My focus is on the fact that I did it. I got myself out of bed at 6 am on my day off and finished off 14 miles. It's only Friday. I ran today because I won't be able to run with the group tomorrow. We are going to a friend's wedding tomorrow in Tinton Falls New Jersey. When we looked at the map and what time we need to be there, I knew I couldn't possibly get the miles in before. Since I happend to have off today I opted for running today leaving Sunday as a day to sleep in. :)
I was NOT looking forward to this. I have been running weekday runs with others in addition to the group run on Saturdays and the thought of doing this alone was not making me smile. Last night I finally said "Enough!" focus on somthing else. Easier said than done.
Still I got up, dressed, ate (gobbled) a piece of whole wheat bread and peanut butter, filled my water bottles and off Iwent. I took off from the car at 7:00 a.m. I decided to run the same route that the group will run tomorrow. I really don't like straight out and backs. I prefer to mix up the routes with a little in this direction and a little in that direction but I stuck with the group plan anyway. I hadn't been that far in awhile so at least it would be something different. And in the marathon there is the long out and back to Manyunk so I have to get used to it.
Down to the zero mile maker first then turn around and out to the 7 mile marker. I started out ok. Felt pretty good acutally. Good comfortable pace, shoulders down, back more or less straight. The only weird thing at this point was my water belt. I opted for my amphipod belt (32 ounces) vs the nathan (20 oz) since I just about made it through the 13 with the nathan. The amphipod belt bounces more and that took some re-getting used to. My plan was to stop at the 3 for gu and water then again at the 7 and again at the 3 on the way back. A plan is just a plan though.. you have to be ready to go with the flow (or the lack of flow).
At Indian Head Road, about 2 3/4 into the run I felt out of breath...actually more like I couldn't get enough air. What was that about? It made me feel funky so I stopped and walked about a 1/4 mile and drank some water and downed some electrolyte pills. I started out again and by the time I got to the 3 mile marker I was feeling the same. I took my gu and water and tried to figure out what was wrong. I also had a lot of mucus in my throat; couldn't clear it out easily.(TMI? Sorry) Then I remembered that I've been sneezing and eye watering a lot the last week; my summer allergies must be kicking in. *sigh*.
Ok so I regrouped and modified the plan to 2 miles at a time. So off I went to the CVS just past the 5 mile marker. The traffic light was red anyway. I stretched my back and legs and waited for the light. A much faster runner came up behind me and complained about "this light is the only bad thing about this trail".. personally I look forward to the break it gives me. More water and off I went to the 7 mile marker. It's been a while since I've been past the CVS so I enjoyed the 'new' territory. I also made mental notes to share with the new folks in the group before they head out tomorrow morning.
At the 7 I took my second gu and water and headed back. I was really feeling sluggish though -- breathing is so important and I wasn't managing it well. :( I adjusted to one mile at a time and after the CVS again I was down to 1/2 mile at a time. I walked that last mile and a half.
Not a stellar performance but it's done, I think there are reasons for it and I'm just going to hope that the 15 miles in two weeks is better.
Follow up notes:
On the gus; I did switch to no caffeine ones and two runs in a row now I have no stomach pains :)
On the foot thing; I did experience the numbness again but not the shooting pain to my knee. I did take way more walk breaks than the past two weeks though so maybe that has something to do with that.
On the compression socks; working wonders on my calves but wish they were tighter on my feet they could really use it.
Keep smiling and keep moving :)
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