A Glitzy Finale?

Okay so it wasn't actually a glitzy finale, but it did get done.

First off, I realized Friday night that I'll be turning 45 the year of 2028 Boston Marathon which then suddenly made me realize I had a chance to potentially qualify and even, if I ran what I had as a dream day, by enough to be safe if the times weren't shifted. That actually didn't add in pressure or anything the I feared it would and, honestly, not even too much extra excitement. I still felt going into this race that I was at a "it will be what it will be" stage. I wanted to want more but I didn't have the faith in my block and, in that way, didn't have the faith in me, but I was going to line up.

The evening before the race went okay enough. I slept better than I have in the past, but I know there's better sleep and my husband did not help with his snoring. I am honing in on what I need though - definitely an Airbnb situation and two beds and ideally no other people. I'll get that sorted before the next race and hopefully have a sleep that isn't annoying. This time I at least got about five and pretty uninterrupted once I got going.

The morning is always a little weird. I'm antsy but I have like three hours. I eat when not hungry, I drink coffee, but not too much and then I get dressed and putz around. There is nothing unique about this, it's what everyone does, but man it is weird.

I got to the start with about 45 minutes to spare which was pretty good as I got to the use the bathroom twice. The weather was nice enough that layers kept me warm and I got to the start line with time to spare. The plan was to keep conservative but, honestly, I find with a marathon I sort of just run what I will run. Maybe one day I'll have more thought than survive but not yet.

The first couple miles were fine, but I was in the headspace of "man there is a lot of miles to go". It wasn't so much that anything was wrong, although I had a small cramp scare but that was just me being a dweeb I think but just the magnitude that is a marathon. But, as you do, I kept running.

The first six miles are pretty nice and a good place to get into a groove and then you hit the first of the hills which takes you to the half turnaround. I knew this was coming as I had done the half so it wasn't as daunting as I feared, and then you go straight while the half marathoners turn around. From there, the course said form about miles 9 to 17 it is rolling hills and it was. It was never anything terrible but it was enough to know you were working harder than a flat course. 

I kept onto of my nutrition with the first UCAN at 3.5 and then 7. I am pretty sure I took one close to 10.5 or 11, but then things get a little brain-foggy. It was warmer than I thought it would feel I think because of the sun, but I never felt like I ran too hot. I took a salt tab and then maybe another UCAn, non-sodium, around 13 to 15. At the half way point I found myself still amazed I had a half marathon to go, but doing okay. There were ebbs and flows with some stomach grumbles, but I managed to keep at bay with nutrition (always a risky move but I knew from Providence what might happen if I stopped doing that, especially sodium). Around mile 17, when we left the rollers behind, my legs started to hurt. It wasn't cramping, but that sort of discomfort. 

I thought I needed to pee starting at like mile 7, but I also know I use that as a technique to break so I said make it to half. Finally at 18, I realized the break and relief was a good idea and jumped in for a 1 minute pee. I kept going and then with five miles to go the legs were really hurting, but it's fine miles, I can do that. I don't remember specific things about those miles other than just keep running and trying to not slow too much but knowing I may need to. I had some quips with runners as we struggled bus to the end.

I auto-lapped my watch but didn't really math about the splits. I thought I may still be on track for a 3:45, but didn't even care towards the end. I was not going any faster than what I was going. I finished in 3:37:03 per chip time on the website which is not a BQ, but not something that I'm too disappointed with.

My legs feel the worst they ever have after a marathon and I ran three in Brooks Launches. Even today, I can't really do stairs. I feel like I did the best on could on the day and with the block I had. I knew early on this block, while not bad, wasn't quite the build I'd need for something big. I guess I made peace with that because I never tried to change it as I went. There was also travel in there that was not conducive to running and I guess that is the trade offs you make.

I think I'm up for another round of this, even though I know where I was at in mile four of this race. I think having a spring build is a better suit for me and my work and sleep schedule. As usual, now I'm suddenly all about how much I'll make changes, but one thing is for sure:

I've got to strength train.

My legs hurt way too much and that is something that is a must for this next block, if/when it starts.

