Patty was right about learning a lesson each long run you do...They are tough lessons at that. Today's lesson on the agenda was the importance of not breaking in new shoes (not new really but first time out for a "run") on a long run. Yeah lets just say I have blisters on ever toe and ALL up my heal from those damn shoes.... yeah lesson learned.
See when I headed out I told the hubby I was going to do today's 12 miles in 3 mile increments to avoid injury and also to spread it out during the day seeing how I am already struggling with the miles.
Well 1.5 miles (the turn around point) turned int0 2 miles turned into 3 miles and having learned last weekend the valuable lesson of hydration I was sure not to learn that lesson again and brought along the hydration pack "just in case" seeing how I am learning pretty quick its about how you feel once you get going that will determine how far you will go.
So at 4 miles I called home to tell him not to lock the door because he was leaving and I was going to be at least another hour he says "Oh I though you were only doing 3 miles"
"Yeah well my body decided other wise"
My first 4 miles were pretty strong I aimed to run at least 1/2 of each mile and that was still a struggle at 4.5 miles on my way back I noticed another path and decided it looked as if it went pretty far and it was all up hill (I was still feeling pretty good at this point) and I wanted to challenge myself so I decided my 8 miles was going to turn into 9 miles that way I would have less to do later in the day. Well I headed up the hill for the 1/2 mile and then jogged back down; talk about BURN!! Anyways it was all my body could handle and I think I pushed a little to hard because my legs became tree trunks and it took all my mind, body and spirit not to call the hubby to come get me. The last 3.5 miles were HELL so much so that by my final 1 1/2 mile I was barely walking it was more of a stroll and it took EVERYTHING in me just to finish. There were 2 short cuts on my way home that I could have taken and I kept telling myself "Screw that you did not run that hill for nothing!!"
I made it just barely. My feet ARE KILLING ME!! So much so I actually filled the bathtub with COLD water and put my feet in for 5 minutes. I also iced my shins by kneeling in and tried to ice my thighs a little too but it was SO COLD I could only splash water on them.
3 more miles tonight. **sigh**
Reflection: Today was a really tough day and the last 2 miles aloud me to really think about this whole running situation. I promise Patty I will do this 1/2 marathon we have coming up and really work as hard as I can but the more I think that our full marathon is in 3 months and I only have 16 more weeks of training the more I am thinking I am going to have to postpone my full marathon. I was thinking I may do the 1/2 in Detroit and then start the training from scratch to do the FULL LA marathon in March. That way I will have a year of training under my belt. I really feel the struggle with my miles right now some of its the altitude some of it is the extra weight I am carrying around and I am working to fix both. Today my max run was 1/2 mile and I could barely finish the 9 miles. I am not saying I can not push myself to do the full I am just saying I would prefer to not have to walk 1/2 of it. I would like to be in better shape and at least be able to run 13 miles when all I can do now if I REALLY push is 1 full mile maybe 1 1/2 but then I am beat.
We will see what the future holds I am just thinking out loud here.
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Have you ever made one of those list? You know the one with things you want to do before you die? Well running a marathon is one of mine. Here is my journey
4 comments:
In my book, you get triple credit for hills :-)
Sounds like you're really pushing yourself to new limits - way to go. It's good to set realistic expectations of yourself, and it sounds like that's what you're pondering...important stuff! Gotta be kind to yourself.
I feel like a slug reading your post - I've sat on my ass for an ENTIRE WEEK now! I need to sign up for a race so I have something to motivate me :-)
Hello there! Believe me, I know what you're going through! =) Hills will absolutly drain you if you aren't prepared for them but don't be discouraged. You did it!
I can't really offer up any advice (as I'm still a newb to this whole "running thing") other than the importance of listening to your body. I wouldn't write off the marathon just yet, give yourself a few days to recover from this week and see how you feel.
Keep up the great work!
OMG!!!!! YOU HAVE BLISTERS! YOU ARE A RUNNER!!! I can't believe you didn't take a picture of them to share with the rest of us like I did my skinned knee! I wanta see.
I am so thrilled and proud of your accomplishments. You are doing fabulous!
Today, decide not to decide about the full, but know what I want for you is what running can do for you. When you tackle your marathonn is not important. Whenever you do I will be there for you, and am already saving for LA. Maybe some of these new runner friends commenting on your blog will want to join in with us?
Ditto on the hill comment! I had a terrible time over the weekend running a hilly course for the first time, but I did it again this morning and it was much more approachable. Don't let it get you down... there's a lot of psychology involved, you know? Happy running!
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