Marathon recovery

Perhaps no one will find this interesting besides me, but since I’ve been documenting so much of my marathon journey, I wanted to track the recovery period. 

After the race my legs were obviously exhausted.  Post-race endorphins made them feel useable though for a while.  I swear I could walk better after the marathon than right after my 20 mile training run.  As the day progressed, and I picked socializing over what I knew was the best post marathon routine, my legs got stiffer and stiffer.  It was ok though, because I was happy!  Tired, but happy!

Monday morning I woke up and there were no more post marathon endorphins.  My legs were tired, sore, stiff, and tight!  It hurt to get out of bed.  Walking down the stairs was not fun.  I had to hold on to the railing, and take it one step at a time.   I felt like I was 90 years old.  That evening we stopped by the mall to pick up some pants of Bennett’s that had gotten hemmed before going to get a massage, and Bennett was amused that I was happily walking at half my normal speed because my legs were so sore and stiff. 

Although all my muscles were sore and stiff to some extent, my outer hip muscles were one of the most sore and stiff of all.  They hurt while walking and while going up and down stairs.  The muscles around my knees also hurt somewhat while going up and down the stairs.  Maybe those two areas distracted me from my other muscles, because I only paid attention to their soreness from time to time. 

Tuesday my legs felt better, but still stiff and sore, especially my outer hip muscles.  I had to walk down an escalator at the metro and it was uncomfortable.  I was still walking slower than normal, mainly because of my hip muscles.  After work I made the mistake of trying to run down the stairs.  That was not a good idea!  I could feel it in all my muscles!

This morning was the first morning that I did not immediately feel stiff and sore when I got out of bed.  I think my legs are finally getting back to normal.  I did some yoga stretches today and that felt really good.  I can tell my hamstrings have loosened up because I could get my hands flat on the floor in forward bend. 

I’m contemplating a 2-3 mile run tomorrow, and I’m hoping my legs will be up for it!  This no running thing is getting old!

My marathon adventure!

I am a marathon runner!!!

The alarm went off at 4:50am.  Outside it was dark and cold, and I was all warm in my bed, but this was MCM day.  It was time to get up!  I had set everything out the day before so all I had to do is eat breakfast and get dressed, but I wanted time to digest some before leaving our house.  Once we got to the start area I would have one chance at a port-o-potty if I was lucky.

We left at 6am, and it was dark and cold out.  I had so many layers on, I felt ridiculous.  I had my running layers, my toss away layers, and a jacket I was going to give to Bennett at the last possible second.  On our way to the metro we ran in to a neighbor, who we routinely pass on our way to work, out walking his dog.  He looked directly at me and asked if I was running.  I said yes, and he said “Go on then!  Congratulations!”  Bennett and I both thought it was funny that he clearly looked at me when asking about running and not Bennett.  With all my layers on, I didn’t look much more like I was wearing running clothes than Bennett did.  It was a nice start to the day. 

Getting to the start was such a hassle.  The metro wasn’t a problem until we got to the pentagon station.  It was so crowded with runners that it took forever to get out.  Then it was so crowded it took forever to walk over to the start area.  We of course picked the slow port-o-potty line as well.  We finally forced our way through the crowds to our starting chorale and found Max and Megan.  There were runners everywhere!  It was pretty crazy!

The gun went off, and the race started!  Since we were in the middle of the pack that meant mostly slowly shuffling forward for a bit before we could start actually running and cross the start line.  Then we were running and spent the first few miles in a very closely packed crowd of runners.  Almost the entire race was crowded, but nothing like the beginning.  Many times throughout the race I was glad for Max’s strong arm and quick reflexes.  He definitely kept me from falling several times when uneven roads were paired with people cutting us off.

The first part of MCM is a lot of uphills.  This was difficult because the hills and the cold air made me wheeze and made my lungs feel icky for the rest of the race.  Megan was struggling worse than me because she was running with bronchitis.  She had to slow down up the hills, and we ended up losing her temporarily once, and then for good all to the fault of the hills and bronchitis.  So Max and I were on our own.  We were supposed to have another person from running club run with us, but we couldn’t find him at the start. 

So we ran and we ran, dodging tossed clothing and runners a lot in the beginning.  It was a struggle to stay close to our goal pace.  Every few minutes Max had to slow me down, and even then, we were going a bit faster than we had planned.  This was the case through most of the race.  I wanted to run faster than I knew I could sustain, and I had this problem up through mile 20 or so.  A marathon is definitely about discipline; discipline to slow yourself down in the beginning and discipline to keep yourself going in the last few miles.  I can never run a marathon without someone with a Garmin watch to keep me in check!

Another problem was my Cliff Shot Blocks.  I absolutely love these things and have never had a problem with them!  For some reason though, they were not sitting well in my stomach.  Maybe it was because it was cold, and they were harder to chew.  I was afraid to eat what was on the course and make my stomach worse, but it was slightly not happy for most of the race.  In fact, I said something I have never said before.  Somewhere around mile 20 people were giving out chocolate.  I looked at Max and said “if I eat that I will vomit!”

Bennett and Erinn had several places they were going to watch and cheer us on.  Sandy came out to cheer as well and she somehow managed to be at all the good watching spots that Erinn and Bennett weren’t.  It was perfect!  Hearing their voices really gave me energy when I was feeling tired.  The spectator support at MCM is really great, but having someone you love cheering for you makes a big difference.