So overall I told my Coach I'd give this a B which I still think is accurate. Perhaps the run itself was more of a B+/A- with the build, but the whole kit and caboodle would be a B so that's where we'll land. I am thoughtful about the idea that I get bumped to the next age group for Boston so that's something, but I also know I need to figure out a good why that isn't that I keep pressing in training. 

So What Happens Then?

Alright, we're at the finishing line and here's how things are looking at feeling.

After two good hard weeks and solid 20 milers, on my 13 mile run two weeks ago, I tweaked my ankle in the very first part of the run - literally .10 because I stopped my watch. There was no crack or anything just a solid turn on a rail trail. I walked it out for a bit and it didn't feel bad so finished my run. Everything seemed fine but then it was a little sore the next day so I skipped the run and ever since then...

It hasn't ever been terrible but it's been present. My mileage took a sharp drop and I didn't do any tune up speed work. I can't tell how much of it is real or how much of it is in my head, but either way I took a big step back in running which took a big step back in may confidence. However, being honest, even before this I knew this block (or maybe me as I age) didn't have me looking at a PR.

Most of my hard efforts were just below 8:00 with many hovering around 8:15 and feel comfortable. That's not a 3:30. That's not (because we just got the time for 20127) a BQ. But that is my reality.

For now.

Or maybe forever.

Who is to say.

But I already thought I was looking at a 3:37-3:40 with the little hope of a 3:30 in there for a PR, but with Ankle Gate, I adjusted and I feeling like I can hopefully pull off a 3:40-3:45. Because of this shift in me and my mental game, I want to try and enjoy this race. I want it to be a bit like Providence 2021 where I just remember running it and having fun with no stress. It was good and maybe one of my fondest other than Newport and even Newport has some hints of meeeeh what if.

So that's my goal. I feel like I am supremely stressed recently and I want to try and have this be some peace even if it is a marathon. I guess we shall see.

One thing I do also know is I'm looking at this as the jumping off point for the next stage. I need to regroup with a lot of things and, like a New Year Resolution, I'm considering this the before and the after...well after. We'll see how well that goes also.

Gonna Be Gonna Be Golden

I've done two big 20 mile long run workouts since my last post and the crazy part of both of them is that: 

They went well.

The first had 3 miles into 3 miles MP, one mile easy, one mile HMP, one mile easy, 3 miles MP, one mile easy, one mile HMP, one mile easy, 3 miles MP and then cool down. I'd "done" this one before but I had a fair bit if stoppage and regrouping with sort of, as coach nicely said, defeated the point of it so I really tried to keep in the work of this one and managed to do just that. My MP and HMP are not the same as they were when I first tried this one two years ago, but they were markedly different from easy and something that may be new paces for me at both MP and HMP. 

I was pretty wrecked from it the full day but I had Monday off so didn't need to go right into work which was nice.

The week before the next big long run workout (which was in six days) went mostly okay, but I did miss a 6 mile run due to just being tried. I planned to make it up in Friday morning, but I wasn't able to use the tread and, honestly, not sure I would have managed it so I took the L and just skipped it focusing on today.

Today's 20 mile workout run I did last year and it went really well. I felt amazing when I did it and accomplished. I honestly don't remember how the 7 mile warm-up felt then, but based on my Strava post, I think I had some self-doubt and seven miles is plenty of time for self-doubt. But I do remember how I felt for at least one of the 3 miles of work because I can remember the song.

I wanted to feel that again today, but I didn't know. I focused on food and somewhat succeeded (I erred at lunch but I won't do that during the marathon week). I planned to start at or close to race time so planned the am wake-up the same and, man, 5:15 came in hard. I was tired, but I did get going and had the water, coffee and English muffin. I didn't feel totally great, but not awful. It was enough though to start those first inklings of doubt. I kept moving and go to the park, plotted about and peed before acknowledging I was delaying what was coming and started.

The 7 miles did not feel great. They weren't bad, but I felt like I was working harder than I wanted and, knowing I was supposed to do the real work the second 2/3rd of the run that had me worried. I still took the gel and tried some water (I should have done much better with the water) and just before seven miles I changed shoes, used the bathroom and petted some dogs. I then started into the work and...

It went well.

Good even.

