of 7 mph (3 of them!). I actually feel better tonight than I did last night.
Loving my little pond.
These lyrics resonate with me in many of the same way running does.
(Coldplay - Lost!)
Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I would cross
Just because I'm hurting
Doesn't mean I'm hurt
Doesn't mean I didn't get
What I deserved
No better and no worse
I just got lost
Every river that I tried to cross
Every door I ever tried was locked
Ohhh and I'm...
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
You might be a big fish
In a little pond
Doesn't mean you've won
Cause along may come
A bigger one
And you'll be lost
Every river that you tried to cross
Every gun you ever held went off
Ohhh and I'm...
Just waiting until the firing stopped
Ohhh and I'm...
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
I'm
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
Ohhh and I..
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
Running is a beautifully competitive sport. You are always chasing a rabbit, but the one you ultimately compete against is yourself. That's one of the many places life and running intersect for me.
Many times I've caught that rabbit. Once you catch it, the fulfillment is gone. The fun was in the chase. It's an equation that can set you up for a lifetime of despair or for a lifetime of self improvement. Yeah, getting that rabbit doesn't fill that need, but that's ok because the need is to get better. And there is always room for better.
So, I'm smitten with myself tonight. Comparing my mile times this afternoon to a few months ago. I'm a big fish in my own little pond.
The shine will soon wear off, but I'm appreciating it for now. And I'm appreciating my knee for magically healing enough for me to run 4.5 miles with 800-meter repeats of 7 mph (3 of them!). I actually feel better tonight than I did last night.
Loving my little pond.
Dreadmill
I did 3 miles at a 9:34 pace today. Which is ok, but if you averaged that out over 26 miles, it's a few minutes under the 4-hr mark. And it wasn't easy for me.
I definitely need some new shoes. I can't walk on my right leg now. Just under 20 miles in 3 days is pushing it for me, but it's not far enough beyond my normal wear and tear that I would expect to see overtraining injuries. Tonight calls for rest, ice, compression, elevation....and ibuprofen.
And did I mention how much I am starting to dislike the treadmill? And the gym in general.
New Mizunos have been shipped and should be here in a few days. I hope to be able to do the Wednesday night group run tomorrow. We'll see how the leg feels.
I definitely need some new shoes. I can't walk on my right leg now. Just under 20 miles in 3 days is pushing it for me, but it's not far enough beyond my normal wear and tear that I would expect to see overtraining injuries. Tonight calls for rest, ice, compression, elevation....and ibuprofen.
And did I mention how much I am starting to dislike the treadmill? And the gym in general.
New Mizunos have been shipped and should be here in a few days. I hope to be able to do the Wednesday night group run tomorrow. We'll see how the leg feels.
63 days and counting
...until Twin Cities Marathon. The training, up until this week, has gone pretty well. I've made most of my long runs and have come close to my weekly mileage goals.
My training schedule is full, but not overly-ambitious. I'm about 1/3 of the way into it, which means the high mileage weeks have really yet to start. I feel up for it, though. I just need to put today's run behind me.
Today was supposed to be a long-run day (LSD, for "long slow day") but only two others showed up for the running group; two much more experienced, much faster runners. I ended up doing most of the run by myself, and of that, ended up walking a fair amount. I guess bad days are allowed.
I enjoyed the company I did have part of the way. Ed, a long-haul trucker, who - if I remember correctly - has finished TCM 9 times, was kind enough to slow down for me for about 2 1/2 miles. I love the people I end up running with because they are usually quite extroverted, have been running for many years, and do most of the talking. And that's fortunate because the most I can contribute to the conversation during any given run is an occasional grunt or whimper. He had a few tips:
- Walk at the water stops
- If I get a stomach ache, ease up on the electrolytes and drink more water
- Carry Vasoline in a zip-loc back for chafing
- Keep a log for the mileage on my shoes
He had a good point regarding the shoes. During the 2 hours alone on the trail, I estimated that my current pair of Mizunos have about 250 miles on them. Sure enough, things are starting to hurt that shouldn't.
Assuming I can put today behind me and feel better tomorrow, I'm scheduled for a 7-miler. This is based on Hal Higdon's training schedule, with the running group from town's weekend LSD built in (on Saturdays).
So, early to bed tonight so I can be rested enough for tomorrow.
My training schedule is full, but not overly-ambitious. I'm about 1/3 of the way into it, which means the high mileage weeks have really yet to start. I feel up for it, though. I just need to put today's run behind me.
Today was supposed to be a long-run day (LSD, for "long slow day") but only two others showed up for the running group; two much more experienced, much faster runners. I ended up doing most of the run by myself, and of that, ended up walking a fair amount. I guess bad days are allowed.
I enjoyed the company I did have part of the way. Ed, a long-haul trucker, who - if I remember correctly - has finished TCM 9 times, was kind enough to slow down for me for about 2 1/2 miles. I love the people I end up running with because they are usually quite extroverted, have been running for many years, and do most of the talking. And that's fortunate because the most I can contribute to the conversation during any given run is an occasional grunt or whimper. He had a few tips:
- Walk at the water stops
- If I get a stomach ache, ease up on the electrolytes and drink more water
- Carry Vasoline in a zip-loc back for chafing
- Keep a log for the mileage on my shoes
He had a good point regarding the shoes. During the 2 hours alone on the trail, I estimated that my current pair of Mizunos have about 250 miles on them. Sure enough, things are starting to hurt that shouldn't.
Assuming I can put today behind me and feel better tomorrow, I'm scheduled for a 7-miler. This is based on Hal Higdon's training schedule, with the running group from town's weekend LSD built in (on Saturdays).
So, early to bed tonight so I can be rested enough for tomorrow.