We were doing awesome on time for a while past the half-way point.  Then we ran into some trouble.  Personally, I hit an energy and confidence low around mile 18 ish, I think.  I was telling myself I would never do this again.  I hurt and I really didn’t want to keep going.  A few minutes later I heard Sandy’s voice, and it was the best thing I’d ever heard.  Hearing her cheering for me wiped the negativity right out of my head. 

I hit another low somewhere in Chrystal city.  The roads were uneven and people kept cutting us off.  The race was never going to end.  I don’t know how I got myself out of that one, but somehow I did.

Poor Max started having severe quad cramps somewhere before or around the mid to late teens of mileage. We kept trying all sorts of things to get rid of them: various kinds of energy and electrolyte products, walking breaks, even stretching, but they kept getting worse.  We tried to keep going but he was really in pain.  We started looking for people we knew to finish with me and saw no one.  Finally, after Max had been struggling for at least 6 miles, I told him to just grab someone so he could walk.

Max started searching for people who looked like they had enough energy to give me to and feel that it was safe.  He grabbed these two guys and asked them to finish with me.  They said yes, and they were amazing!  Even though they were tired, and had never guide ran before, these two men guided amazingly well!  They were from PA and also running their first marathon.  One was a pastor and the other a deacon of the church.  I thanked them as we started running and one said, and the other agreed, “we knew there was a reason we were running this marathon besides just torturing ourselves.  Now we know why.”  So I finished the last 2+ miles with these two amazing men who I had never met before and now feel like great friends! 

Crossing the finish line was amazing!  The feeling of having a marine put the medal around my neck and wish me congratulations is indescribable.

I am so thankful to my two drafted running guides and their families.  They helped me find Bennett and gave me attention while I waited for him.  They even kept me from freezing when I started violently shivering by giving me someone’s jacket to wear until Bennett brought me mine.

So I finished in 4:31:53.  This is 1:53 past my goal time of 4:30.  With all the problems we had in the last 8 or so miles, I am still happy with this time.  I think, had we not ran into trouble, we could have gotten in the low 4:20s.  Racing is about taking what the day gives you though, and I am still happy with my first marathon.  I feel like I ran the best I could, given what the day through at me.  I can’t wait to run my next marathon and try for a 4:20!

Day before marathon thoughts…

I’m sitting here under a blanket staring out at the cold rainy day.  I’m so thankful that it is raining today and not tomorrow, but wow is it going to be significantly colder tomorrow than I’m use to running in.  My body does not adapt to sudden weather changes as well as others when it comes to exercise so I am just hoping my lungs don’t fail me and turn in to a wheezing mess tomorrow.  Last I checked it is supposed to be 37 degrees at the start and might get up to the mid-40s around mid-day/early afternoon when we will hopefully be finishing. 

I have changed my mind on what I’m wearing tomorrow several times in the past few days.  I am, even now, not totally sure how many layers of shirts I will be wearing.  I keep mentally sorting through all my running clothes trying to think what will be the most comfortable and weather appropriate.  Some people are still planning on running most of the race in shorts and a t-shirt, and I am just amazed at their ability to handle cold or conversely how much they over heat when they run.

I attempted the concept of carb loading for all of a day (and failed), and officially decided that I do not believe in carb loading.  After lots of googling I found that most of the carb loading studies that produced an increase in athletic performance used only men, and the ones that focused on women, did not produce the same successful results.  Plus, after totaling up all the carbs I could think of actually eating, I realized there was no way I was getting 4g of carbs per lb. of body weight without drinking endurance sports drinks that I hate.  So, I’m continuing to eat all the yummy carb foods I love, and know sit well in my stomach.  We had yummy dark chocolate chip pancakes this morning for breakfast!  I’m also making sure to stay well hydrated leading up to the race!

I’m trying to calm my nerves and relax for now.  I have washed all my running clothes so that anything I could possibly want to wear is clean.  Later, Bennett and I will be headed out to a runner reception for Run To Remember and then dinner with Max, Megan, Erinn, and Mike.

No matter how things go tomorrow, I at least know that I will have great people running with me!  I’m sure they will help encourage me through the cold and inevitable exhaustion.  Plus Bennett and Erinn will be at places along the way cheering us on!

MCM obsessing…

This week is going by so slowly.  My anxious anticipation for Sunday is making it seem like it will never come.  And yet, I can’t believe how close the marathon actually is; it seems surreal.  It’s comforting to read the posts on the MCM Facebook page and know that others are obsessing as much as I am. 

I want it to be Sunday, and yet I’m afraid of Sunday.  I want this marathon so bad, not just to finish, but to do well.  I know finishing is doing great for a first marathon and that I should not worry about my time, but that’s easier said than done.  Maybe since the time I want is so possible, it makes me want it more. 

I am a competitive person.  Not in the traditional sense that I have to win, but I am very competitive with myself.  I want to do the best that I can do.  I want all these hours of training to pay off in a finishing time that I know should be possible.   I know that running the best race I can, however, given whatever conditions we face on race day should be enough.

So much is out of my hands now.  I put in the training, and now all I can do is eat healthy, rest, and obsess over the weather and what to wear.  This preoccupation is making it difficult to focus on work and other things.  I definitely have a one track mind for the moment J

One week...

One week until MCM.  This time next week it will all be over…

I don’t really know what to feel right now.  Nervousness and excitement are vying for the predominant emotion at any given time.  I have thought about MCM all year.  I have trained for this marathon since June.  For months and months the marathon has had an impact on most aspects of my life.  Now all I can do is wait…  I’ve trained all I can; I’ve one all I can.  Now is the time to trust in my training and myself.

