When It Feels Right...

...you just go for it. And that's what I did on Saturday! I've been sick of all the downtime the last month or so, so I finally just went for it and finished my 20 miler on Saturday. I decided to do a couple shorter out-and-back routes so that if something went wrong, I wouldn't be too far away from the car.

Turns out things went great! I completed my run just 1 minute 22 seconds over my goal, which isn't bad considering this is the first time I've really had to deal with any bonking at all. I was actually under my goal by about 15 seconds until the last 3 miles where I started to lose about 30 seconds per mile or so. I just couldn't go any faster! But hey, at least now I can say that I've been there, done that, and dealt with the adversity. It was really more of a mental game than a physical one, though. Gives me a greater respect for the guys/gals that have to deal with this type of mental toughness on a regular basis. Really though, the lesson I've learned over the course of the last few weeks, is that I need to listen to my body, instead of my head. My head, I've decided, is the devil's advocate!

When I woke up on Saturday I felt good. As my run went along I began feeling stronger. My head told me to stop once I hit mile 12 (turnaround point when I was back at the car), but I didn't. My sinus was burning at mile 15 when I choked on a Shot Blok, then coughed a chunk up the back of my throat and into my nasal cavity. My mind was telling me no, but my body was telling me yes! (for you R. Kelly fans out there, lol). My body was pissed that I had depleted it of energy by mile 18, and my head was telling me to stop... My legs wanted to keep going though, and so I did.

At the end of it all, I was a little sore, sure. No major pains however, and the mental high I was on more than made up for minor aches in my body! Can't wait to do it again! Just with more gels instead of Shot Bloks next time ;)

What A Difference Training Makes

My training has been up & down since I began earlier this year. The last few weeks, however, have been an anamoly of sorts. First, after months and months of gradual (painfully slow) increase, I nearly hit my first 50 mile week. The very next day I suffered my first major setback that basically sidelined me for a month. I was able to run a few short runs here and there, but I was lucky to hit 8 or 10 miles a week. I went on a few vacations and just started working back up to my scheduled training last week.

I have a sickness. Once I'm wrapped up in something, I go all out and my brain tells me I can recover like I'm still 12 years old or something. Reality taught me the hard way this year! Approaching 30 and trying to increase my mileage too quickly has been entirely too much. After my most recent (major) setback, I decided to do some research. I've been doing some focused strength training to get my knee back to running form and it's helped immensely! That training, coupled with a great hunting trip last week have left my leg feeling stronger than ever. Not once during the steep-graded, bushwacking downhills, nor during the camp-off-your-back-with-a-50-pound-pack (hey, I rhymed) hiking did my knee bother me either. It only got stronger!

Which leads me up to this week... Thus far, I've had 3 very successful runs this week, including a back-to-back. No pain anywhere. My schedule calls for a 20 miler tomorrow. Of course I'd love to hit 20, but the reality is that I don't think I'm quite there yet. We'll see how the run goes, but if I feel even the slightest tweak or any major fatigue in my body, I'm calling it quits! I cannot afford to take anymore chances. With the marathon only 5 weeks away and my first ultra 3 weeks after that, there's no more messin' around with this guy! Time to put the hammer down.

Too Much Downtime

The last few weeks have been a bit lax in my running world. The desire continues to burn bright, but my body is just not quite on par with my wants. I want to run further but my body won't let me. I want to run faster but my body won't let me. I want to get stronger but my body won't let me. Actually, my body WILL let me, but at a much slower pace than I'm used to.

A little over two weeks ago I was just finishing a great week in running. I had logged about 46 miles (just under the 50 I was shooting for) and had done my Saturday long run under my goal pace. Then Sunday as I'm sitting down watching Dexter with Lydia, I begin to notice a slight ache in my knee. No pop, no major pain, still able to walk just fine. Thought nothing of it. Until Monday that is... I head out for an 8 miler on the usual route. Immediately I feel a bit of aching, which is nothing unusual at the start of a run. After about a mile into it though, I begin feeling sharp pain shooting up my leg, originating from my knee. I begin clenching my teeth and try my hardest to run through it, but the pain is too unbearable. I had to stop! I end up walking back to the car and calling it a day.

Two and half weeks later here I sit. Since that day I've run maybe 25 miles, no back-to-back days (until yesterday) and nothing more than 4 miles per run (with the exception of Monday; 6.5 miles). Frustrated doesn't begin to describe how I feel! Yet I haven't given up. I've been slowly knocking out longer runs and finally did a back-to-back Monday & Tuesday. I actually feel pretty good. I've been doing some strengthening exercises which I believe help. Most of all though, I haven't given up!

On a lighter note, we went to Tahoe last weekend and I was able to take in some beautiful scenery! Even though I wasn't able to get my scheduled 20 miler in, I was able to relax, kick my legs up and not worry about anything for a few days. I did go running for about 45 minutes one day too.

Today I'm heading up to the mountains after work to go bowhunting. We're scheduled to be out until Saturday. This will get me some great time on my legs (average about 10 miles a day) and some good strength training since we usually end up scaling some ridiculous mountainsides! I'm excited, well rested, and ready to get going. Now I just gotta make it through the rest of the day at work... Argghh!