Training
Saturday was our 17 miler, and I feel like it was the first ‘hard’ long run of the season. Sure, it could have been related to the high humidity, or the fact I’d run 16 miles in the two days before Saturday, but it was pretty rough, and I was beat for the rest of the day.
I showed up at Antrim to find Mike and Meredith had already done 5 miles, so they were already warmed up. A group of us did 7 together, and it ended with me catching up with Meredith, who was leading the pack. (other than Bridget and Brian, they don’t count). We finised the first seven miles in 56:36. After a gatorade/portapotty break, Meredith, Doug and I set off south. Almost right away I was lagging behind them. They slowed the pace a little, but it felt pretty rough. Meredith and I had sped up alot in the final stretch of the first 7, and it had taken its toll. Meredith turned around after 2.5, and Doug and I kept going. I was a bit out of it and we had to walk for a tiny bit (I turned off my watch) Seriously, I could have SEEN the park from the trail, but it didn’t clue in. We went it to get water, I took a clif shot and felt better. We got to the turn-around (mile 12) in good time, and told ourselves “just another short 5 mile run to go”.
At mile 14 we took a pretty good water break, leaning over the fountains and making jokes about camels.We then walked back to the path, and as soon as we started again, Doug’s leg cramped up. He tried to start running a few times, but eventually just told me he’d walk/run back and to go on ahead. I don’t generally like to leave someone, but I felt in his place I wouldn’t want to feel pressure to go harder than I wanted, so I went on ahead.
I have a bunch of random times saved, I think I know what miles they’re for… they’re not entirely accurate as I turned off my watch when we walked.
Mile 07: 0:56:34 (8:05 pace)
Mile 12: 1:37:02 (8:05 pace – surprise! I think in part b/c of walk break where I turned my watch off)
Mile 14: 1:56:26 (8:19 pace — we were thinking we were doing well, as our first 7 had been in 56 min, and our 2nd in 60)
Mile 17: 2:22:14 (8:22 pace)
So the run was rough. It was hot, and though I knew I took it alot easier after I left Doug, in the hopes he could catch me. I did do the last little bit (from the last half mile marker to the bridge, which is less than a half mile) in 3:29, and felt good at that. There was a time in that stretch from 14 – 17 where I felt a little ‘out of it’, as though my head wasn’t quite connected to my body. I was thinking “this is the runners high, and precisely why I don’t do drugs”. I don’t like that sense of being removed from myself physically. I felt somewhat like I was operating on auto-pilot. Yuck.
I enjoyed some good nap-time on Saturday, and Sunday my left ankle was sore. Hopefully it will clear up. Next week I’m supposed to do 15 miles, with 12 at MP (target 8:00 pace). If the weather is anything like today, it will be a challenge..