If I feel a little lost and unsure now, how am I going to feel without this goal to work towards.  After my half marathon I felt completely directionless and lost a lot of momentum.  I signed up for the Hot Chocolate 15K in December to make sure there was some sort of race all ready paid for to keep me motivated.  Hopefully that will help 

Now the problem comes.  Sitting here right now, I want to do this over again.  I want to run more marathons (although maybe I’ll take that back in a week J ), but running marathon’s, and wanting the ability to be competitive with myself, is difficult.  I have yet to convince Bennett that he wants to run a marathon, although I have made the big step in convincing him a half marathon is a fun idea.  I am so fortunate in my guide runners for MCM.  They are better, faster runners than I am, which allows me to be as competitive as I can be, without a guide holding me back.  There are so many complications in finding a well matched running guide that I still hold out hope to convince Bennett that he wants to run marathons with me.

20 miles…

This past week was the peak week in my training with a total of 40 miles, 20 of which were my long run on Saturday.  So, I ran 20 miles!  My feet and legs actually moved non-stop for 20 miles with an average pace of 10:30…not bad for a training run!

We started our run before the sun came up.  It was dark and chilly as those of us running 20 miles gathered at Roosevelt Island to head out on C&O.  I had my substitute running guide to run with me, and she did amazing! 

Standing there in the cold and dark, for a minute I thought “what is wrong with me?  Why am I out to run this early?”  Once we got started running over the bridge I started to change my mind.  It was chilly, but not cold.  It was quiet and peaceful starting our run so early.  As the sun came up it started to warm up just a bit.  It was a really confortable temperature throughout the run.  The group consisted mostly of people I hadn’t run with before so there was lots of talking to keep us all entertained throughout the hours of running. 

Running that far was such an incredible experience, especially knowing that it is my last really long run before MCM.  I felt so strong as I continued to feel good while the miles added up. We got to 16 then 17 and I still was feeling ok…tired but ok.  By 18 miles I could tell I was reaching the hard point, the point where it was new, never run territory, but I could still keep going strong.  At this point it was 3 of us women together, encouraging each other through the last few miles.  There was such a feeling of solidarity, encouraging each other to run strong and keep going.  We even had the energy to run the last mile faster!

As a side note, even when I say I felt ok or still strong, that doesn’t mean that my legs weren’t seriously tired and sore and my brain didn’t want to just give up at times.  Feeling good and strong means knowing you still have more energy left in you.  It’s knowing that you still can go for more miles in spite of sore joints and tired muscles.  It’s such an incredible feeling to master your body and mind and keep going. 

Trying to walk as a cool down after 20 miles was kind of funny.  My legs felt so awkward, like they had forgotten how to walk.  My joints and muscles didn’t want to coordinate right.  I was happy for a soak in an ice bath when I got home and a massage later that afternoon.  The combination helped my legs only feel somewhat stiff on Sunday.

So now I enter the taper period of my training.  The next 3 weeks are all about gradually decreasing my running volume to arrive at race day well rested.  And yes, race day was 3 weeks from yesterday…scary!  It’s time to trust in my training…

A cold rainy run...

It is definitely fall!  I am so happy I got new fall running clothes last weekend because yesterday I seriously needed them.  With all the rain we’ve been getting, I am used to cloudy, gloomy Saturday morning runs, but yesterday, it actually rained on us.  My new running tights and long sleeved running shirt were welcome in the low 50s temperatures.

When we set out, we were freezing…well Megan and I were at least.  The wind blew so hard running over the Key Bridge to the C&O canal trail that it blew my hat off my head.  Luckily Bennett caught it.  Slowly we warmed up some as we ran, dodging mud and puddles.  First the sky was spitting and then it was drizzling harder.  We were all just hoping that it didn’t full out start raining.  

We got a reprieve from the rain for a few miles in the middle of our run.  The sun even teased us a bit threatening to come out.  But it did not.  Towards the end of our run it started raining again.  There was also some sort of race that day on the C&O trail and the runners apparently did not realize they had to share the trail.  Someone almost ran straight into us because she was running on our side of the trail and not paying attention.  It was like running into a heard of people.  Running back across the Key Bridge the rain felt like stinging pellets of water in the cold wind.  We were so ready to be done and back in dry warmth at that point. 

Consequences of high mileage

Up till now, my increase in running has been nicely offset by my weekly yoga and regular stretching.  I have finally hit the point, however, where this is no longer true.   

This week my legs have been stiff and tight.  I was sore on Sunday, but by Monday that was better.  I figured Yoga on Monday evening would loosen up my lower body, but not really.  It helped, but even 90 minutes of yoga did not leave me feeling loose and flexible. 

Tuesday’s 5 mile run, my legs were still very stiff.  They never really loosened up.  Today’s 9miles were better, but it took longer into the run for my legs to loosen up than it should have.  This is not good. 

So, as a result, I am stepping up my stretching!  I spent about 30 minutes this evening doing yoga stretches targeting the legs and hips in some way or another.  I need to remember to stretch most days in these weeks leading up to the marathon.

18 miles…

Written Monday

I admit I was intimidated by the concept of running 18 miles.  After really struggling towards the end of 16 miles, I was afraid I was hitting a point where my body really didn’t want to keep adding miles.  I don’t know what caused that 16 miles to be so exhausting at the end, but Saturday’s 18 miles felt better in many ways.

It was not easy to run 18 miles.  There were times my joints started to get tired and protest a bit that we were still running.  There were some hills that seemed to never end and made me question if I’d make it through the run.  A few times I was simply tired of still running.  In the last mile, however, we kicked up the pace and finished really strong.  There was something really empowering and amazing about having run for so long, and having  really tired legs, but still having enough left to pick up the pace and feel good in that last mile!   Good sign for marathon success?  I hope so.

