As the date for the big “Long Run” is drawing near, my body feels that it is at a state of total exhaustion. The funny part is, my legs don’t ache any longer, but instead I have an entire body soreness. There is this feeling that I am on the verge of getting sick, and just one mistake could hinder me sick in bed. I almost feel like I should be sitting at home every night and watching a movie with hot tea as I nurse a cold, and really I am sure this probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. Yet, I have to remind myself that I have felt this way in the past at the end of long marathon training periods. This is all a part of the process. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and know that after this coming week, I can taper, and regain my strength.
This past week’s long run was a complete disaster in my sight. As stated previously, this week has definitely proven to be a difficult one for me. While trying to recover from the Staten Island Half Marathon, I have also dealt with shoe issues (my current racing shoes are now discontinued) and reoccuring stomach cramps. I decided to run my long run with a girl from the Harriers, and as I crashed and burned at mile 15 of what was suppose to be my final 22 mile long run, Vicki stood by and talked me through my walking breaks as I held my stomach in pain along the west side highway. Completely humiliated, I left her at Central Park at mile 18, where she finished the last 4 miles solo, while I hung my head and hopped on a train to recuperate at home. As I fell asleep in an epson salt bath later at home, I had to admit to myself that I had pushed myself a little too hard this past week.
When running the half marathon just a week ago, I looked over (or failed to realize) that I would be entering such a state of exhaustion immediately after. Although I got an immediate high and confidence booster from completing the race fast, this week has humbled me, forced me to take a step back and rest a little. As I start a new week in my training (and my last hard week before taper) I can only hope to start on better grounds and regain my strength as I enter the final stage of marathon training.
I did it! In an effort to prove to myself that I am in fact ready for this Marathon, I raced the Staten Island Half this past weekend. This race felt really good. I made sure to really take it easy during the week, and the night before reviewed the course, and mapped out hopeful split times. Although the course was relatively flat, I had never actually ran the route, and was told that there was at least one major hill. So not only did this help to get me familiar with the course, I was also able to make sure I had some breathing room to pace myself on the hills. Once the race started I ended up running slightly faster then my predetermined split times, and at times thought that I might pay the cost at the end of the race, but luckily that didn’t happen, and I was able to finish strong and make the qualifying time for the competitive start time in the Marathon. (only 400 people actually get in from the several hundred who qualify, so it is still up for grabs)
This race was definitely a confidence booster. Half marathons are somewhat deceptive because I never really feel completely wiped out, but I always have to remind myself that they still require some rest afterwards. This week has already proven to be a tough one for me. After taking a day off on Monday, Tuesday’s “easy run” ended with a torturous stomach cramp, resulting in a taxi ride to the closest subway stop, and me bent over in pain for about 1.5 hours post run. During last nights speed workout, I saw one of our top girls, running easy for the second half of the run, and it reminded me that we all need to slow it down at times and just let our body rest. For the rest of my week, I have decided to focus more on just getting miles in, rather then running to fast and exhausting my body.
With only 3 1/2 weeks left in training, Coach Kevin started last night’s workout with three important tips in making sure we dont “fuck up” our training in this last final stretch . . .
The temperature has begun to drop, and it has been raining off and on for several days. I have now brought out my cold-weather running clothes. My body and mind seem to be reacting to the fall weather — it’s as if they they know that the marathon is around the corner, and they better be ready. For the past few days, I’ve noticed that my legs feel stronger — I am gaining back my confidence.
This past Saturday was Grete’s Great Gallop Half Marathon in Central Park. This was a points race for NYC running teams, and with the Marathon right around the corner many people used this as a tune-up. I on the other hand, obviously did not get this notice. I decided to join up with a male member of my team to run this “race” as part of an easy long run. We had talked beforehand about running at about 7:45min./mile pace, right from the beginning we ended up running about 15 seconds slower. Although I knew I could run faster, I also felt some loyalty to the runner since I had previously agreed to run with him. We did end up running a fast last mile, but in the end I was frustrated with the entire situation. Just as I was starting to feel strong again, I was running an easy half marathon (my slowest one to date). In the end I took it as a lesson learned. Although it is good to treat some races as training runs, and also to start slow and finish strong, it is most important to run one’s own race. On that same note: Adam had a great run! He ran fast and said that he felt good and relaxed the whole way.
Thankfully there are always more races, including the Staten Island Half Marathon this weekend, AND it is on a relatively flat course. I sit here on my first night off in about a week and a half. As I look upon the remainder of the week, my main goal is to maintain my strength, and hopefully run a strong, fast half this weekend. Although I have run several half marathons, my best official time for the half is just 20 seconds shy of qualifying for a competitive start in the marathon (1:35). With this weekend as my last chance to qualify, I can only hope my training will pay off and that i can finish with a PR, without exhausting myself in the process.
