Saturday was a 22 miler. The last long run before the taper. And it was so smokey here you could barely see a mile away. chunks, not just ash were falling from the sky. Friday I frantically phoned the college, gyms, etc to try to find a place to run on an indoor track. Alas, I was treadmill bound. Friday a 6 mile run on the treadmill made me want to rip my hair out so I was not looking forward to this. Friday night Hubbee and I went out for sushi. I know this meal works great for me pre-long run. I wanted to stack the deck in my favor for success. Also, since I wasn't trying to beat the heat and could sleep in a bit (my body doesn't really allow me to sleep past 7:30) I had a glass of wine.
Saturday I went to my studio to begin my longest run of the training portion on the treadmill. i refuse to refer to it as the deathmill etc. My treadmills name is Freddy the Tready. We are friends. He has made some runs possible that otherwise would not have happened and I appreciate him. I decided every mile I would hop off and do the roman chair--10 straight leg lifts. This just helps me think about 1 mile at a time. I kept the clock going from start to finish--even when did the chair, and ran to bathroom. The 22 miles took 3:08:33. I would not allow myself to go slower than 7 mph. the first three and the last three miles I really wanted to go slower but I kept steady.
I also wore compression socks. I have only worn them one other time, as part of our costume at the Disney Princess half marathon. The week before i had a twinge of a calf cramp so I didn't want to experience that again. As dorky as they look on me I think they really helped!!
I am now on the hunt for a nike pair to wear at the Chicago Marathon and The San Fran women's half. I normally run in capris, but these socks seemed to help a ton and I felt great all day and the next day!
Sunday was supposed to be a rest day, however, hubbee and I hiked about 8-9 miles with our dogs. I did jump in the alpine lake--my favorite type of icebath! Monday was a yoga day (thank god!!) so I locked myself in the sewing room and worked on my pinwheel quilt. The top is really coming together. I am going to put gray strips in between each pinwheel and still need to figure out the backing and a binding fabric...
The two squares to the side will be pillows to coordinate with the quilt. Also my fabric arrived for me to begin making my sister-in-law's bridal shower gift. She is really into retro/vintage things and likes one of a kind pieces. When I saw this in my BurdaStyle it screamed Jaclyn. I ordered a white fabric with white dots, a black with white dots and red to make ruffles and trim. She loves polka dots so I think she will like this ensemble.
I hope I can do it! I have never made anything like this--requiring underwire, etc. but it will be worth it to create a unique gift for her. I wasn't sure at first and hemmed and hawed and then that night she texted me a pic of the pool bag I made her for her sunday pool parties at the Valley Ho--and i took that as a sign that she will like this too! :)
So I am on the downward slope of training: the taper. I struggle with this part but am becoming very excited for both trips. Also this sunday I am running a half marathon (Bozeman) and can't wait to race for fun--not stressing about time etc. I want to do well--but there are no consequences/goals/etc.
I am still amazed that I am going to be flown to San Fran for the Nike Women's Marathon. I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET MY #SISTERSINNIKE!!!!!!! We are going to have an epic weekend!! And I hope its one of many!!!
I was planning on running with Britton for our long run. I woke at 5:15 and left our cozy camp and drove down the mountain road wishing i had a cup of coffee in hand. When I reached the bottom, and cell service, there was a text that Britton wasn't going to make it. :( bummer. so i drove the half hour back up the mountain and crawled back into my down burrito of a bed in our camper and snuggled with my dogs.
Dumb dumb dumb.
hubbee said he would ride the bike while i ran so we packed up our camp stuff and headed home. We began the run around 11. it was already 81 degrees, and VERY windy. i had a four bottle fuel belt and he had a large camelbak filled with water. About .77 miles down the road (down two large hills mind you) i realized i forgot my fuelband. And it was #Gameonworld fuel challenge day. so we turned around and headed back to grab the band. Just to fill you in on Hubbee's bike riding, I was running faster than he was riding--especially up the hills. now my nickname may be turtlegirl, but I am also of the school "hurry up and wait". I wanted to scream at him, "you have wheels!! move them!" but was thankful for the company, eventhough I was constantly turning and waving him to me.
Do you see where this is going?
So now i have my fuelband, liquids, shotbloks, i'm set and ready to find my groove. We are plodding along a rolling hilly gravel road at the base of the Crazy mountains. it is hard to run into the wind, but it is way better than stagnant hot air. Hubbee is beginning to complain about his rearend on my bike seat (i don't know why he took my bike--another bone of contention--and now he is going to complain.) Again i find myself wanting to shout, "you have wheels. Shut up!!" But I still think i am enjoying the company. And hey, my butt is not sore!! I think I feel okay, I check the GPS: 5.56 miles.
One third done.
I suddenly feel a lump form in my throat.
my mind starts to crazy spin. Thoughts of not completing the run, falling in the ditch, thinking about how hot it may be race day in Chicago... yes. CRAZY spinning. And Hubbee (mind you the recently quit smoking, non-active, complaining with wheels) begins to try to talk me down. I am not going to lie--i had visions of kicking his bike to the gravel, only the last two "sane" brain cells said, "stop. he is on your bike." So i plodded along and the insanity passed. I kept my mouth shut and did not bite hubbee's head off. Then the rest of the run was okay. Not great, but not horrible and it was completed.
I have hit "the wall" one other time, several years ago. At mile 17.5, not 5.5 and i could see the roofline of my house once I crested one of the two big hills on my way home. Same thing, lump forms and suddenly even in the heat, i had goosebumps and tears and nothing left in the tank. I was waiting for a car to pass so I could lie down (yes, i was planning on lying on the side of the road). i wanted to curl up and die. And i remind you I could see the roof of my house!! The car is going ridiculously slow, even for our gravel road traffic, and miraculously, by the time the car passes I began jogging again and felt GREAT. Could have run several more miles.
My lesson learned is push through. Walk if you must but keep moving forward. This too shall pass. I know both of these times i didn't think of the ones that can't run and normally this helps me, too. And another lesson--stick to the treadmill if it is that hot. it was 87 when done--blecht. I know better than to set myself up for failure--but I thought i really liked the company. eh, company can be overrated!! I do appreciate hubbee's efforts (and that was his longest bike ride to date! ) but I know better than to run in that heat.
Have you ever hit "the wall"? Did you come out okay on the other side?
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