Philosophical running...

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
                                         --Mark Twain

"Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals."
                                            --Henry Ford

I was pondering these two quotes on my never ending 9 mile run on the treadmill this morning.  Never run 9 miles on the treadmill if you can avoid it.  It’s boring!  Even listing to a book couldn’t keep me entertained. 

These two quotes really speak to how my marathon training has worked.  So many people ask me “how do you run that far?” in reference to whatever long run I just completed. Or, “I could never run that far!” 

While I completely understand that sentiment, having probably said the same things myself, training for this marathon has simply been about setting a goal and breaking it down into manageable parts.  Well, that and dedication to the goal and making training a priority.  Any given week is challenging, but doable for my fitness level.  The increase in distance from week to week is logical and within reach from the last distance.  Each mile I run is a step towards my body being able to run the marathon.  If I think about 26.2 miles is still a scary distance for me to think about running, but I know my training schedule has been leading me towards that distance from the beginning.  When you think of training as just adding a mile or two from a previous week, it is much less scary then thinking about an 18 mile run as a separate concept by itself.  It’s all about manageable steps towards a crazy goal. And then hopefully the crazy will become one more extra big step and be achievable…

16 mile adventure

Saturday’s run was the first run in a few weeks with the sun out.  It was a nice change from all the cloudy dreariness.  The run, however, turned out to be much more of an obstacle course than I was mentally prepared for. 

We ran on the Mt. Vernon trail starting at Roosevelt Island running to Old Town Alexandria and back.  First the hills…I’ve run on this trail before, but not as far and there were way more rolling hills than I thought there would be.  Then the turns…This trail gets pretty windy in places, including some nice switchbacks.  All the rain last week meant lots of puddles and mud to try and dodge.  Once we got down by the river, the trail is unpaved for a bit and that part was definitely a bit worse off from all the rain.  There was lots of “puddle jump!”  Somewhere around 12 miles I was ready to be done.  Somewhere around 14 miles the Aussie cursing came out when we got to yet another lovely rolling hill.  I was so completely ready to stop running when we hit mile 16.

But, all and all, it was a 16 mile adventure which we still managed to complete in 2:50.  Not bad!

15 miles. 3 counties.

Saturdays run set a new running record for me!  My first 15 miles ever!  We ran on the W&OD trail starting in Shirlington (Arlington county), ran through The City of Falls Church, and then into Fairfax county.  Once we hit Fairfax the trail had some nice rolling hills to work my legs even more.  There are definitely hills earlier along our route, but also a good amount of flat trail.  We completed 15 miles, with a quick bathroom stop, in 2:44!  I am definitely happy with that. 

The last 2 miles took concentration, and my legs definitely felt tired.  I developed a mantra to help me along.  “Go go go!  Run run run!”  Each footfall got a word.  It kept me entertained.  Even though my legs were the most tired they have been yet, I still felt like I finished with some reserves left. 

The run was a great start to an awesome weekend.  Mike and Kevin were visiting, and it was so fun to spend the weekend with them!  Of course, I further exhausted my legs by walking around Saturday afternoon to brunch; to the MLK Jr. monument; to dinner.  By the end of the day my legs were completely exhausted, but it was worth it!!  We made sure to do something yesterday that did not involve a lot of walking to give my legs a break.  I love a Sunday afternoon at a vineyard J

I am seriously in awe of running 15 miles.  I remember working up to my first 5K this time 2 years ago.  Running 3.1 miles seemed like such an impressive accomplishment to me, especially since I never thought I could be a runner.  Now I just ran about 5 times that…life is crazy!

Pondering more miles...

Tomorrow’s run marks a pivotal point in my training.  This will be the first long run that ventures into completely untried mileage.  Even though 15 miles is only 2 more than 13, it somehow seems much more intimidating. 

I know I need to trust in my training.  So far, my training plan has gotten me through almost 10 weeks of training in great shape.  There’s no reason why all of a sudden another step up in mileage will be any different, but even so, it feels like a bigger jump.  I’m in to the mileage that will determine if I like marathons or would rather just stick with halves.  These runs will start taking more out of me as they get longer, leading up to the longest training run of 20 miles the second week of October.

There are only 8 weeks left to the marathon and that in and of itself is a bit nerve racking.  8 weeks is less than 2 months.  October 30 is next month, as the MCM Facebook page reminded me yesterday.  All of this makes the race more real, more exciting, and allot scarier. 

The hardest part of training…

I might take back the statement I’m about to make in a few weeks, but…I think the hardest thing about marathon training is not the long Saturday runs but the semi-long mid-week Wednesday runs.  Certainly the Saturday long runs are the most taxing on my legs and take up the most time. but they are easy to plan for as far as fitting them in and eating properly around the run.  The only really inconvenient thing about these long runs is that it makes it hard to go away for the weekend because Bennett is not training with me, and therefore, I can’t run where ever I am that weekend.  I need to be in DC since my long run partners are in DC.  

But, mid-week semi-long runs have become progressively longer and more difficult to fit in on a work day.  Today’s run was 7 miles.  Over the next month or so they will work up to 10 miles.  These runs are supposed to be run at a relaxed easy pace which just takes time for those of us that are not fast runners.  As the runs get longer, I can’t just roll out of bed and run; I have to eat breakfast and digest it before running.  Luckily I work from home on Wednesdays to break up my evil commute.  Otherwise I don’t know how I’d do it.  Even running after work would make dinner sooo late.  As I look ahead to the very small idea of running another marathon (hopefully training with Bennett) it’s these mid-week runs that make me sigh and hope I will always have a mid-week telework day.

