Week 15.
50K training.
AKA How I ran a marathon as a training run.
Never, ever, ever thought I would be saying that. Ever. Serious. I didn’t die. And I didn’t cry. I kinda expected to get in my car and cry after because I bawled after the 2011 Seattle Marathon (my first real marathon) because I was so stinkin proud of myself. Now, 26.2 is no big deal. I shouldn’t disrespect the mileage like that, by saying it is NBD, because it is a big deal. A huge freaking deal. It has taken a few months of training to get to this point. Only a few more weeks left to go until I do complete a 50K…
But this 26.2 was just a training run. All by myself. On the greenbelt. This was just my leggies and me. Trotting. No banners. No bells. No signs. No high-fives. No cheering. No spectators, other then the other greenbelt users – who have no idea what I am accomplishing on this day. No one handing me water at water stops. No post-race party waiting for me at the finish. No medals or race shirts or swag to rock after today. Really, this was for me. I CAN do this casually on a Saturday afternoon and act like running a marathon is no big deal. But I get that in reality, this is a huge freaking deal.
On that note, let’s say that I was so DONE with my 26 miles at 24. I was DONE at 22. I was at my car, ready to pack it up and go home. But I wanted my watch to say 26.2. Blogging and social media kept me accountable here. Thank you for that. I wanted to brag that a marathon was just a training run. You know, as a NBD. I had the wind at my back miles 1-10.25. Pushing me along. I was watching my pace hit 10:XX. No. Is that right? Too fast? How fast can I go for how long? Eh. I wanted to finish strong and not crawl back to my car at mile 20-something. It was a challenge to be around 11:XX pace. Nearly 40MPH gusts helping me along…
After I hit 10.25, I turned around. Running into that wind. What an psychological drain! I couldn’t hear the music I was playing (DJ Bl3nd), the wind was so loud. That was just a bummer. I walked. I jogged. I walked some more. I was bummed. I didn’t want to kill all of my energy running into the wind. I was getting mad at Mother Nature, ruining my “race” day. My pack was getting heavy. I felt a hot spot on the bottom of my big toe. I kept getting pebbles in my shoes. I was afraid of wiggling my toes because I didn’t want a cramp or a blister to form. Was that a cramp in my quad happening? WTF?! Am I sweating less? Maybe I should have salted my PB&J? Next time. Are my hands swelling more then normal? Is my right hand more swollen then the left? I just had to make it to my car and then I only had basically 6 more miles to finish. 6 is easy. All the negative thoughts happened at this time into the wind.
Mile 18, I was feeling good. I thought to myself, I feel TOO GOOD for being at 18 miles. Just a few more miles to go.
Bam. Mile 22. I was done. Dead legs. I took it easy today because I wanted to survive Sunday and I need to be able to go to work on Monday. I can not afford any injuries at this time. Walk. Trot. Walk. Trot. Walk. Walk. Walk. I was done with DJ Bl3nd on my iPod. Hypercrush came on. My power song. Catch me working on my bod. My physique is my facade. Trot. Oh snap, that’s what I’m talkin’ bout! Trot. Shorty gonna walk it out. Walk. I walked all my miles 24-26.2. I would have NOT done that with a bunch of spectators cheering me to the finish, but with all the potty breaks and messing with my new GPS, adjusting my new pack, shaking the rocks out of my shoes, adding another shirt layer, my time was under 6 hours. Not too shabby since I had walked so much and I expected around 6 anyways… But I have not been thinking too much about time or pace on this training plan. Just to finish all of my miles.
I drank water every mile plus some and I ate one bite of PB&J at every 3 miles. I think I could have used more salt but I think everything worked out better then I had hoped. This was my best week of training to date. I even got a slight tan (knees to ankles!) from spending Saturday out in the sun!
Monday – Rest
Tuesday – 4 scheduled – 6 miles done.
Wednesday – 12 scheduled – 4 miles done. I wanted to do 6 T,W,Th. But I was tired. Work is SO draining. I wanted to just stay in bed. Took way too long to get started, but I did get a little something, something done.
Thursday – 4 scheduled – 5 miles done.
Friday – Rest
Saturday – 26 scheduled – 26.2 miles done. I usually wave only to dudes on the greenbelt. Today, they only people who waved were other Nathan pack users. Hello! Hardcore running peeps!
 |
| Team Beef |
I only took 1 pic during this run. No selfies today. I have this pimple that’s just embarrassingly huge and painful on my chin. Anyways, the little cows were curious about me as I trotted past and kept their little cow eyes on me. I say they would have made quite the tasty dinner. All young and tender…
Sunday – 10 scheduled – 5 miles done. My legs feel a little too good to have just done 26.2 yesterday. It took 3 miles to warm up but I felt good. I could have done all 10. My upper back where my pack was aches. I was really slouching at the end of yesterday and I feel it now. But my legs? Um. They feel way too good! Quick recovery for the win! But it could have been the long soak in a cool Epsom salt bath. But let’s just say that my body is really happy and responding well with doing this many miles, um kay?
Do you have a power song that you play to power you when you need that extra bump? How was your week this week?