After my 20 miler, I felt confident. Finally! However, both my feet were sore. Makes sense after 20 miles so I didn't think much about it all week. Two days ago, I ran a short 14 miles. (You have to love when 14 miles is a short run!) It seemed really easy. My lungs felt good, my legs felt good. However, my feet started to hurt in the same spot as the previous week. One foot hurt worse than the other. I didn't think much about it, though, until I finished my run.
I touched my foot. Pain! I took my shoe off. Bruise! It wasn't a big bruise, but it is definitely still there two days after the run and it is also a bit swollen. This leads me to a dilemma. This week I am supposed to run 22 miles. Do I do it? I want to. I want to see how well I can do. I want to feel well trained. However, I truly wonder if my foot can take a 22 and a 26 mile run in the next 3 weeks. I have no doubt that I can pull out one long run. I know it will be painful, but that I will be able to get through it. I'm not sure I can do two long runs, though. I have no idea what is actually wrong with my foot. Even with my internet medical degree, I can't find a diagnosis!
I want to make the right choice, but I'm not sure which choice is correct. I'm not sure if I should run a shorter run this week or go for the full 22. I want to do what will give me the best outcome on race day. I fear that I won't know what the right choice is until it is too late, until I've run too far. Right now, I could really use a psychic to predict the future for me!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
One Month Out!
It hit me today that I'm really running a race one month from today. So many weeks of training makes the actual race day almost feel fictional. Running 20 miles yesterday reminded me that it's getting close, but looking at the calendar today really gave me the "Oh, wow!" feeling.
Training hasn't been perfect. Burn out. Illness. Pain. Vacation. All have played a role in the training; there's no doubt. Training could have been a lot worse, though. Now, in the last month, I'm hoping that everything I have put into this since January pays off. Four hours thirty nine minutes is the time to beat. The McMillan calculator says I can make it to 4:33. I really want 4:30. I know that if I can get to 4:33 that I can push out 4:30, but can I make 4:33? The last time I used the McMillan calculator I was 22 minutes slower than what it said. This time, I have a much better base so I'm hoping that makes a difference.
Why does the time matter? I'm not trying to reach something unattainable. It's realistic. Training is painful! I don't want to keep going through the pain year after year. Four marathons is enough for me! However, I want to go out reaching my goal. I don't want to have to give up Friday night because I have to run on Saturday a.m. I don't want to give up Saturday night because I'm too exhausted to do anything. And, I don't want to give up Sunday afternoon anymore because I am too sore to move. It's a lot of commitment for a mediocre runner. I've enjoyed every bit of it, but I want a well-rounded life. Half-marathons, vacations, AND fun with friends.
This is my last marathon. However, I fear that if I don't reach my goal, I'll put myself through it all again even though I enjoy the half-marathons so much more. Why does it matter? I know exactly what I want. However, I don't know that I'll follow my heart if I don't get my goal. So, 4:30 Clif Bar Pace Team, please pull me through in Duluth!
Training hasn't been perfect. Burn out. Illness. Pain. Vacation. All have played a role in the training; there's no doubt. Training could have been a lot worse, though. Now, in the last month, I'm hoping that everything I have put into this since January pays off. Four hours thirty nine minutes is the time to beat. The McMillan calculator says I can make it to 4:33. I really want 4:30. I know that if I can get to 4:33 that I can push out 4:30, but can I make 4:33? The last time I used the McMillan calculator I was 22 minutes slower than what it said. This time, I have a much better base so I'm hoping that makes a difference.
Why does the time matter? I'm not trying to reach something unattainable. It's realistic. Training is painful! I don't want to keep going through the pain year after year. Four marathons is enough for me! However, I want to go out reaching my goal. I don't want to have to give up Friday night because I have to run on Saturday a.m. I don't want to give up Saturday night because I'm too exhausted to do anything. And, I don't want to give up Sunday afternoon anymore because I am too sore to move. It's a lot of commitment for a mediocre runner. I've enjoyed every bit of it, but I want a well-rounded life. Half-marathons, vacations, AND fun with friends.