The stupid evil 10 mile run

This entry is about last Saturday’s run

So after the great 13 mile long run, I was very confident that 10 miles would be nothing!  I guess I had gotten too confident in my training, and it was time to be reminded that running isn’t always fun. 

Saturday was humid because the storm was on its way.  The temperature was actually really nice, but the air was oppressive.  I woke up that morning feeling draggy.  Bennett and I got to the place to meet up with the run group and I still felt draggy.  We started running and both of us quickly decided this was not our day.  My legs felt heavy from the first steps through to the end of the run.  We ran slowly; we tried speeding up a bit.  We took a walk break.  It wasn’t that the run was hard, but it was hard to get through.  Several times I wanted to say “I’m done” and turn back early, but I wouldn’t let myself.  I jokingly told Bennett that it was like our legs forgot how to run and just flailed around for 10 miles.  It was only in the last half mile that my legs started to work like normal…how ridiculous! I really think I was running stupid that day because Sunday my muscles were sore in atypical places for me. 

Take that 13 miles!

Yesterday’s run went great!  We decided to step up the effort level a bit from the easy normal long run pace to see how a half marathon in training might compare to my half marathon last year.  It was a great morning to run harder than normal because it was a nice temperature.  In fact, before we started running I was almost chilly in my shorts and tank top.

We ran on the Capitol Crescent trail.  This trail has a gradual incline so most of the first half of the run was uphill and most of the second half was downhill.  It was shady and really a nice run.  On our way out we ran around 9:45 minute miles (uphill) and on the way back 9:30 minute miles (downhill mostly).  I’ll admit the last mile and a half I was definitely starting to feel it, and to make it worse there were several short hills in the last mile.  But, I felt better and ran faster with less effort than my half last year.  So that is really great!  This pace was faster than what I need for my marathon goal and was a nice confidence booster. 

Also we got to run through VA, DC, and MD so that was fun J

I’m starting to look forward to taking on the longer runs that are coming up.  Next week is a step back week though with a long run of only 10 miles.  The extra exciting thing about next week’s long run is that I will be running it with Bennett!  Max and Megan have a race, and Bennett has built up his mileage so much on his own that he can run with me.

Mental grit

All week I’ve been feeling like I’m trying to fight off getting sick.  I’ve been extra tired and slept lots this weekend.  Even so Monday morning’s run went well.  A good hard run of hill repeats on the treadmill. 

Tuesday morning I woke up feeling just icky so I thought I’d stay home from work and sleep for the day and feel better.  Well I did sleep all day, and I woke up this morning feeling less run down than the day before.  That is until after my 6 mile run…

This was one of the more mentally painful runs I’ve had in a long time.  I really didn’t feel like a 6 mile run, but I figured I should push through it.  It can take the first mile of a run for me to hit my stride when I really don’t feel like exercise.  The first mile…check.  1.5 miles…check.  2 miles…still did not want to be running.  Each step took effort, mental effort that is.  The run wasn’t hard, but I had no energy for it.  Each step took mental grit to keep going.  Feet hitting one after another after another…  Probably not feeling well was making it harder than it otherwise would have.  Mental grit is a good thing because I will probably need to force my body through the last miles of the marathon, but it is not an enjoyable skill to practice.

After my run I felt worse.  I hate trying to work when I feel sick, but I pushed through the day.  I just hope I feel better by the weekend.  I can’t imagine pushing through 13 miles not feeling very good.

Enjoying the long runs...

Yesterday was the first run in a while where the temperature was not horrible.  It was still humid but a comfortable temperature.  It was overcast (no sun beating down on us), and I was trying out my Nathan’s women’s hydration backpack which holds two liters of water!  Even though the women’s pack is almost too big, it felt great once I got used to it.  I definitely prefer it to a fuel belt.  Of course the week I have more than enough water is the week it is normal, tolerable summer weather…

It sounds odd, even to myself, to say I enjoyed running for two hours straight, but I did.  I can trust Max to pace us well, and   I’ve started relaxing into a rhythm where I listen to my body and run comfortably (unless I’m listening to Max slowing me down J).  Whether it’s because I’m more mentally prepared for long runs, or because I didn’t want to be annoying when I first started running with Max and Megan, I am no longer asking our mileage every mile or so as I often used to do with Bennett (it’s ok to annoy your husband like that).  A few mileage checks along the way are enough to keep me aware of where we are in the run.  This letting go of the obsessive need to know our mileage or speed at any given moment has been good for simply enjoying the conversation or the quiet.  Letting my feet hit the ground and simply enjoy running outside for…well for hours…

When I first registered for the marathon, I had doubts whether I would enjoy training with the months of focused running and Saturday mornings dedicated to long runs.  I wanted to try; but I had doubts.  I had very mixed feelings about long runs during half marathon training, although I did enjoy the race itself.  But enjoying a race, with all the crowds and race endorphins, did not mean I would enjoy 4 months of long runs. 

Finishing up the last mile of my 12 mile run yesterday, I realized something.  I have so far enjoyed all of my long runs.  Yes, I have a long way to go, but I’m 7 weeks in to training, and I’m enjoying my long runs…not just tolerating them…not mixed feelings about them…but enjoying them.  I’m sure I will have one or two I hate; things can’t always go well, But the fact that I finished up my 12 miles with a faster last mile and felt great… well, it’s helping me trust in my training more.  It’s a bit too early to say I enjoy being a marathon runner, but I might be heading in that direction.