Once I started the MP I had something to focus on and an ability to countdown differently than I am at mile two of twenty. I didn't do too many other stops so kept a pretty good flow and hit relatively close to my goal pace of 8:10. I don't think an 8:00 flat pace for Maine is going to happen which is, actually fine so I've taken to adjusting my goal splits a bit, while not entirely saying no to 8:00.

I also don't feel quite as awful this afternoon and evening as I did last week. To be fair, I think last week's was a harder workout, but I'm also on more tired legs and had one less day between big efforts. I don't yet know what to take from these workouts because those extra six miles are something else as is race day and I still had break miles, but they were good. Someone might even say great.

It's pretty amazing what someone can do when they try even if they have a very stressful full-time job and wish they could put a little more into this hobby.

Where Did You Go?

It's been a minute, but all for good things. After my mom was in town, the training the went mostly well and I had a really good week August 4th, hitting a tempo workout that I didn't the last time I tried (funny how adjusting your paces as Coach suggests works in the New England Summers).

Then I had sort of a down week, August 10th. I hit two runs early on, but then got sort of walloped by upcoming travel stress so missed an easy run in hopes of hitting a long run before we headed over seas, but the long run did not go according to plan.

It was supposed to be 16 miles with two set of four miles at marathon pace in the middle. I did it on the treadmill because I had an inspection in the mid-morning so I didn't want to get stuck away from the house. I managed the first set of MP at something a little slower, but then never was able to rally back and called it at 11 miles. I think some of that was travel stress and worrying if I pushed that I might have stomach issues and some of it was me probably just giving. Although traveling is a lot of fun, it's a lot of work and stress so I think it just go to me.

But then we headed off to Scotland for a week of hiking which was really do. I was nervous about missing the week as we are in crunch time, but that's life and, hey, there are worst things to miss a week of running for. We were moderately active too so it wasn't just an eat and drink feast. I did pick up a cold which was frustrating and the 14 miler I planned was 10 miles on Sunday, but I at least got that in.

Since coming back, the week of training has gone fairly well. I did a really good mile repeat workout that felt very chill which was awesome. I started to have some knee pain which was not awesome, but I think it was from both wearing super shoes and jumping right back in. I took cares to ice and use ibuprofen and I think (hope) it's passed. Today was an 18 miler with MPs for 4, 3 and 2 miles. I handled it mostly okay, hitting close to goals for the 4 and 3, but bailed on the last mile of the 2 as my wheels were coming off. It was slightly warm and more humid than expected to have impacted me so I think that was some of the pace misses (also again, hopefully). 

It beat me up pretty good, which is not always the best feeling for various reasons, but being that I contemplated just dropping to the half marathon in October at mile 5, I guess we can call this one a success. I have two 20 milers in the next two weeks and then it's a quick taper. I'm not sure what I'm thinking about this race just yet, so that's a post for another time.

The Work is Hard

After two weeks of very bad tempo runs, I really wanted a good one and knew that I needed to actually put in the effort to make it work out that way. It was easier given the fact the husband is working this weekend so I can do my own scheduling but I still needed to make sure I ate okay, got up early and ran appropriate paces.

The workout was 6 miles with 10 second plus and 10 second minus marathon paces. I thought about trying to do like 8:30/8:15 but once I started, given the weather, and how the 8:25 I started at felt, I decided to just run a tempo and not try to make those adjustments. I managed to keep it all together for the six miles as well. I was going to do it as an out-and-back, always a little fearful of no bathroom (I also started before the park opened so didn't have a stop before I started), but I felt strong and decided to do the big loop.

I feel really pretty proud of this run. I feel like I made all the correct adjustments and got in the work that hopefully made a difference. I, of course, wished that I could go out there and drop the marathon pace for these work outs, but I'm realizing I have to respect the weather and try to get the work in for work's sake then focus on the time. I hope that, when it comes to the Maine Event (pun intended), the work in the summer will pay off, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet.

Can't Win Them All

No surprise the blogging hasn't been the best but all for good reason. Two weeks ago we were petting sitting for some very needy, but adorable dogs. I didn't have much home downtime and, outside of the home downtime, was very structured and scheduled and for, well, running. That week of running went fairly well from what I remember. It was (and is kind of) early on so the long run was only ten and the speed sessions below six miles. 