This is my last marathon. However, I fear that if I don't reach my goal, I'll put myself through it all again even though I enjoy the half-marathons so much more. Why does it matter? I know exactly what I want. However, I don't know that I'll follow my heart if I don't get my goal. So, 4:30 Clif Bar Pace Team, please pull me through in Duluth!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
18 Long Miles
After careful analysis, I am beginning to doubt my sanity. Do you know anyone else that has a hobby she doesn't enjoy? Didn't think so.
The previous two weekends (and two half marathons) were amazing. I felt on top of the world. Then came yesterday and 18 miles. I DREADED every step of the run. Let me repeat. Every step, not just the last few miles were miserable! I really and truly didn't want to be out there-and the long run is my favorite run.
Yesterday's run proves to me that choosing Grandma's Marathon to be my last marathon is a smart move. I'm a halfer. I didn't want to be; I wanted to be a full marathoner, but I just don't enjoy it. (Okay, so I had this same conversation with my friend, Amber, last night. One marathon does make you a marathoner; you don't have to keep doing them, but, you know what I mean.)
Part of my problem is mental. I guess that makes sense since I am questioning my sanity to begin with! Even though I have completed three full marathons, my mind doesn't really believe my body can do it. All three of those marathons were in 2009. The first one went well. The second and third were three weeks apart from each other (Hello, Rock N' Roll extra medal!) and completed while I was injured so those races weren't run anywhere near the way the first marathon was run.
Having completed 13 half marathons, they are almost second nature to me. The hilly IU marathon I ran over spring break without any running the previous week proves to me that no matter what shape I'm in I can always pull out a half-marathon. A marathon, though? My mind just doesn't believe I can run more than 15 miles. "Of course, you can run 13," my head says. "And 15, that means you'll be even more prepared for a half." But 18 or 20? My head just doesn't believe. I become so mental about my ability to run that far that the entire run is horrible. Realistically, if I just ran 13 miles the last two weekends, it seems that I would be able to get at least that far with ease and then struggle, but no, no, not my body. My body lets the mind rule which means every single step is awful!
After my 18 miler was over yesterday, I took the opportunity to reason with my mind. I let it know that I really only have 3 long runs left; 20, 22, and the marathon with two medium runs sprinkled in between. Hopefully, I will get a break from my mental running the next 5 weeks. Fingers crossed!
The previous two weekends (and two half marathons) were amazing. I felt on top of the world. Then came yesterday and 18 miles. I DREADED every step of the run. Let me repeat. Every step, not just the last few miles were miserable! I really and truly didn't want to be out there-and the long run is my favorite run.
Yesterday's run proves to me that choosing Grandma's Marathon to be my last marathon is a smart move. I'm a halfer. I didn't want to be; I wanted to be a full marathoner, but I just don't enjoy it. (Okay, so I had this same conversation with my friend, Amber, last night. One marathon does make you a marathoner; you don't have to keep doing them, but, you know what I mean.)
Part of my problem is mental. I guess that makes sense since I am questioning my sanity to begin with! Even though I have completed three full marathons, my mind doesn't really believe my body can do it. All three of those marathons were in 2009. The first one went well. The second and third were three weeks apart from each other (Hello, Rock N' Roll extra medal!) and completed while I was injured so those races weren't run anywhere near the way the first marathon was run.
Having completed 13 half marathons, they are almost second nature to me. The hilly IU marathon I ran over spring break without any running the previous week proves to me that no matter what shape I'm in I can always pull out a half-marathon. A marathon, though? My mind just doesn't believe I can run more than 15 miles. "Of course, you can run 13," my head says. "And 15, that means you'll be even more prepared for a half." But 18 or 20? My head just doesn't believe. I become so mental about my ability to run that far that the entire run is horrible. Realistically, if I just ran 13 miles the last two weekends, it seems that I would be able to get at least that far with ease and then struggle, but no, no, not my body. My body lets the mind rule which means every single step is awful!
After my 18 miler was over yesterday, I took the opportunity to reason with my mind. I let it know that I really only have 3 long runs left; 20, 22, and the marathon with two medium runs sprinkled in between. Hopefully, I will get a break from my mental running the next 5 weeks. Fingers crossed!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Race Review: 500 Festival Mini-Marathon: What's Hot and What's Not
The 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is the largest half marathon in the country. It is held the first weekend in May every year.
What's Hot:
*The expo is amazing. Lots of vendors with lots to buy! It definitely gets you in the mood to run.
