For the last few weeks I really thought my body was trying to tell me that a marathon was just not in my life plans. I suffered from fatigue, injury and then illness all over a three week span. Fatigue turned a 20-miler into a 13 as did illness. An injury on a cut-back week was a little easier to live with but over the last month I really started to question my ability to pull off the training for a marathon, particularly the 20-mile run.
I know what you're thinking, why am I trying to run 20 miles more than once? Well, I have to admit I was originally concerned when I took a closer look at my training plan and saw not one but FOUR 20+ mile runs maxing out to 23. Having never done more than 14, it seemed a bit of a stretch. But I'm what you'd call a stubborn SOB at times. If I have a plan, I want to stick to it. Training for the marathon has taught me the need to be a lot more flexible when it comes to training.
So this past weekend, after getting home late from work on Saturday, I decided not to set an alarm and let my body get the rest it needed. I woke up a little before 8, feeling good, and ate a small breakfast of oatmeal and a banana. Around 9:30 I got ready to get head out for my 3rd attempt at the 20-mile run. Before I left, my lovely wife gave me a hug and said she was giving me all her extra energy to help. That may have did the trick. A bigger fear than lack of energy for myself was a depleted Garmin. Realizing I hadn't charged it overnight gave me the fear that it'd die somewhere along my run, leaving me with no alternative to chart my mileage as I chose to run an improv route, which I though would keep me a bit more interested and less likely to give in to fatigue or pain, since I'd have to run back anyway (yes, I brought my phone as an emergency, but getting tired was not a reason to allow myself to call the wife to bring the cavalry).
My run was going great until I reached what I thought was going to be a good halfway point and realized that I was about 5 miles short. So I did what I planned to do and invented a new route for myself, going in the opposite direction of my house. When I hit 10 miles I definitely felt like I could go another 10, especially with the gorgeous cool weather that was keeping my heart rate in great shape.
I ended up needed about 2.5 miles by the time I got back to my neighborhood and those were easily the toughest miles of my run. But as I approached my house for that last stretch and saw my Garmin click over from 19.99 to 20.00, a sense of accomplishment as well as relief washed over me. I know I still have another 6 to go for the real deal. But finally getting in that long run really renewed my spirit and has me excited again about the next six weeks of training. I know it's hard not to quit but the alternative is sure worth it.
Keep on runnin'!
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