Lucky 20

Is there something magical about 20 miles, or have I just been lucky up until now? This past Saturday's run went really well, but I can't say my confidence was 100% leading up to that day.

The previous week's 18 went much better than I expected, but it took a lot out of me. I felt pretty wiped out and sore afterwards. I did an easy 3 miles on Tuesday, and then we met in Norwood last Wednesday for 8.5 miles. We had a simple out and back route going down Madison to Walnut Hills. I was tired starting out, and the weather was warmer than it has been all year. I just didn't have much energy to put towards the run. Thankfully, Lindsay was there, and she wasn't feeling 100%, either. We turned around early and made it 7 instead of 8.5. I guess we wimped out, but I just wasn't feeling it, and I didn't feel like pushing myself only days before our longest training run.

I took Thursday and Friday off to recover. Since coming back from my trip, I have had nagging pain in my quads that just wouldn't go away. I decided to rest and hope that it would be enough time to let those muscles recover. I had a carb filled pasta dinner on Friday night and prayed that Saturday would go well. Weather was great for running - about 40 degrees. That's exactly how I like it, cool. Actually, it was almost a little too cold with a cold wind that didn't seem to let up. We started out in



Newport

The group met up at the Levee. Lindsay and Holly were both there, and we decided that our strategy would be to go out slow and be conservative. We set out through Kentucky following most of the Pig route and settled into a nice relaxing pace with a small group of people as everyone spread out.



Linn & 8th Street

First water stop. I thought it was a little early to be eating a Gu, so I just sipped on my diluted Endurance Formula Gatorade (can't drink that stuff straight up) and took in the lovely scenery of the west end. I also figured out where Emily and I took a wrong turn last week. We continued through downtown and then into



Eden Park

The hills that killed me during the 18 miler seemed so much easier. I was glad that I had paced myself well and made a note to remember this feeling during the marathon. If I pace myself, hopefully I will be feeling just as good as I was on Saturday. We chugged on up the hill to the second water stop at the Eden Park overlook. I enjoyed the view of the city and ate my first Gu. By this point, Lindsay was having a hard time keeping up with Holly and I. She told us to go on ahead because she wasn't feeling great. I felt bad, but we headed out with the ten minute mile group, led by one of the coaches, Brian.



Madison

I was really excited to have made it up all the major hills, especially since I was feeling really great. Runner's high in full effect. I had to keep reminding myself that I still had about 11 miles to go and that I needed to pace. Despite those reminders, I broke away from the 10 minute group and ran out ahead. I was feeling awesome as we passed the Running Spot. We turned down Erie and continued on. All the while, Coach Brian was filling us in on the Pig course. He's somewhat of an expert and was letting us know exactly what part of the course we were on, and what it would be like on race day. I ran along, content to listen and look around.



Paxton/Wasson/Marburg

At this point, I pushed further ahead of the 10 minute group. I was alone for most of this part of the run, and just let my mind wander. I ran past Coach Cathy, who was one of my mentors when I first started running. She is one of the few people who can talk non-stop while running. Her hilarious stories motivated me through many miles. At the corner of Marburg and Erie was another water stop where we fueled up again.



Delta

We headed up Erie and Coach Brian let us know that this part of our run was not part of the Pig course, which we were glad to hear, since it is enough of a hill just to be annoying. Once we hit the top, it was down, down, down Delta. I was kind of concerned about my quads bothering me again, but I kept the pace slower and I was still feeling good.



Eastern

The last few miles of the Pig. There isn't much to look at, but Brian kept it interesting with race day psychology and tips. There is a church on Eastern (I think it is St. Rose) and from that point you only have 5k to the finish. "It's all mental from this point on." I was contemplating how some people have the energy to talk almost non-stop during along run. We had another water stop, and then Holly and I continued ahead of that group again. I started to feel the pain during the last few miles on Eastern, and there is a stupid little hill that comes out of nowhere! I will be remembering that hill during the other parts of the race when I am tempted to go too fast.



Downtown

This was the last little loop that we had to add on to make it 20 miles (actually 20.5.) The wind was blowing so hard, I could hardly believe it. We were running against the wind and at times it was gusting so much that I felt like my legs were going to blow out from under me. I was wearing cut away shorts and I feel sorry for whoever was behind me and may have permanent eye damage after seeing half of my butt cheek. By that point, though, I was too tired to care.