Then the following week my mom was in town. The training this week was a little harder to get in. I did a spadework at an odd time before she arrived which went fine, but wasn't my best. I bailed on an indoor tempo because I was feeling pretty poor and didn't want to ruin a day with mom. That is, I'll admit, somewhat of an excuse but not a totally untrue one. I've definitely had runs that went bad that just ruin the full day (see below regarding today). I got the miles in just not the work. And then the long run was a bit short (ten instead of twelve) because I felt guilty being gone too long with her here. I also slept like ass before that one, tossing and turning in my head about what to do and how much time to take such that I was up at 6am and said just go and did.

This week training has been up and down. My easy runs have gone pretty well. One was a little short (seven easy miles in a work week is a mental hurdle that I haven't gotten to handle yet) but they all got done mostly inside because of the massive rain we had. My speed session Tuesday was inside and went fine with paces being close to prescribed. But today...

Today was a planned 5 mile tempo and I pretty much just screwed myself over from go. We made plans to go out with friends and from food choices (curry which wasn't carb-y enough) to drinks (I have to remember I'm in my forties) to a late night (11:30?!?) the set-up was gearing towards failure. And then I wasn't paying attention to the temp or humidity and needed to go across town for an appointment so went out for the start after 9am. It was 74 degrees, with 81% humidity at the start. I have no idea what it ended at other than too much. I still started and honestly, after the warmup and shoe change,I wasn't feeling great, but I wasn't feeling awful. Oh if only I knew.

I went out for the first mile at 8:00 because that's easy math and, even though my coach says to do it at 8:06, I'm stubborn about that. I also hit is right on the dot at 8:00 and during that mile and the change over, I felt good. It didn't seem like a terrible effort, I didn't need to adjust my form to keep it and I even thought, okay maybe I can do something at this pace that's pretty neat (meaning run a marathon). But oh man, then about a quarter into the next mile I started to tell I was having issues and I was going to go to two and turn back, but went 1.5 and knew I needed to head back. I continued to just over heat, stopping to collect myself. I had to get back to the car so I did try to re-focus and got in a third mile around 8:06 (mile 2 was 8:15) but once I hit the park and my car, I pretty much died. I was incredibly sweaty and did some walking and then thought about a start-up again but I felt like I was going to be sick. So then I took some shade time and planned to do a cooldown and was, again, feeling like I was going to be sick so even called it on that. I realized I just needed to get into the AC of my car and did just that at full blast. That made me feel a bit better and I went to my appointment and finally ate afterwards.

I still feel pretty crummy in that I did something stupid both yesterday and today and my body is trying to take a leave of absence from me. I know what I did wrong and I need to remember that and try to gauge what is important and when for me so I don't have such an epic fail again.

Tomorrow is a long run so hopefully that will go well enough to feel a little bit back on track.

Training Week July 5th-July 12th

I figured it would be fun to long-form some of my training weeks, mostly the workouts to see how this block goes. 

The easy runs this week went fine. I did one early morning and then one in the evening. The morning run was only four which was so nice because I didn't feel rushed in the AM. The evening one was a little harder but that was due to some house tasks we had to do beforehand, Both of these were on the tread for various reasons mostly being lazy

The speed workout was on Tuesday and it was toasty, 83 degrees with a real feel of 87 degrees. It was not supposed to be that warm but so it goes. The workout was short, 1 min on / 1 min off eight times so I was very hot and sweaty, but didn't feel unsafe. In the future, attention will be better paid and there will be shifts depending on the workout. The mins on were all between 6:34-6:59 which were faster than prescribed, but with how quick the intervals were I wasn't going to pay attention.

I had another speed workout today (Saturday) which was 3x1mi at marathon pace with .25 jog between the sets. My current marathon pace is 8:06 although my ever hopefully goal is an 8:00, but I'll try to pay attention to Coach. I got out fairly early which was good and the temp was lower with an okay amount off humidity. My mile splits were 7:42, 7:48 and 7:53 which were faster than prescribed but I felt pretty good. I wore supershoes which was a nice bounce. My goal was to hit the 8:00 pace and feel in control and not like I was overreaching and I didn't feel that even at these races so that's a win. It makes me exciting to keep reaching and see how this keeps going this block.

Reminder: it is week one. 😅

I'm jumping into this well after July 12th, but I think the long run the next day went well.