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September 10, 2005
Can You Say: "Death March"?
My long run this morning was not so great. It really wasn't all that bad, but definitely not good. There was only a small group this morning, people had various other commitments, I guess. There were only seven including myself. One guy was only going about half an hour because he is just coming back from an injury and most everyone else was only running about an hour-either from time constraints or that is all they really do. This left M and I to do my two hours.
It really isn't that I didn't mind doing two hours by myself. I was perfectly willing to do the 60-65 minute run and then add on by myself, but M was willing to go long. Part of it is that I don't really think that it is very safe to embark on a long run, especially this one, completely alone. There really isn't much on the route and I guess that I can get kind of freaked out by the cars. In general, it is safer to run with someone else or to have someone know where you are going. J has repeatedly told me to not do this run alone, he is more comfortable with more than one person doing the loop. It's OK if I do it by myself, but have other people doing the same course slower, they can always find me if something were to happen.
About halfway out I knew that this was going to be a long long run. My legs just did not feel very fresh or springy. We made it out to halfway in the same time that I made it out last weekend. On the way back I knew that it was going to be ugly. I barely made it up the hill. M kept telling me that I wasn't going slow, he is a very strong hill runner, but I could barely move up it. I was pretty OK on the flats, but the hills were absolutely killing me. I felt weak and run down on the hills.
I think that this has to do with the higher mileage this week and the hill workouts. After my two weeks of four hills, I felt good on the first Saturday and not so great on the second Saturday. I felt good on the first Saturday after five hills, and not so great on the second Saturday after five hills. The loop was only fifteen seconds slower than last week, so it was not a complete and total disaster, but it just felt pretty bad.
When we got done, M told me that he kept looking back when he would pull away to make sure that I was OK. Afterwards we were talking and I said that these kinds of runs are the ones that are the most important. The good runs are OK, but the ones that are tougher are the ones that really build character and strength. The not so great days are the ones that get you in better shape and able to persevere. My legs were tight and tired by the time we got done and I know that I need to schedule a massage soon.
I went to the gym after running, but didn't do quite as much as usual. I stretched as soon as I got there using the foam roller they have and the therabands. My foam roller is better, theirs is kind of on the softer side. I didn't elliptical because I thought that would cause some more trauma to my tender legs. I did ride the bike very easily to try to flush some of the lactic acid out of my legs. I stretched more when I got off and then lifted, no legs, just upper body. After the trauma I caused my legs after the last not-so-great long run, I didn't want to feel that way again.
My legs do feel better now. I took an ice bath with extra ice in it today. I also ate a protein-rich lunch to try to aid in recovery. Some walking around doing errands with my mom also helped some. I have to do my core exercises still and then get ready for a fireworks party.
Posted by Blondie at September 10, 2005 03:29 PM
Comments
Hey Blondie, You are right about those long long long runs or long workouts that seem endless where you're not sure after five minutes how you'll even make it another five minutes. I've always held the same belief as you that these kinds of days make you stronger. And of course noticing patterns and or trends in your "springiness" is helpful too to make sure you are not over training. The hills sound good but tough. Hope the fireworks were fun! Thanks for reading my blog!
Posted by: mary at September 10, 2005 09:53 PM