Random Thoughts as I Slammed the Wall

Water? Shoot last 2 ounces if that? Man I have gone thru 30 ounces! Watermelon sounds good. I really like watermelon. What did that Chef say about it last night- something about it being too sweet - idiot. Watermelon is the best! I like mango's a lot. I really need more water. The legs can make it, but I feel, not well. How much longer? Two miles, no less than that. 1.5? Seattle sounds nice right now. I miss the natural AC. However, the Rocky Mountains seem to be calling on this next move. Maybe I will want to try Law School again. At 43 - who does that? Man, I would miss the Central Cali Coast. What the h-e-double hockey stick is Gov. Terminator doing to my favorite State? Who votes in a body builder as Gov.? Man that watermelon sounds good. I will take a small swig. So, tired as well, my feet are killing me. My shoulder hurts. Legs feel okay. Little cramp feeling on left calf. Vegas is stupid hot. Did it go back over 101 during this run. Need to make my kids proud. Man I need to pick up my pace. Water? another swig. Wind is making it feel like a pizza oven. Pizza? Pagliacci or Pizza of my Heart Veggie sounds good. I would probably throw it up? Watermelon now that sounds perfect. Next time I due this distance - Gatorade and gels. Watermelon Gatorade! Yes, home in site. I think I walk the last block home. Hope my wife went to bed instead of waiting up. I love her. Yes! I am home. Gatorade and lots of it!

Yes, for the first in my training - I really slammed head on into the wall. The above, to the best of my next day memory, is what was randomly passing in out of my mind. I read a runners blog of someone (whom seems not very religious) calling it the Jesus moment as well. Felt that and it involved my Sister who just passed away. Too personal to mention any further here though. I was wiped. Tired and hot. When I left the house it was 97 degrees. We hit 106 that afternoon, but at 9:00 PM when I left the house it was 97. After I knocked down two small bottles of Gatorade, and very tall cold glass of Orange Juice - I checked the Weather Channel. It was 95. It only cooled down two fricken degrees. However, I did it. Got in over 9 miles - 9.2 to be exact. The other thing about the run, I spaced literally. I never try to do a long one without taking the previous day off. Last nights personal marathon was my third day in a row running. Plus, the previous ones were hard workouts as well. Yet, overall the legs did well. My left shoulder blade area was really hurting though. So, were my feet. I really need to pick of the pace though. I have 60 days, if I don't, that Half in Sept. will be a slog.

What did I learn from last night? Back to taking a day off prior to a long run. Do the long run in the early AM when it is in mid 80's. Better hydration system and bring along a gel pack or two. Never give up! Which I did not and have not. However, this really is the worst time of the year to train in Vegas. Typically, for the next two months and half over 105 degrees is a given on any day. It seems to slam on the brakes Mid Sept. and we will be below 100 finally. Which by then, anything below 95 makes you run for a Sweatshirt. Strange feeling really.

You know though, I woke up and read over a new blog posting by Krissy Mohl. She just finished the Western States 100 endurance run. Second place finish overall for the women. I almost cried (no, I am not a girlie man) reading her blog. Sounds like a very scary post run scare. For the first time she threw up and needed an IV. Plus, completely passed out. Almost needed a hospital trip to bring her back. Lots of Drama there. Great finish Krissy. Go home to Seattle and eat a Dicks Deluxe. It does make my effort last night seem silly. She just did 100 Miles in 19 hours of running! In 100 degree heat at times. However, we all have our own Marathon's so to speak. Last night at this point in my life, with my body and my training - 97-95 degrees at the 7 mile point gives me a sliver of what Krissy Mohl just compelled her body to do. Amazing what we can get our bodies and minds to do! As a recently viewed Documentary on Marathons mentioned - physically and anthropology thinking - Humans were naturally made/built to run. Either that, or we are just nuts.