Contemplating my training…

 Each workout I complete is one step closer to the marathon.  Each run is adding up to train my body to run, and run long.  At the end of 10 miles yesterday, my legs were tired (and I was hot!), but I wasn’t completely drained.  I had the energy left to finish at a good pace.  Maybe I had to focus on running more than at the beginning of the run, but I didn’t have to put all my effort into moving my legs. 

Looking back to how I felt after long runs when training for the half marathon last year, I can tell I’m training better and finishing my runs with more reserves.  I’m also enjoying the longer runs more.  Whether that is a result of better training or a mental adaptation to long runs, who knows…

The runs in September and October are the runs I am most concerned about.  My mileage in August peaks at 13 miles.  This is a distance I know I am capable of running.  I know my legs have run that far and survived.  It is when my runs get beyond that mileage that I must really trust that my training schedule will work.  Those last 2 months are when the mileage really begins to build up, and I can only hope my body will be ready to handle all those miles.  At least at that point the weather will have cooled down…

Pondering blind runner guidelines

A few weeks ago I came across the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes guidelines for blind runners.  After reading over these guidelines I thought “well hmm, that’s not how I do it.”  I could see reasons for many of the rules, but at the same time, they seemed very much “our way or nothing.” 

One such rule is having a maximum distance between runner and guide.  I can see safety implications for this rule.  I can also see, however, how you could accidently break this rule while running, and being disqualified for doing so seems unfair.  I naturally stay close to my guide because of lack of room around us.  I don’t want to have to worry about exact spacing while focusing on a race however.  

Additionally, runners can be disqualified if the guide crosses the finish line before the runner.  As long as the guide isn’t pulling the runner, why would this matter.  If you are exhausted after a hard run, why should you have to worry about who is slightly in front? 

There were specifics on how to hold the running tether, and this is where I think the organization should encourage some flexibility and experimentation.  Holding a running tether as they suggest, between second and third fingers, would be miserable for me, especially in a longer race.  The purpose is to prevent a tether that is wrapped around the hand or wrist from injuring the person if they fall, but I personally would drop the tether and tense my shoulder holding it this way.  How would that be good or safe?  You can get hurt falling no matter what, blind or sighted.  So many things concerning running are personal such as shoes, clothes, and nutrition; why shouldn’t guide running be so?

Thankfully, after more googling I also found other websites that did encourage trying different ways of run guiding.

After finding the USABA guidelines and complaining about them, I started to get concerned that they might apply to all races.  Although I had never had any trouble in races in the past, they had all been smaller, more local races.  MCM, however, is a large race with a more national focus.  I was somewhat afraid that I would unknowingly violate some rule I didn’t even know I was supposed to follow. 

Well, now after complaining about USABA guidelines, I must say their sports director was very helpful when I emailed him for more information.  He responded the next day, and we sent several emails back and forth within a few hours.  Luckily, the USABA rules only apply to races with blind/visually impaired divisions and affiliated with USABA or another similar organization.  He encouraged me to email MCM so as to make them aware and avoid any potential problems stemming from confusion of why two runners were tethered.  

The response from the MCM staff was quick and helpful.  They are assigning specific race numbers to me, Max, and Megan so we are in the same starting corral.  Otherwise, my normal run tether techniques are fine.  All he said is don’t have your guide pull you and don't have the tether overly long.  Totally understandable requests!

Hearing the response of MCM was a relief.  I pride myself on being able to come up with ways to adapt activities that work best for me and are safe.  I don’t appreciate rules that single me out from sighted individuals participating in the same activity and tell me how I need to perform to be safe.  Everyone is different, and I know what works for me better than any organization.

Success!

I was very much dreading this morning’s run.  Not so much the distance (9 miles) but the distance in the heat and humidity that we have been experiencing this past week.  In an attempt to suffer the least heat possible, we started our run at 7am.  At that time it was 85 degrees but felt like 89.  By the time we finished it was 92 degrees but felt like 95. 

I was expecting to write this entry themed around the 9 miles of hell, but much to my surprise, it went well.  Yes, it was hot.  Yes, that last mile I was starting to really feel the heat.  Yes, I finished completely drenched in sweat!  In spite of the hot humid weather, my body held up and I finished strong!  This is a huge success!  I not only handled a 2 mile jump up in distance but in hot humid weather!  I have to thank my mom and Sandy for convincing me I should get an inhaler.  I owe my complete lack of wheezing to the wonderfulness of bronchodilators!  For the first time I felt like a normal person coping with heat and humidity and not a wheezing mess!

I feel empowered by this morning’s run.  I can definitely tell a difference in ability from when I trained for the half marathon last year.  I am in much better shape, and following a much better training schedule.  This run gave me a nice boost in confidences that I will make it through the summer heat and survive. 

A nice easy run...

Some days it’s simply feels great to run.  Today was one of them.  The weather was nice this morning, and with only five miles to run, I didn’t have to worry about tiring out.  It was easy to talk, run, and enjoy being outside and active.  This comes after a week of treadmill runs since Bennett was in CA.  Treadmill runs have their place in my running routine, and I am certainly thankful to have the treadmill and the ability to run without needing a guide every time, but there’s still nothing like running outside on a nice summer morning.  Next week will be a jump forward in mileage with a long run of 9 miles. 

