Marathon Running Advice: Sometimes you hit a road block
Those of you following (3 people), you know I've been struggling with my 16 miler. I've tried twice to complete it. And twice I've failed.
My past blog entry talked about my first failed (and humiliating) attempt. But Saturday I tried for a second time to overcome "16 miles"... again.
Here's how it went:
Friday night with the wind and the rain thrashing outside my place, the emails and text messages started flying: "should we reschedule the run to later"? Considering the last time I played this game, it didn't work out well for me, I was hoping to keep the run on and just brave the weather. In the end, we got lucky, we stuck to plan and ran Saturday morning from Balboa Pier to Huntington Beach... and I actually got a sunburn... not a rain drop fell!
Driving out to the run, my mind drifted to my concerns with the task just up ahead. I was anxious about this run... which was kind of out of character for me. I mean, I'm usually prepared for long run and have a solid foundation before trying to build my miles. But, Monday's attempt wiped out my confidence and left me wondering if I was really going to finish all 16 miles.
Couple things starting messing with my mind: Were my legs not rested from all the racing I'd been doing just three weeks ago? Was my nutrition messing with me? Did the unnecessary rest cause atrophy in my muscles? Was my weight gain causing me havoc? Is this all simply in my head??
At the end of the day, there was only one way to find out... run the 16 miler and see how I do.
We pulled up to Balboa Pier. Weather was a bit cold. Wind was 17 mph. But there wasn't a tsunami warning in effect, so we were good (last year the group attempted a 22 miler on this trail, it was during the OC Tsunami warning... and we completed it).
We push off for the run (The Ladies have 22, me... and my 16). I'm feeling pretty good. Perhaps this is all in my head and I'm going to be ok. About mile 2 I meet up with a fellow runner who's out for his long run of 20 miles. Nice fella. Training for Boston. Minor back pains going on but he's out warming up and hoping for a good run. We run a mile together and I peel off to take my walk break. Three miles in and I'm feeling pretty good. I'd feel better if the head wind wasn't pushing me backwards, but at least it's not my legs giving out on me!
Out I go to the turnaround point, 1 mile beyond the Huntington Beach Pier... I'm excited. One, it means I just need to "get home". No more running away from the car. Now, the pull of finishing is going to get me in. Two, I'm expecting a tail wind... didn't really happen.
Heading back 10-11 miles in I see The Ladies. They look good. We wave our hellos, and off I go to finish this up. I'm starting to "feel it". My legs are a little tight. I'm eating right. I'm taking it slow. It's just the legs feel like I'm at mile 22 of the marathon. Clearly, I'm not even close that!
By mile 12 I'm negotiating with myself to keep going. By mile 13 I take an additional walk break. I see the runner from earlier and he passes with an encouraging shout out. By mile 14... I turn off my timer, and I walk.
Darn it!
So, clearly I'm hitting a road block in training. Looking back at my training it makes sense. Jan-Feb I have logged the following:
If things don't turn around by then... I'm sure I'll cry. But for now I have a plan.
My past blog entry talked about my first failed (and humiliating) attempt. But Saturday I tried for a second time to overcome "16 miles"... again.
Here's how it went:
Friday night with the wind and the rain thrashing outside my place, the emails and text messages started flying: "should we reschedule the run to later"? Considering the last time I played this game, it didn't work out well for me, I was hoping to keep the run on and just brave the weather. In the end, we got lucky, we stuck to plan and ran Saturday morning from Balboa Pier to Huntington Beach... and I actually got a sunburn... not a rain drop fell!
Driving out to the run, my mind drifted to my concerns with the task just up ahead. I was anxious about this run... which was kind of out of character for me. I mean, I'm usually prepared for long run and have a solid foundation before trying to build my miles. But, Monday's attempt wiped out my confidence and left me wondering if I was really going to finish all 16 miles.
Couple things starting messing with my mind: Were my legs not rested from all the racing I'd been doing just three weeks ago? Was my nutrition messing with me? Did the unnecessary rest cause atrophy in my muscles? Was my weight gain causing me havoc? Is this all simply in my head??
At the end of the day, there was only one way to find out... run the 16 miler and see how I do.
We pulled up to Balboa Pier. Weather was a bit cold. Wind was 17 mph. But there wasn't a tsunami warning in effect, so we were good (last year the group attempted a 22 miler on this trail, it was during the OC Tsunami warning... and we completed it).
We push off for the run (The Ladies have 22, me... and my 16). I'm feeling pretty good. Perhaps this is all in my head and I'm going to be ok. About mile 2 I meet up with a fellow runner who's out for his long run of 20 miles. Nice fella. Training for Boston. Minor back pains going on but he's out warming up and hoping for a good run. We run a mile together and I peel off to take my walk break. Three miles in and I'm feeling pretty good. I'd feel better if the head wind wasn't pushing me backwards, but at least it's not my legs giving out on me!
Out I go to the turnaround point, 1 mile beyond the Huntington Beach Pier... I'm excited. One, it means I just need to "get home". No more running away from the car. Now, the pull of finishing is going to get me in. Two, I'm expecting a tail wind... didn't really happen.
Heading back 10-11 miles in I see The Ladies. They look good. We wave our hellos, and off I go to finish this up. I'm starting to "feel it". My legs are a little tight. I'm eating right. I'm taking it slow. It's just the legs feel like I'm at mile 22 of the marathon. Clearly, I'm not even close that!
By mile 12 I'm negotiating with myself to keep going. By mile 13 I take an additional walk break. I see the runner from earlier and he passes with an encouraging shout out. By mile 14... I turn off my timer, and I walk.
Darn it!
So, clearly I'm hitting a road block in training. Looking back at my training it makes sense. Jan-Feb I have logged the following:
- Two back-to-back Half Marathons
- Training for LA that took me up to 18 miles when I should have dropped down to 12
- Boot camp at the office twice a week
- My weekly homework mileage 16-20 miles a week with mile repeats
- Personal stress
- Poor eating habits
If things don't turn around by then... I'm sure I'll cry. But for now I have a plan.
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