Ok, it's been nearly a week since I blogged. I think subconsiously I was avoiding reporting what has transpired in that week. I was set to run 18 last Saturday. First I must give some history to my experience with 18 mile training runs. Last year, my 18 mile run took place in DC Ranch with Trudy in freezing cold rain. Looking back I will always remember that run because of the circumstances. Two weeks ago, I was supposed to run my 18 miles and came down with a cold so I decided to rest my body that weekend. So that brings us up to last weekend. First I had to find the time to run 18 miles. Do to my volunteer responsibilities at the Ironman event in Tempe (look for a future blog on this), I had no other choice but to run a rare afternoon run on Saturday. The afternoon temps were supposed to be unseasonably warm, mid 80's. Jeff was onboard for 11 miles, so we carefully hatched a well formulated plan that would make NASA proud. I would start at Granada Park at around 11 and head west 3.5 miles, turn around taking in 7 miles and meeting Jeff back at Granada for the final 11. Judging from the volume of sweat 2 miles in, I knew this was going to be a challenge. I've been doing a lot reading about heart rate training and the benefits behind it. Essentially, it involves monitoring your runs or workouts based on your heart rate in order to avoid "blowing up" (essentially exhausting yourself). This is particularly important for distance runners and triathletes. Anyway, I decided to monitor my first 7 using this method. I slowed my pace and really tried to regulate my breathing to keep my heart rate down. However, as my body became warmer, this became more difficult. Finishing the first 7, I met up with Jeff at Granada where he greeted me with some water to restock the fuel belt. As we headed out for the final 11, I already felt spent. I felt like I had to have run at least 13 already, but that was not the case. I got another 2-2.5 miles in before I slowed down to take a water break. My body was exhausted. I was beginning to feel like I was putting a "black cloud" on Jeff's run too. Approaching mile 11, it felt like it was 100 degrees. When talking about the weather, most would say, "80 degrees, that's perfect." However, when your out there exerting yourself, and that sun is high over head just beating you down...things feel much worse. It was around this point where the real challenge began. As many know, there is a large mental part of running, especially long distances. There come a time when you have to talk yourself through the pain. Some people think about anything but running, some simply count their steps, and some repeat some sort of phrase. I usually go with the phrase approach. I remember doing this around mile 22-26 of the marathon last year. I needed to go there on this run so I kept my eyes focused on the ground about 5 feet ahead and kept repeating, "you are strong, you can do this.....you are strong, you can do this!" This phrase got me through to the turnaround. We stopped at the park nearby and filled up the fuel belts. Jeff asked if I had "bonked"....uh, yeah, that was an understatement. I was done. However, here is where I want to give Jeff some much deserved credit. He is hands down, the only reason why I finished this run. He was better than any GU packet or water bottle on this run. He reminded me time and time again to push through, to break the run down into chunks (even if that chunk is making it to the next light pole), and took my mind off the run by talking about everything under the sun....no pun intended. THANKS Jeff! Needless to say, the final 5 were damn near impossible. It consisted of a lot of walk breaks. My body was bruised and battered. I think the final numbers reflect a 9:30 pace, which is not gonna get me to the finish line in under 4 in January. However, as the Garmin indicates....I finished another unlucky 18 mile run. Ok, now the scary part. After finishing my run I noticed that my jaw began to tighten up. I dismissed it as a possible symptom of dehydration. I came to find out later that jaw stiffness is a sign of heart stress. Yeah, last weeks run was indeed a "heart stress"....physically and emotionally. If you read Jeff account of the run, you'll see a more optimistic side, but honestly this run set me back. We'll see what the future holds, but let the record show, that I'm pretty discouraged. Maybe it's me realizing that I'm human.....who knows???? Activity
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Posted from runtracker.runnersworld.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Posts
Polar Express December 2010
15 years ago
No comments:
Post a Comment