One last bridge and we made it! I didn't walk at all and I was really happy with the run. My legs were definitely tired and sore, but I feel like I know now how to pace myself and make sure I have enough energy left to finish strong. My left knee has been bothering me a little since then, so I have been icing religiously and skipped running today for the elliptical machine. I don't want to injure myself now when we are only 3 weeks out!



I'll leave you with another picture from our trip to Argentina. I'm still recovering psychologically, but I feel much better. Here is a pic of my in-laws. (I know you can see the crazy.) Check out my mother in-law's hair. Don't worry, they don't speak English.

Mind Over Matter

I made it. It wasn't easy or pretty, but I managed to run 18 miles on Saturday. I was really excited to see Emily, but also worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with her.
Here is the route. We met at the store. The plan was to do a loop in Hyde Park, then head downtown, through Kentucky, and back up through Eden Park. The route is for 16.5 miles. The option for 18 was to add a loop on at the end that involved passing the store. When I see the store, I am done. I have a mental block about passing it, and I knew it would be even harder considering that I would have just run 16 miles. I came up with a new plan to add on by circling mirror lake in Eden Park. The first few miles felt really fast. The whole time I was thinking, I must still be really worn out from my trip. I could tell my legs were still fatigued from Wednesday's 8 miles. We looped back to pass the store at about 3.5 miles and I was honestly worried that I wouldn't make it. Emily looked at her watch, though, and realized that we had done under 10 minute miles. No wonder it felt fast! Luckily, she wasn't feeling like it was going to be a fast day for her, either, so we slowed down as we headed down Madison to Gilbert.
At the bottom of Gilbert we had our first water stop. I did my first Gu (Espresso Love) and ate a Tums. You can imagine the delightful taste that was left in my mouth. Anyway, it was on down Eggelston and then over the first bridge into Kentucky. Once we got over the Taylor Southgate bridge, I finally started to feel better. That's when I thought, okay, maybe I can do this. We powered over the bridges (especially Clay Wade Bailey when we started talking about falling off. Yikes!) We were supposed to take Linn to 8th street or something like that, but I think we took a wrong turn and cut a little bit out. I'm still kind of confused about it, but the important thing is that we made it back downtown and down seventh street. Joe's truck was there on seventh for another water/gu stop. Someone there said we only had about 4 miles to go from there. I couldn't believe it. Then I remembered that we still had to add on in the park, but still, that was only 1.5 more miles. The first part of the run went by so fast!
I guess it was because Emily and I were chatting, which always helps runs go by faster. When we started running again after that stop, it hurt. My legs were really starting to hurt. We ran up Gilbert until we got to the Baldwin building, and then took our first walk break. We walked up the hill into the park and then started running again up to the lake and around. We circled the lake four times and then stopped for a bathroom break. Another watch check showed that we had been keeping about a 10 minute mile pace, so I didn't really feel so bad about feeling tired. We started up the hill towards Krohn Conservatory at a walk. This is the worst hill. It just is. Even when your legs aren't tired, this hill sucks, and after 15 miles, it sucks even more. As Emily and I were walking we heard this sound like a goose flying up behind us. This guy was running up the hill pushing a stroller, and on every exhale he was making this bizarre sound that was like a goose. Emily and I let him pass and then tried not to laugh out loud and he continued ahead of us. We picked up a run and managed to make it to the top. We took one more short break on Victory Parkway before running it in. From Mirror Lake on, I wanted to stop sooooo badly. My legs were hurting, but I just told myself "No, you are not stopping."
Yesterday, I definitely think that the mental part of the run was the hardest, but I made it. Having Emily there made a huge difference. I'm sure that if I had been alone, I would have walked a LOT more. Having someone there to complain with or who can entertain you with stories about college rowing team can really make a difference between a good run and a bad run. So, thanks, Emily! I wouldn't have made it without you!
Making it through that run has definitely helped me get some confidence back. I think I needed a sort of running reality check. I needed to remember that running does not always feel great, but that the pain what makes you stronger. Next weekend is our 20 miler. We are meeting in Newport, which means Eden Park hills and bridges again, but at least this time they will be at the beginning of the run.
Tomorrow's plan is 5.5 miles easy around the neighborhood. Its supposed to be nice out, so I can't wait to enjoy another great day. We were lucky with Saturday's weather, too. It was sunny and about 50 degrees, perfect running weather.
The marathon is coming up so fast, and so is the first run of the Dirt Days Trail Series. That's a series of four trail runs that the Running Spot puts on in different parks. The first race is on April 20th in Ault Park. I'm really excited, but I need to be careful not to wipe out and hurt myself before the marathon.
I think that's all for tonight. It's been one week since I got back from Argentina, and I finally feel like things are mostly back to normal. One more week of tough training, and then it's taper time!

