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October 17, 2006
Exquisite Misery
From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
"Main Entry: mis·ery
Pronunciation: 'mi-z&-rE, 'miz-rE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -er·ies
1 : a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction
2 : a circumstance, thing, or place that causes suffering or discomfort
3 : a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress"
That is to say that my long run was the circumstance that caused me both physical suffering and discomfort and that induced mental unhappiness and emotional distress. I suppose I'm about to fill an entire blog entry with complaints regarding long run misery. In all reality, I have just one good thing to say about this run: it is over.
I was supposed to do this run on Sunday. However, due to miscommunication (all mine), my running partner showed up ready to do a 90 minute run, rather than a 4-ish hour run. This is a strong disparity, and I couldn't exactly drag an unprepared person out on such a long run. Thus, my schedule next allowed me to do this run today. While I feel I'm pushing the physical helpfulness of this long run, what with my race only 12 days away, I figured it might help me find some mental toughness.
However, at the moment, after the fact, I feel like a physical and mental wimp. I suppose I shouldn't because I completed the run despite some exquisite misery.
It was a positively miserable day weather-wise for a long run. Temperatures were hovering right around 30 degrees, but there was a stiff wind and the weather forecast said it felt about 11 degrees out there. It was cloudy with intermittent snow showers, some very light, others somewhat heavy, giving me no visibility and laying down multiple inches of new snow. This is by far the poorest weather that I've run in so far this fall. Additionally, I had no company today. This run was even too long for my border collie. I was by myself for 25 miles, and it felt most lonely.
I began by climbing for over 2 hours on a logging road. It was all uphill. For 2+ hours. Into the clouds. Into the snow. Into the wind. I don't know how far up I climbed exactly, the large scale map with little detail says I climbed at least 2500 vertical feet. Then I turned around and came all the way back down again. I made it back to my car somewhere around 3:50, but I forgot to stop my watch at the time.
Simply said, climbing up into a snowstorm was mentally miserable, and pounding downhill on achy joints was physically miserable. Don't worry, there are gory details.
The climbing just wouldn't end (I knew it wouldn't; I planned this run and studied it on the map beforehand; I knew it was all uphill on the way out.). Each corner or each new switchback led me higher into the inclement weather. I was, literally, in the clouds, and it was getting colder and snowier. This was when I felt the full effects of mental misery. I stopped looking at the valley below because it looked like a paradise that I wasn't ever going to return to and I certainly stopped looking at the winter wonderland around me because I was already acutely aware of the snow. At this point, I just tucked my chin into my jacket and ran.
I felt supreme relief when I knew I had climbed for at least 12 miles (The map later told me I'd climbed between 12 and 13 miles.) and I could turn around and head downhilll. I looked down off the mountain and into the valley: it looked like a warm, tropical, sunny, snowless destination. I couldn't wait to get there. I think I felt good both mentally and physically on the early downhill miles. However, the last 40 minutes or so turned into a death slog with the downhill taking its toll on my body. The downhill pounding induced a physical misery that made me want to cry. During this portion, I saw 2 trucks (the only people I saw the whole time), and I was seriously tempted to ask for a ride. Additionally, I could see my car for about the last 3 miles of the descent, and it looked so far away. I never cried. I never asked for a ride. I just kept running. Eventually, perhaps by some miracle, I made it back to my car.
However, it's over now. I'm in my nice warm house, in dry clothes, with my feet propped up on the couch, and I just ate a ton of sweet potato stew. The world did not end, so I think I can cease with my complaining. Thank you for listening.
And now, The Taper.
Posted by Meghan at October 17, 2006 6:28 PM
Comments
downward spiralling, i suppose you could have lost your car keys :) yet i'm sure you would have overcome that too... one tough woman... tougher than tough...
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at October 18, 2006 8:03 AM
Way to tough it out!!! You will reap the rewards shortly :)
Posted by: Audrey at October 18, 2006 11:21 AM
And I thought I was hard core for running 7 miles in a snowstorm yesterday! Congrats on finishing the run, I am sure you wanted to turn around many times.
Posted by: barb at October 18, 2006 1:22 PM
Nice job pushing through the wall....long runs are not only essential training for your body but also prepare you mentally to cover the distance!! Misery and dedication lead to great rewards!! Have a good one and enjoy the taper!!
Posted by: Ryan at October 18, 2006 2:28 PM