Didn't really go as planned, however, I will take it. My schedule - if I can call it that - has been tested daily the last few weeks or more. Too many last minute or day of realworld happenings to adjust too. Such is life? Sick child over the weekend altered how far I could go on Saturday. That and a last minute change of other family plans. So, my last pre race run - happened this AM.
Saturday, I was able to get in 10K distance at a good pace for me. Most important thing - the Achilles pain I was concerned with - did not happen. At least during that run and any time since. My calves are very stiff though. It was uneventful run (which sometimes is okay), but felt good.
This AM run, well not the best. Yet, given how hard I have trained. Especially, over the last two months, I still got to be happy about it all. It was meant to be a 13 miler, but I cut it short at 8.5 miles. I was very tired and the legs really lost something after mile 6. Which is about the time a blog posting by RBR came back to haunt.
RBR (Run Bitch Run) has a fun blog. She had a posting about being Chicked. Which I will say, is a phrase I am not crazy about. Not because I am demasculined guy, but because I grew up in Seattle; and well, I am who I am. Seattle can be very PC at times, and I grew up with a steady diet of Phil Donahue (remember him? anyone?) as well. So, that, and the very well mannered home I was brought up in - well - a phrase like being Chicked just doesn't find a home with me. Plus, if you ever read any previous postings of mine, getting Chicked is not only a good thing, it is also kinda expected.
Anyway, about mile 6 a women, maybe half my age who looked far fitter than I will ever be, blazed past my butt. I saw her on the side of my left eye coming up a sidestreet. That seemed a fair distance away maybe football field lengths. I don't think my mind drifted into too deep a thought, but it seemed like within 30-45 seconds she was not only on me, but past me in a swoosh that only The Flash, Superman or Nike could produce. NO ego bruised on my part, yet I just wanted the feeling of trying to pace with someone this talented. I tried. Ended up just blowing whatever after burner fuel I had. I had to stop at 8.5 miles. A this point, I decided it was not worth pushing things. My legs had lost any spring in them and I also noticed a rubbing on the side of my left pinky toe. Last thing I wanted was a blister going into my first race and half marathon in 13 years. We also have some bad air conditions with the wind blowing in smoke from SoCal fires. Had one heck of a beautiful sunrise due it though. Very thick haze. So, ended up turning around walking home. Instead of a 13 miler to end my Disney Half Marathon training, it was an 8.5 mile run plus a 2 mile walk.
I am actually okay with it all. I really feel I have given the last two months a strong effort in training. July, 94 miles and August 105 miles. Plus, June was around 70 miles. My legs really need a break. Nothing hurts right now, but my calves are extremely tight and stiff. Plus, in the last few weeks, I have really slowed. Just seem to have lost any spring my 43 year legs could have. I also need SLEEP! Cannot tell you how tired I am of waking up at 3:30-4:00 AM during the week. Meg Runs blogger seems to find 9 hours of sleep training for ultras and teaching kindergarten. Not sure how she does it? I think I need to hire a personal assistant to manage my time?
Well, this should be my last entry till after the Disney Half. Not sure I will finish, but I will give it all my 43 year old legs got in them. I will channel all the good vibes and Jamie Donaldson's legs I can. These next 5 days off should help, plus just the sheer fun of it all. As my little 6 year old Disney Princess tells me everyday after my run - "Disneyland makes all your dreams come true Daddy." Cheers!
5 comments:
You've gotta' love kids, the Disneyland comment/encouragement is all you really needed to hear, right?? Sometimes we take ourselves and our running so seriously and we are so hard on ourselves...hey, we're out there in our forties, in the heat, getting chicked or (what's it called when a guy catches us?)duded? Great job, have fun at the half and by the way...I don't have little kids at home anymore(boo, hoo)so that's how I can sleep so much, or at least try to sleep!
Good luck!
You'll surprise yourself after 5 days of rest. All that bottled up training will overflow on race day and you will be rewarded for the effort! Just relax and don't put a lot of pressure on yourself mentally. Most of all, have fun!
One of my running buddies, a long time runner (40-something years), once quipped "Start off slow and back off if you have to!" You'll finish and you'll have fun too.
You haven't ever tried to hide in a restroom from a "tough" track coach?? I thought everyone did that. You should try it...on a cool day. I didn't do it tonight though. I just cried(tee hee)and went home.
The "buzz" at track tonight is that the 1/2 marathon could be cancelled if there are soot/ash problems. Another lady said her husband said(I know, high school)that it's supposed to get cooler by Friday.
You can see the smoke on the GOES EAST PACIFIC TROPICAL SATELLITE! Hope you can all race, I heard the entry was expensive! Good luck!
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