Push

So...I survived the 18 miler. I know you were wondering. It was tough! Three laps of hilly Central Park is no...well, WALK in the park! I started and kept up a 10:1 run:walk ratio for the first two laps. That's over 12 miles.

The third lap started to get tough. My hamstrings started to hurt and my will started to fade. At one point after about mile 15, I thought to myself, "I don't want to feel like this again." It was bad. But I dropped to a 5:1 and ultimately a 1:1 just to keep moving and get it done. I finished in 4:04 with almost nothing left. Just before the final turn, I saw Coach Ali and one of my teammates. They cheered for me and I shouted that I knew there was one teammate behind me. It was so nice to FINALLY have someone at the end of a race cheering for me. I don't think that has ever happened with the exception of one duathlon a few years ago. I was sure to thank Ali for waiting and told her how much I appreciated someone being there.

The good news is, I made it just under the cut off for having the race count in the nine races for next year's marathon qualifying. Why am I talking about next year's marathon? Because I'm certifiable!

Anyway, once I finished, I hobbled over to get my bag that I checked, just as they were putting the baggage area into the trucks! (I sometimes can't believe SO MANY people are SO MUCH faster than I am!! WHY can't I be that fast?!) I found a spot in the shade and stretched for a while. Then I got up and prepared myself for the 10 block walk to my car. As I left the park, there were a few souls struggling to the finish and I shouted a few words of encouragement. You really don't realize how much that can help until you're out there begging some higher power to help you move your feet just a little longer.

As I was walking, I heard Ali shout my name. She walked me to my car and we talked kettlebells and ice baths...good stuff. I managed to find myself a chocolate milk and get my shirt changed in the car without flashing too many people. Then the long trip home.

I did spend some time in the ice bath once I got home. But my legs were bothering me for the rest of the night anyway. I tried some more ice and ibuprofen but not much worked. As I look back at my training log, I realize that not only did I have two low mileage weeks before this race, the longest I had run was 15 miles. So I was really pushing it. No wonder my legs hurt!

Monday I just did a 30 minute walk and was feeling much better except in the evening I had some crazy stomach bug. Food poisoning? I don't know.

Yesterday I did two miles but didn't take a walk break at all, which was a nice change since I knew I was only doing a few miles. I had intended to do more but the train was late, which meant I had to wait for the bus, which meant it was already almost dark by the time I got home. Still...I talked myself out of doing nothing and got in a few laps. Then I got to bed at a decent hour.

Tonight I did the 5.3 mile loop and tried to push my running pace on the run part of my run:walk. Right at the point at which I am farthest from home, I started to see lightning. What did I learn? Even the threat of lightning won't make me faster! Still, the wind was nice, except for the acorn that popped me in the head at somewhere around the 4 mile mark! It started raining shortly thereafter but it didn't pour so it actually felt quite nice.

It is still storming so I am going to finish this up and head to bed so I can fall asleep listening to the rain.