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August 11, 2005
Yet Another "Update"
I don't know where to begin because I am absolutely drowning in my own thoughts right now. I think I need to rewind a few weeks to do justice to this majorly delayed post.
My running took a little bit of a nose-dive the past 3 weeks, but I am not going to freak out yet. I was on a roll with the 50 mile weeks for 8 weeks. Then B. and I went to Boston and I decided to take an entire weekend off from running so I ended up with a 30 mile week. Feeling good, I brought it up to 40 the next week and hit 51 again last week. This week should conclude with about 50-55 miles in the bank - BUT, unlike a lot of my fellow bloggers, I seem to take an abnormal amount of days off with no cross training - 20 milers always help boost the mileage! Sometimes I feel like a lazy runner when I read other blogs, but I try not to unlock my competitive side. I think I have been doing this long enough to know that my body does not appreciate much more than 60 miles per week with a little weight lifting and core work thrown in. I hope I achieve 80 mile weeks two years from now (that is the long term plan anyway).
BEST UPDATE: I ran a really cool trail race outside of Chicago FOR FUN! My best friend, Caroline, decided to sign up so I decided to run with her - it actually wasn't much of "fun" run since she bolted up the hills and around the course at 8:30 pace!!!! She is a closet running prodigy who is finally willing to "out" herself. I have a feeling that she will be running 7:15 race pace by the time September arrives. It was so much fun to actually enter a race, run it, and not worry about pace or time or other local runners looking up my name to check out my results. I have never felt such a wave of anxiety-crushing peace on a run. I think I am going to kidnap Caroline a few days a week and force her to run with me!
This past weekend I finally met Alweiss at the Chicago Distance Classic and we ran together for about a mile (actually, the best mile I had the entire race!). I had quite a frightening race experience that I am still trying to digest and figure out. I hate wallowing in uncertainty, especially when it involves my own physiology! At any rate, I comfortably ran 6:43s all the way through about 10.5 - 11 miles. I think my 10K split was 41:47 or something thereabouts. I didn't feel like I went out particularly hard and I felt very in control. But my body decided to rebel against my comfort and my excitement at the prospect of finally dipping under 1:30 again.
It was definitely a little toasty outside, but I was not alarmed - I have grown accustomed to 90 degree weather and since B. and I have no air conditioning for really complicated reasons (another blog entry to follow), I think my body has adapted to unusally warm temperatures. BUT, on Sunday I fell apart the final two miles. My hands and feet started to tingle and then they went completely numb. I couldn't unfold my hands enough to pick up water. I also got the chills and stopped sweating. I considered walking, but I kept telling myself that it was only 2 miles!!!! I slopped home in 1:32.01. At first sight of the clock, I felt relief, then embarrassment, then anger, then disappointment and then happiness. I finally decided that I had to choose my attitude for the rest of the day. I am happy because I ran 6:43s for 11 miles. I am happy that I finished the damn race, I am happy that I ran faster than I ran last year, I am happy that I didn't pass out - see, I have many more reasons to feel happy than sad! I know I will produce many sub 1:30s in my lifetime - this weekend I lacked the magic; it simply was not there.
I ran an easy 7 on Monday and felt like an almost dead fish fighting for its life. I flopped around on the Lakefront path before deciding that I was being stupid for pushing it - and for playing russian roulette with whatever ailment my body underwent the day before. I rested on Tuesday. I met my twin sister - who is finally back from Africa and down from the SUMMIT of Kilimanjaro - on Wed. for a swift 10 miles. I think we kept it around 8:00 - 8:20 pace. It was relaxing. I had a ton of time to run today, but once again decided to take a rest day. I hate taking two rest days in a week, but my marathon is 7 weeks away and I do not think I should risk the extra 7-10 miles/week. I can handle the big fat "0" in my log. I think - at this point - no matter how much or how little I train, I will show up this fall slightly undertrained and frustrated. I have revised my marathon goal too: 3:15 or faster (3:15 seems so far away on most days). There is no way in hades I have a 2:59 in my legs - definitely not in 7 weeks (I can feel the butterflies swirling in my stomach at the prospect of breaking 3 - but it's hard to suck it up and realize that my training alone this time is not going to get me there).
I have so much more to write, but I am climbing out of bed in 5 hours to kick off my Friday morning with a 20 mile trail run. I am working through the weekend, so I think I should shoot for 20 tomorrow. Who knows - I have a terrible habit of not hearing the alarm clock! If that happens, I still have 2 days to squeeze in a 20 miler.
I can feel the loopiness in my brain accelerating to incomprehensible levels - it is time to sign off and hit the pillow.
Posted by bridget at August 11, 2005 11:00 PM
Comments
i've seen many a case of heat exhaustion in my summers at the beach and i think you had a classic case. that shade-less course sounded like a killer. sooo glad you are revived - just keep being smart about hydrating. the heat index and humidity last week made for funky conditions. your sweat doesn't do too much in the humidity. but you already know all that!
but thanks for outing me! i LOVED running that race with you - but i think 7:15s may be a bit further off than you think... you're my hero. love, c.
Posted by: caroline. at August 13, 2005 11:06 PM
hmm... seem to have erased my first comment so here goes. i've been thinking about your half marathon and i've seen enough cases of heat exhaustion at the beach to realize you seem to have had a classic case. the heat was funky last week and in the major humidity your sweat doesn't really help to cool you down. you're smart about hydration - keep it up. and don't sweat the 1:32 - just be glad you're okay! you're right; you do have plenty of sub-1:30s in your immediate future.
and thanks for outing me! i LOVED running that race with you. you are helping me work through my running demons. of course, those 7:15s may be further away than you think...
Posted by: carrie at August 13, 2005 11:12 PM
oops! i'm a dummy...
Posted by: carrie at August 13, 2005 11:41 PM