7 miler

This morning was my first run with my training partners Max and Megan.  This has been a run for which I was both nervously and excitedly waiting.  I’ve never run with anyone I wasn’t very comfortable with long before we ever ran together.  If this 7 mile run was any indication of the rest of training, things will be great! 

Max is who had originally responded to my email saying he would be willing to be my guide and his girlfriend would be training with us.  Both Max and Megan took turns guide running today, and they both seemed to be natural guide runners.  It’s nice to have two chill and nice running partners, and to know that in some ways I have a backup running guide. 

We ran on the W&OD trail, a wide nice paved trail in northern VA.  The 7 miles felt great even through the end!  Building such a solid 6 mile base paid off.  I haven’t run more than 6 miles since the half marathon over a year ago.  It was nice to get to know my running buddies throughout our runs since we will be spending every Saturday morning together for the next 4 months.

In other news, Bennett and I were very bad yesterday.  While running errands after work, we thought it would be a great idea to try on the 5 finger toe shoes.  Well, we tried on several different pairs, and I tried on a few other brands of minimalist shoes, and in the end, Bennett walked out wearing his new finger/toe shoes.  I had to order my since they were out of my size.  Very bad us!  It’s not like I can even try running in them till after marathon training is over, but I can walk around in them…

Excuses...

Although I know that getting in my run before work will make me feel great, accomplished, on top of my day…getting up and out of bed is always a struggle.  Some days I win the struggle and others I lose.  At least when I fail to get up and run I can always redeem myself and run after work, but I know that I still will have failed at following the schedule that makes me feel best.

The hardest part is those first 5 minutes, getting up and staying up long enough to get in my running clothes and get out of the bedroom.  If I can master those few minutes I will start to feel good and be glad I am up heading out for a run.  So since I know this, why can’t I just get my butt up and out of bed?  Well, I’m not a very early morning person, and getting a run in before work means getting up at 5:30am.  There are so many reasons to sleep another hour that sound great at 5:30am!  The fully awake me has great rebuttals to those reasons, but the half asleep me sometimes can’t remember them. 

1.       I’m still tired

…well go to bed earlier then.  Nothing I am doing in the evening is so important I can’t do it the next day.

2.       Bennett turned off the alarm before I even registered it

…Well this one I can’t control too much, but I could set a second alarm on my phone that I have to turn off.

3.       I don’t have clean socks

…Well, I am an adult, and I do own a washer and dryer…Do some laundry or buy more running socks!

4.       It’s too humid

…Well DC in the summer this could be valid except there’s nothing keeping me from running on our treadmill in the air-conditioning.  Plus I broke down and got an inhaler from the doctor so I can use it and not wheeze in the humidity.

5.       My legs are sore

…Well I’m training for a marathon, and I’m going to have to run on sore legs.  I might as well get use to it.

6.       I’m tooooo tired

…Yes this gets on the list twice.  Remember the 5 minute rule.  I will start feeling better and less tired if I can just drag myself out of bed and out the door.  Plus I’m always “too tired” on a work day morning even when sleeping that extra hour.

And the reasons could go on and on.  So yes, yesterday and today I did not get up and run before work although I did run yesterday and today.  At least Wednesday I had a new and creative reason for being tired.  Some teenagers were setting off fireworks Tuesday evening (and Monday evening) till around midnight and I could not fall asleep!

A recipe for wheezing

Combine 75 degree weather with 76% humidity and a 3 mile run.  Add in the fact that I forgot to take my allergy medicine last night and therefore only took it a few minutes before my run.  What do you get?  Wheezing after the first half mile!  At least I could semi-control the speed and depth of my breathing through the end of the run which is much better than last Wednesday.

Official first day of training...

Mostly still asleep, I hear something that sounds like the alarm going off.  Then it stops with me still basically asleep.  Bennett hit snooze, reset it, or turned it off.  I have no idea.  A minute later some internal sense pulls my body out of sleep.  I turn to Bennett and ask, “Did the alarm actually go off or was I dreaming?”  But no, it is 5:30am and the alarm did indeed go off.  I must have felt the pull of my official training schedule telling me “wake up you lazy slacker!”

Today is the first day of official marathon training!  This first week of training isn’t really any different from how I’ve been running over the past month, but I know the mileage will start adding up soon.  For those of you who are interested, I’m using Hal Higdon’s Novice 1 training schedule with a few modifications.  Since I know my knees do not usually like running three days in a row, I’m rearranging the week day runs to split up the three days in a row of running.  As a result, I am also moving around one of the rest days and the cross training day.  I’m also including lifting and yoga.  Hopefully my modified schedule will work well!  I have the whole schedule entered in an excel spreadsheet with space for comments and everything!

This morning’s run was a great kick off run!  I opted for running on the treadmill to do some hill work.  Although my training plan doesn’t designate specific hill work runs, I am going to include them.  MCM has hills at the beginning and the end!  So, I better be able to run some hills without exhausting myself.  I ran two out of my three miles this morning uphill with varying degrees of incline, something I would have not been able to do a month or so ago when I first started introducing hills into my runs!

The running experiment…

This morning’s run was great!  We ran on the canal trail; one of my favorites.  Six miles of meditative beautiful running…

We tried out several new running items today.  Bennett tried his 4 bottle fuel belt which is definitely a must for the summer!  Bennett also got an arm band for the IPhone so we can track our mileage and pace since we don’t have a Garmin GPS watch.  That worked well.  We also tried Nuun electrolyte tablets, strawberry lemonade flavor.  I have mixed feelings about them.  The flavor was stronger than I was hoping, and wasn’t my favorite taste, but it was still better then drinking lots of the fake sugars in Gatorade.  I think I can tolerate them since electrolytes are necessary, but we will try some other flavors.  The last new thing of the day was as caffeinated Cliff Shot Block.  I can’t tell if the Caffeine helped or not because it was less humid then Wednesdays evil wheezing run, but I do not like the cherry flavor.  I will have to try caffeine in another form and on a more humid day. 

