Ran the dish yesterday in 35 minutes, back of the pack. Definitely an off day, so let's review.
Nutrition - coworkers took me out for a farewell lunch at PF Chang's, exactly the wrong food for running.
Conditioning - Using the "I'm recovering from a marathon" excuse only works for two weeks. After that I'm just being lazy, even if I am wearing my marathon shirt. I felt like I had too much untapped glycogen in my legs, more energy stores than muscle, definitely not that "running lean" feeling I want.
State of mind - oscillating between self-doubt and who gives a f---.
Stride - off balance. I usually have a mantra. This time, no mantra.
End result - I kept moving until I got there, but it wasn't the relaxing zen feeling I look for in a run. I need to up my weekly mileage. I also need to fix my reward system. Just because I like peanut butter ice cream doesn't mean I can eat it for no reason. I have to work for it or it throws off my motivation. So today I spent an hour at the gym and rewarded myself with some chocolate milk. If I'm good then maybe this weekend I can run 16 miles and have some peanut butter ice cream.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Only Ten Miles?
More and more I appreciate the mental challenge of long distance running. It should get easier. No it should not. Doing something difficult is the point. Maintaining pace while you deteriorate, holding it together when you are falling to pieces.
I set out with the lofty goal of 16 miles, as a summer base to carry me into the October marathon. Then life happens. Late night, early morning, barely made it on time and the only hydration was half a can of leftover diet soda. That's when I knew it was not going to be a 16 mile day. I can run an hour without water okay, that's seven, eight miles tops. I ran five out, then a bit more to the dam before turning back. Then the real challenge: it was five miles back.
Don't try this at home, kids.
In a way I looked at it as another challenge. I took a ten mile run and made it as hard as sixteen. I got to that "I want to stop now" feeling that I need to power through. I maintained pace... for the most part. I maintained, physically and mentally, steady to the last mile. I can run another ten minutes, I kept reminding myself.
I made it. When I was done I drove straight to Robert's Market in Woodside, bought a large cold bottle of Gatorade, and drank until I had brain freeze.
I set out with the lofty goal of 16 miles, as a summer base to carry me into the October marathon. Then life happens. Late night, early morning, barely made it on time and the only hydration was half a can of leftover diet soda. That's when I knew it was not going to be a 16 mile day. I can run an hour without water okay, that's seven, eight miles tops. I ran five out, then a bit more to the dam before turning back. Then the real challenge: it was five miles back.
Don't try this at home, kids.
In a way I looked at it as another challenge. I took a ten mile run and made it as hard as sixteen. I got to that "I want to stop now" feeling that I need to power through. I maintained pace... for the most part. I maintained, physically and mentally, steady to the last mile. I can run another ten minutes, I kept reminding myself.
I made it. When I was done I drove straight to Robert's Market in Woodside, bought a large cold bottle of Gatorade, and drank until I had brain freeze.
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