A story of going from being a non-runner to planning for a marathon in three years...

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Why do I do this again?

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Yesterday was just not a day for running. I wanted nothing more than to turn off my alarm clock and go back to sleep when it blared at me at 6:30 this morning. Instead I dragged myself out of bed and leisurely drank some water, ate a bagel with peanut butter, and changed into my running gear. Around 7:15 I was ready to go.

As a sign as how out of it I was, I made it out of the house and onto the sidewalk before I realized I'd forgotten to put on my visor. Back to the house to get it. There was no way I could have run this morning without it. It was like a freaking swamp out there!

Told myself I could go as slow as I wanted. That I would do the 8.5 mile loop and tack on an extra mile or so at the end if I felt good.

I did not feel good. Every single step was a struggle. I was running a slow-for-me pace and it felt harder than the pace I run during track workouts. The sky was overcast but the humidity was brutal. I prayed it would just start raining already. Maybe that would help.

The rain did come but it was just a light sprinkle for a few miles. I wouldn't say it helped a lot. Every time I tried to speed up I'd just feel horrible. Dizzy. Exhausted. Weak. I wore my fuel belt, drank some water every mile and a half, and at mile 5.5 I stopped and ate some Sport Beans. They didn't do anything but sit in my stomach and make me feel like puking.

Everything hurt. My shoulders ached. My quads were sore. My adductors were killing me. That spot in my right glute/hip was giving me some troubling talk.

Still, I trudged along and told myself I wouldn't walk other than for a few minutes while I transferred my iPhone from my armband to my fuel belt pocket (keeping it out of the rain you see) and to eat my Beans. I stuck to that goal until just after mile 8. Then I just couldn't go on anymore. I walked. I passed the dog park and there was a dog who reminded me of Trinka Deu. I started to cry. My run was horrible. My dog was dead. How was I ever going to run an entire half marathon without walking? How was I even going to train for this stupid full marathon in this horrible weather? I walked the last half mile home and then cried at the sink while I drank my post-run chocolate milk.

It was a very discouraging run. However, I did manage to distract myself by test riding two road bikes later in the afternoon. Of the Specialized Dolce Sport and the Giant Avail 3 I really liked the Giant. No purchases yet, though. I plan to try out a few more brands later today.

I have to admit, though, after having such a horrible run followed by having fun on a bike the idea of a duathlon is looking better and better.

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Activity
Route:--Elev. Avg:626 ft
Location:--Elev. Gain:+0 ft
Date:06/05/10Up/Downhill: [+59/-59]
Time:07:17 AMDifficulty:2.3 / 5.0
Performance

Distance: 8.56 miles
Time:1:37:44
Speed:5.3 mph
Pace:11' 25 /mi
Calories:994
Map
 
Elevation (ft)
 
Pace (min/mile)
 
Splits
MilePace (min/mile)Speed (mph)Elevation
Gain
actual+/- avgactual+/- avg
110' 27-0' 585.7+0.5+3 ft
210' 38-0' 475.6+0.4+6 ft
311' 00-0' 255.5+0.20 ft
410' 44-0' 415.6+0.3-9 ft
510' 55-0' 305.5+0.2+13 ft
611' 05-0' 205.4+0.2-3 ft
711' 21-0' 045.3+0.0+3 ft
810' 44-0' 415.6+0.3-13 ft
end18' 10+6' 453.3-2.00 ft
Versus average of 11' 25 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

6 comments:

Anne said...

So glad you had fun trying out bikes (a duathlon sounds perfect)!
...I guess bad runs are par for the course. There's a good one just around the corner I'm sure. :)

Claire said...

We do it because it feels so damn good when we stop!

Hope you find the perfect bike!

Jessica (Bayjb) said...

Aww I'm sorry you didn't have a great run. Frustrating! I used to love running in the rain but sometimes, it can be so distracting, especially when you don't want to get out of bed.

Jamie said...

These days are always the toughest. Everyone goes through them and I think we all have bad runs to appreciate our good runs that much more! Hope it turns around for you soon!

kilax said...

Did you get that RAM racing email about the upcoming duathon today? That Giant looks cool! What color do you like (such a girly question!)?

I think we all have to have these sh*tty runs from time to time... just to remind us we have it in us to make it through. So corny, I know.

Holly said...

I am so sorry to hear you had a crappy run. :-( I always try to cut myself some slack in this humid, muggy weather - I think it has a bigger effect on us than we realize! Just know that even the BEST of runners have those bad runs....for whatever reason. And it will make that next "good" run seem all that much better!

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