Humidity I hate you!

It’s 5:30am when the alarm goes off.  I am determined to drag myself out of bed this morning after failing to do so yesterday (and several failed days over the past few weeks).  So, I get up and force myself to get ready for a run.  Prerun snack of fig newton’s and water (check)…bathroom (check)…running clothes (check)…feed animals to give food a head start in digesting (check)…running tether so Bennett can run guide (check)…  By 5:40am Bennett and I are heading out the door.  Even though it’s early, its 74 degrees and very humid.  The humidity makes the early morning air feel oppressive as we start our run.  It seems wrong to have to run in the humidity even when we got up early for our run.

The first few blocks of a morning run my legs are still trying to wake up.  I have to keep telling myself that I will hit my running stride and the run will start to feel good.  This morning my legs hit that point somewhere around Lincoln Park, but my lungs never did.  The humidity never agrees with me, but the degree to which it disagrees with me varies.  Today my lungs and the humidity did not get along.  Rather than the early morning run becoming a meditative time with the city only half awake, it was a time to focus on breathing…willing my lungs not to wheeze.  The last half mile of our three mile run I could feel my lungs losing the battle.  This is such a frustrating experience because I know I can run further and faster than I did this morning.  And its runs like these that make me think I am crazy to expect my body to get through so many long runs during the summer.

As a child, I had exercise and illness induced asthma.  Basically I grew out of it, and for the most part forgot about it.  When I started trying to run, and my lungs suddenly had to process oxygen much faster, I struggled with breathing easily (but don’t we all when we push our fitness level?).  Once I mastered a basic level of running fitness, my lungs only freak out in the extreme cold, humidity, and the rare times I have allergy problems.

I know my body handles weather changes much better than it did two years ago when I started running.  I also know that the more I struggle through these humid runs, the better my body will handle them.  I know everyone has bad running days; that’s part of training.  Sometimes though, you have to hate those people who are out there, running along, lungs functioning perfectly…while I wheeze along, lungs delivering suboptimal levels of oxygen to my poor muscles.  Magically, within a few minutes of finishing my run, my lungs decide to work again…oh how I hate humidity! 

Yoga adventures...

Today we had our last private yoga session, and I’m sad that my individual yoga attention has come to an end.  The individual instruction has helped with my yoga understanding even more than I expected.  It was more than worth the money.  I wish we could have unlimited funds and that I could have weekly private yoga instruction.  I have learned more in the past three sessions than I have in all the past yoga classes I have attended.  Even Bennett has learned to enjoy yoga :)

This adventure into a new type of yoga has taught me a lot.  Previously I had only done Vinyasa yoga, thinking that the constant movement would be more of a challenge and be more fun.  I thought that different types of Hatha yoga would be less physically and mentally engaging, but I was very wrong.  I’ve found I really enjoy the close attention to alignment that Anusara yoga provides.  It can be just as challenging as Vinyasa, more challenging sometimes.  In fact, I found that I had been cheating on certain poses without even knowing it…not using the right muscles because I could make it look right, and after-all we weren’t in that pose for very long. ;)

The close attention to alignment and awareness found in Anusara yoga has been somewhat of an epiphany for me, both in how yoga should be practiced and also in how my own body moves and responds to its own movement.  I am starting to really understand what proper alignment is.  It has really gotten me excited to continue in my yoga practice as both a compliment to my running but also for its own sake.

Heat, humidity, and electrolytes...

So for basically the whole month of June I have been avoiding the heat and humidity and running on our treadmill.  This has been partially to get in some speed and hill work and partially out of laziness.  Avoiding the summer weather, however, could not happen forever so this weekend I decided Bennett and I needed to venture back out in to summer running conditions.  We set out on Saturday for our first run with the running club that I will be training with for the marathon.  Everyone that met for the Saturday run was really nice and chill, with a range of runners both faster and slower than me.  This was exactly the kind of group I was looking for so that made me very happy.

So we set out on our run, me with my two bottle pink fuel belt and Bennett with his little hand held water bottle.  The temperature was in the low 70s and very humid.  We were aiming for an hour run of about 6 miles. 

Well this run showed me some good improvements in my fitness.  Normally with that level of humidity I would be wheezing from early on in the run.  However, my lungs held up pretty well.  I’m really hoping that’s a good sign for the future and not a lucky fluke.  This run, however, reminded both Bennett and me that electrolytes are a must for the summer.  Bennett especially suffered since he’s such a salty sweater…in fact, I thought I almost killed him… 

Luckily we were already planning on some premarathon training running purchases.  The running stores made a nice bit of money on us this weekend…new shoes, new summer running clothes, electrolyte tablets, cliff shot blocks, and new four bottle fuel belts!  Even with 4 bottles I don’t know if that will be enough come August and September when the runs get really long…  I’m hoping I like these electrolyte tablets since I am not a big fan of Gatorade.  And really, I’d be lost without the cliff shot blocks which I love!  Plus, I get to have multiple pairs of running shoes with marathon training!   I got a new pair of Nike Vomeros and I tried to get my Asics Nimbuses but no one wanted to have them in my size; it was very sad.  I will have to get them in a few weeks.  And yes, I realize only running dorks care what kind of shoes I’m wearing…