*The corral system is one of the best I've seen. Volunteers check your bib to assure that runners are in the right corral. There are still corral jumpers, but not as many as other races.
*Running around the Indy 500 track. Neat experience and historical. This year was especially historical with it being the 100th running of the Indy 500.
*Marsh Supermarket gives away plastic bags at the beginning of the recovery food. This way you don't have to hold your gatorade, your banana, your cookies, etc. all in your hands.
*The mile marker signs are easy to see and all give the running time of the race. There is a timer at the start line so you can easily see how many minutes have passed since the clock started running. Great for those not in corral A.
*The family reunion area has a lot of tents. Local running groups and stores have tents that welcome all the runners. Many supply food and drinks. Bands play in the beer garden. This is also good for the family members waiting on runners.
What's Not:
*The race is entirely too crowded. Being stepped on and pushed is par for the course well into the race. The track is the midway point and I was still being stepped on at that point. Very few runners in the race are even considerate enough to apologize. BIG NEGATIVE.
*The finish line did not have a medical tent nearby. You had to get through medals, recovery food, and pictures before the medical tent was available. It was a large area, but it was far into the family reunion area and not easy to locate. At the finish, no medics were around directing runners to the medic tent if they needed it.
*Traffic getting to the race is tough. It's at a stand still from all directions of town. If you get a meter, you only have four hours which doesn't really let you enjoy the experience of the race when you have to rush to the car after the race. If you can wait through the traffic to get a parking garage, it's not as bad.
*Beach balls being thrown into the corrals just before the start. The minutes prior to the race are for mental preparation, not for play, in my opinion.
Final Verdict:
Would I run this race again? No. Should you? Yes. Everyone should run this race at least once. The hoopla and the track are worth it once. Past once or twice, the crowd is too much to go through year after year.
What's Hot:
*The expo is amazing. Lots of vendors with lots to buy! It definitely gets you in the mood to run.
*The corral system is one of the best I've seen. Volunteers check your bib to assure that runners are in the right corral. There are still corral jumpers, but not as many as other races.
*Running around the Indy 500 track. Neat experience and historical. This year was especially historical with it being the 100th running of the Indy 500.
*Marsh Supermarket gives away plastic bags at the beginning of the recovery food. This way you don't have to hold your gatorade, your banana, your cookies, etc. all in your hands.
*The mile marker signs are easy to see and all give the running time of the race. There is a timer at the start line so you can easily see how many minutes have passed since the clock started running. Great for those not in corral A.
*The family reunion area has a lot of tents. Local running groups and stores have tents that welcome all the runners. Many supply food and drinks. Bands play in the beer garden. This is also good for the family members waiting on runners.
What's Not:
*The race is entirely too crowded. Being stepped on and pushed is par for the course well into the race. The track is the midway point and I was still being stepped on at that point. Very few runners in the race are even considerate enough to apologize. BIG NEGATIVE.
*The finish line did not have a medical tent nearby. You had to get through medals, recovery food, and pictures before the medical tent was available. It was a large area, but it was far into the family reunion area and not easy to locate. At the finish, no medics were around directing runners to the medic tent if they needed it.
*Traffic getting to the race is tough. It's at a stand still from all directions of town. If you get a meter, you only have four hours which doesn't really let you enjoy the experience of the race when you have to rush to the car after the race. If you can wait through the traffic to get a parking garage, it's not as bad.
*Beach balls being thrown into the corrals just before the start. The minutes prior to the race are for mental preparation, not for play, in my opinion.
Final Verdict:
Would I run this race again? No. Should you? Yes. Everyone should run this race at least once. The hoopla and the track are worth it once. Past once or twice, the crowd is too much to go through year after year.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Road Back to Love
I need racing in my life. Go ahead, dangle the carrot. Medals. Expos. Trendy running apparel. Dangle three carrots, I guess. If only I could race without training. There's my #1 bestseller idea.
Since running the Derby miniMarathon last Saturday, I have been on the road back to loving running. Hearing Nappy Roots on my iPod at mile 4 while running in Louisville, KY, hustling through the U of L campus where I attended college, and bustling through one of my favorite places, Churchill Downs, all helped to remind me of that love. However, the hype has continued into this week and this race.
Two weeks. Two races. Soon, two medals. Marathon season has begun and I am in love again.
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