Doubts

Leo and I at our last dinner out

How I survived (yum Brazilian beer)

Obelisco, Argentina's national landmark. It looks like its growing out of my head. I was trying not to look pissed off in this picture.

Dirrrrrty. That sums it up.

I'm back. I made it, but it was not pretty. Let's just say 2 and 1/2 weeks sharing a bathroom with 6 of your in-laws is not anyone's idea of a great vacation. Throw some roaches, family bickering, oppresive heat, and the occasional psychotic break, and you've got my trip to Argentina! I swear, I had a positive attitude going in. I was actually excited to arrive. The flights went great (I slept the whole way) and I was really excited to see my husband's face when he got to see his parents after 4 years. That first moment of seeing them at the airport was good, but it pretty much went downhill from there. It didn't take long for me to remember why I don't like it there. It's the dirtiest place I have ever been. Argentina has a big drug problem, and I know why. The people there aren't very happy, and they don't have much hope. The economy is taking baby steps to recovery after a huge collapse in 2001, but it is still very far from good. Job prospects are bad, but inflation continues. Even though you get 3 Argentine pesos for 1 dollar, when you do the math, things there cost pretty much the same as they do here. People earn about 1000 to 1500 pesos a month, though, which comes out to 300 to 500 dollars a month. Can you imagine living on that here? Well, you can't live on it there, either, but you can buy a hit of "paco," what's left over after making cocaine, for 1 peso. Can't afford to survive? Forget about it for just pesos a day...

I could go on, but I'll just say it wasn't a very good time. On top of it all, when I went out to run for the first time, I wiped out. I tripped on the crappy sidewalk in front of tons of people and scraped up my legs, so I was walking around with a lovely case of Argentine road rash. I tried to take a picture, but the camera flash kept reflecting off of the blinding whitness of my legs and it wouldn't turn out, so you will just have to use your imagination. I ran a total of 3 times. My longest run was 11 miles. I got home this past Saturday feeling exhausted. I think I"m still recovering, physically and emtionally. I held a lot in over those 2 and 1/2 weeks, and it wasn't easy.

This past Wednesday was my first day running with the group since I left. The schedule was 8 miles in O'Bryonville. I felt great for the first two miles, but then I absolutely crashed. I had to take it super slow just to be able to make it back to the store. I'm sure it didn't help that I decided to seriously cut some calories this week to make up for all the crap I ate while on vacation. Today I'm feeling sore and just tired. Hopefully I'm still recovering from the trip, but doubt is whispering in my ear. This Saturday we are scheduled to run 18 miles. My farthest run to date has been 13. I feel so far from ready. I don't know if I can make it 18 miles, let alone 20 the following Saturday. Our coaches did give us another option of doing 16 this week, 12 the next, then 20 with a two week taper. I think I need to wait and see how I feel. Honestly, I'm worried. I feel like those 2 odd weeks really screwed up my training, and I don't know if I get back to where I was.

Doubt... its gotten into my head. Now I don't know if I can get it out. Thinking back, I had the same nervousness before the last two marathons I ran, but I feel like I was better prepared then. Can I do it? I think I need to forget about 4:30 and just focus on staying injury free and having fun. I want to finish this marathon and then focus on Chicago for a personal record. If I can do two marathons in 3 weeks, I can do this... right????

We'll see how it goes on Saturday. I'm not working out tonight because I feel absolutely exhausted and sore. I"m going to try and get a light workout in tomorrow, but nothing too serious before the long run on Saturday morning. I'm going to take it pretty slow (which, unfortunately, means I probably won't be able to keep up with Emily, who is visiting from NY and will be running with our group.) If I have to make it 16, I will. The route is from the store in O'Bryonville to downtown and back. That means Eden Park hills, and at the end of the run (yipee.) I'll report back and let you know how it goes. Pics at the top are from the trip.