(no subject)
Time: 9:30am
Running Time: 3 hours, 21 minutes
Miles: 19
I did it. I've completed my final long run. I didn't make it quite as far as I would have liked to, but I'm still proud of myself for getting through it. The Hal Higdon training goes up to 20 miles, and my marathon training book that I've been reading goes up to 18 miles (two 18-milers), so I fell in between those two, which is fine by me. I'm still not completely over my cold... I coughed a lot and sniffed a lot and my head kinda hurt. I'm pretty confident about the marathon now, though I still know it will be the hardest thing I have ever done. But I made it 19 miles all on my own today. On marathon day, I (hopefully) won't be sick, I'll have thousands of people around me, running with me and cheering me on, I'll have my loved ones waiting for me at the finish line, and I will have prepared a bit better in the eating/hydrating/icing department. I know I can do it.
I ran on a new road today, Henneberry Road, and it was so beautiful. The weather was fabulous - 77 degrees and sunny - although I hope that on marathon day there will be more clouds in the sky. The sun was really beating down on me today, which made it a little unpleasant at times. There was no traffic on this road and I could see for miles all around me. A new chant today, besides all my old ones, was: It's just me and the world God gaaave me. It's just me and the world God gaaave me. At times I added: And the bright, hot sun God gaaave me. I sang songs and told myself how strong I am and thought about the people I'm gonna dedicate each mile to. (more about that some other time) Anyway, the first two hours were just great. The third hour, though, was hell. I came home around 2:15:00 and peed and ate a second gel pack and got a new water bottle. I felt good going back out there, but after just a few minutes, I could tell my energy levels were really plummeting. The worst part today was my back hurting SO badly. My lower back and my middle back on either side of my spine were just on fire. I was mentally drained by this time, too. I could barely think, and my head started to hurt. I need to really mentally prepare in the coming days before the race, because running this far is almost as mentally draining as it is physically draining.
I had two instances today where I almost choked to death because I inhaled water. I was so thirsty, and I gulped the water too fast, once from a bubbler and once from my bottle, and I had two coughing fits that made my stomach hurt pretty badly. I was running so slowly toward the end, I kinda wanted to shoot myself. But I made it. Oh, and I used run/walk again today, like I will in the marathon. I started it after three miles, and walked 60 seconds after each mile.
I see a little pattern that formed over the course of my longer runs... 15-miler=GOOD, 16-miler=BAD, 18-miler=GOOD, 19-miler=BAD (the end, anyway)... so that means: 26.2-miler=GOOD! I'm getting really excited. And scared. I have no idea what to expect, really. It's going to be insane. I've never even run in a real race! I mean, I'm not really competing against the people around me; more just with myself. But I will be surrounded by 40,000 other runners and over a million people will be watching. It's going to be such a crazy experience!
In other news....... I had a terrible weekend. I worked Friday night, Saturday night, and yesterday brunch. Saturday I was supposed to go to the Brewers game but had to bail at the last minute because I had to get shit done for school because I have NO TIME to do anything anymore. I was in an awful mood at work Saturday night, then I had to be back there yesterday morning and I didn't get out of there til almost 5:00 when I should have been out around 3:00. I was supposed to work a double yesterday but I paid someone to take my shift. I'm so tired and stressed out lately, I can't stand it. Last night, just to be able to do something, Dave and I ate at Applebees and went to see The Forgotten. Then I went to bed early. I slept almost ten hours last night, and when I woke up this morning, I felt like I could have slept about four more hours. But oh well.
I have to work tonight and I DON'T WANT TO! I'm hoping to be cut, but it's doubtful. I'm gonna be soooooore. Tomorrow and the next day will probably be much worse... but I'll live. I'm just really happy that I'm done with long runs and now I can look forward to the big day!
Running Time: 3 hours, 21 minutes
Miles: 19
I did it. I've completed my final long run. I didn't make it quite as far as I would have liked to, but I'm still proud of myself for getting through it. The Hal Higdon training goes up to 20 miles, and my marathon training book that I've been reading goes up to 18 miles (two 18-milers), so I fell in between those two, which is fine by me. I'm still not completely over my cold... I coughed a lot and sniffed a lot and my head kinda hurt. I'm pretty confident about the marathon now, though I still know it will be the hardest thing I have ever done. But I made it 19 miles all on my own today. On marathon day, I (hopefully) won't be sick, I'll have thousands of people around me, running with me and cheering me on, I'll have my loved ones waiting for me at the finish line, and I will have prepared a bit better in the eating/hydrating/icing department. I know I can do it.
I ran on a new road today, Henneberry Road, and it was so beautiful. The weather was fabulous - 77 degrees and sunny - although I hope that on marathon day there will be more clouds in the sky. The sun was really beating down on me today, which made it a little unpleasant at times. There was no traffic on this road and I could see for miles all around me. A new chant today, besides all my old ones, was: It's just me and the world God gaaave me. It's just me and the world God gaaave me. At times I added: And the bright, hot sun God gaaave me. I sang songs and told myself how strong I am and thought about the people I'm gonna dedicate each mile to. (more about that some other time) Anyway, the first two hours were just great. The third hour, though, was hell. I came home around 2:15:00 and peed and ate a second gel pack and got a new water bottle. I felt good going back out there, but after just a few minutes, I could tell my energy levels were really plummeting. The worst part today was my back hurting SO badly. My lower back and my middle back on either side of my spine were just on fire. I was mentally drained by this time, too. I could barely think, and my head started to hurt. I need to really mentally prepare in the coming days before the race, because running this far is almost as mentally draining as it is physically draining.
I had two instances today where I almost choked to death because I inhaled water. I was so thirsty, and I gulped the water too fast, once from a bubbler and once from my bottle, and I had two coughing fits that made my stomach hurt pretty badly. I was running so slowly toward the end, I kinda wanted to shoot myself. But I made it. Oh, and I used run/walk again today, like I will in the marathon. I started it after three miles, and walked 60 seconds after each mile.
I see a little pattern that formed over the course of my longer runs... 15-miler=GOOD, 16-miler=BAD, 18-miler=GOOD, 19-miler=BAD (the end, anyway)... so that means: 26.2-miler=GOOD! I'm getting really excited. And scared. I have no idea what to expect, really. It's going to be insane. I've never even run in a real race! I mean, I'm not really competing against the people around me; more just with myself. But I will be surrounded by 40,000 other runners and over a million people will be watching. It's going to be such a crazy experience!
In other news....... I had a terrible weekend. I worked Friday night, Saturday night, and yesterday brunch. Saturday I was supposed to go to the Brewers game but had to bail at the last minute because I had to get shit done for school because I have NO TIME to do anything anymore. I was in an awful mood at work Saturday night, then I had to be back there yesterday morning and I didn't get out of there til almost 5:00 when I should have been out around 3:00. I was supposed to work a double yesterday but I paid someone to take my shift. I'm so tired and stressed out lately, I can't stand it. Last night, just to be able to do something, Dave and I ate at Applebees and went to see The Forgotten. Then I went to bed early. I slept almost ten hours last night, and when I woke up this morning, I felt like I could have slept about four more hours. But oh well.
I have to work tonight and I DON'T WANT TO! I'm hoping to be cut, but it's doubtful. I'm gonna be soooooore. Tomorrow and the next day will probably be much worse... but I'll live. I'm just really happy that I'm done with long runs and now I can look forward to the big day!