hmm, a lot can happen in three weeks. Think about it. You could...
- fall in love or regret that you did
- meet a new friend
- lose a loved one
- win a lottery
- find out you're pregnant
- find a new job
- I had brain surgery, recovered, and returned to work in a little over 2 weeks
- take a vacation
- try something for the first time
- buy a house or car
- learn something new
- break an old or bad habit
- you name it, the list could be endless...
But at the end of these next 3 weeks, will I be able to call myself a marathoner? If I can, wonder what it will mean to me?
My planned run this morning was 32k/20 miles. It wasn't pretty, people.
I woke up to some stomach issues, not my alarm clock. Ugh. Wasn't sure I'd leave the house. Once running, the sun was shining but a steady wind, which seemed to change direction whenever I turned. Rolling hills were good, but tired me out a bit. Everything was fine until mile 16/~26k. My calf started tightening up, and sending a shooting pain into the bottom of my foot. It was the weirdest thing. Felt like my leg was going to give out a few times. Walked about a mile to work out the cramp, seemed ok, but I pretty much jog/walked the remaining 3 miles. By the time my car was in sight, I had hit 19 miles, 1 mile short of my planned distance. Seeing my car made me "mentally turn off" and the physical part of me certainly wasn't going to be doing any convincing, so I headed off to stretch and cool down before joining the group for coffee/treats.
A few things happened during this run.
- First, 19 miles is a l-o-o-n-g way. Never thought I'd ever be doing that distance, other than while driving my car.
- At mile 16, when I had that cramp, I finally embraced and accepted the fact that there would/should be some amount of pain. During my 30k race a few weeks ago, and then last weekend's 29.4k run, they felt good. I felt good.
- But regardless of how I feel, 30k runs are not "easy", and are not meant to be. It's bound to happen, there will be some element of pain. This is marathon training!
- I've always respected the distance of a marathon; that feeling only escalated today.
- Maybe the "bad run" is now out of the way? (I hope!)
- Not once did I think of throwing in the towel, or giving up. I like this new me a lot better than the old me, cuz I know the old me wouldn't have continued
- I've heard the statement before that the last 10k of a marathon is mental. Is it?
Got home, hot shower first, then an ice bath. Leg feels fine now, just normal stiffness. Wondering if perhaps it was electrolytes -- I hadn't brought a tab thingy with me today, which really helped during my race. I also don't think I hydrated enough yesterday compared to what I normally drink. I was on the go for the better part of yesterday, and tried to make up for my lack of water last night, but not sure it was enough.
House in SF is booked, and so are my flights! I'm so excited! It's 2.6 miles from the start line of the race, and 2.5 miles from the finish. We're smack dab in the middle :) Here's a preview of where we'll be, in case you need to find me lol.
40 comments:
The tough runs are more important than the good ones. I'm sure you'll come out of this a marathoner. Hang in there.
Mel, you never cease to amaze me with how you never give up. I love that in a person!!
As Christie says you will be a marathoner, no doubt!!!
You just got the tough one out of the way. The wind this morning was crazy and I couldn't imagine running in it.
There is no doubt in my mind that in 3 weeks I'll address a note to 'Lady Melanie Marathoner'
Great job!! It's so exciting to get those scary long runs out of the way! As for the last part of the marathon being mental...everyone says that, don't they. Honestly, when I hit mile 20, I expected things to get really rough. Don't get me wrong, a few miles between there and the finish were a struggle, but at that point I literally said to myself, "you just ran 20 miles, what's another 6?" And from there I counted down.
That's a sweet looking house!
Great job on the run! I think we all have "bad" runs to learn from and appreciate our good ones. Way to stick with the run and not give up. And yes, the last 10K is a huge mental game!
That's quite a place you'll have in SF. Must be in a really good neighborhood, too.
I wouldn't worry too much about the pain during the long run (assuming, of course, that it goes away). When you're in the marathon, you'll be running on adrenaline. That's why they tell you not to run the full distance before hand.
Great job getting it in, Mel.. pain and all!
Great work pushing through the pain. Getting through the tough runs teach you that you really can do of during the race. Now your body knows it can keep going!
The SF house looks amazing!
Congrats on your 20 miler! That is awesome. You got the distance in and never gave up- that is what will count on marathon day. Now it's taper time! The house looks fantastic. What a great time you will have!
I agree with Denise. For my 1st marathon, miles 17 - 21 were tough, physically and mentally. But once I hit that 21 mark, I knew I could finish even if I had to crawl the last 5.2. I've never reached a point in my running where I could breeze through a marathon like some people, so for me the moment when I stop thinking "I'm gonna die out here!" and start thinking, "The quicker I finish, the quicker I can pop open a beer" is the best feeling in the world.
You'll see. :-)
Brain surgery and recovery in 2 weeks?!? Amazing. Gives me hope for my situation!! Thanks!
Doesn't matter if it was tough (and that may actually make you stronger) you did it. You'll finish the marathon!
I actually found the middle miles the hardest. The "damn, i've come a long way, but I still have a hella long way to go" miles. Once I hit mile 21, I was so much closer to the end than to the beginning that I actually ran more in those miles than I did in some of the middle.
That SF house looks awesome. Can I come too?
good job.
i'm believing that you WILL be a marathoner in 3 weeks. :-)
You are tough, Mel. Recovered from brain surgery in 2 weeks? Amazing. This will be a piece of cake for you.
That's a pretty house. Wish I was coming!
That house looks awesome!
Sorry about the tough run, but it will just make you tougher and ready for the marathon!
I hope this was my "bad" run too. I know exactly what you mean about the calf pain. It totally feels like your leg is going to stop supporting you at any given step!
Time on feet matters and you did that. Remember to take in your salts if you're sweating a lot.. that's an easy way to cramp. I've taken to munching on pretzels in the final days before the marathon. Have fun with the taper
gosh where to start... I've had a helluva three weeks weeks... lost a loved one, pretty sure a new baby will be in the family in another two weeks... circle of life.
way to go on 19 baby!! you are going to do this marathon no questions asked.
SF looks so awesome!
Well you have to be crazy to run a marathon so I guess the whole thing is mental. I was told the 20 mile mark is half way, and find that to be true. You will make it to the finish.
WOW!! I can totally understand how seeing your car would make you turn off. You will be GREAT in the marathon and that house is awesome!!
Congrats on that long run, even if it was painful! With the cramp and seeing your car I can't say I blame you for cutting the run a bit short. Better to have a bad long run in practice than at the race!
And I think it is true, that last 10K is very much mental!
I tend to think that underhydration would be the most likely reason for the cramping you were experiencing. Fortunately, that is pretty easy to correct for the marathon. Good job getting through the long run.
You're going to do great! If you know you can get through the tough runs, race day will be that much easier. :o)
Good luck!
Tough run, but you're a tough bird, sistre - perhaps a tough Canada Goose? Because, believe me, THOSE things definitely have stomach issues! All they DO is sh*t!
So maybe the comparison between you and a Canada goose is not as flattering as I meant, so scrap that.
Still, you're tough and you'll kick some butt!
But let me tell you something: If, in three weeks, I find myself pregnant - which you say is possible - that will be a WAY bigger thing than your marathon.
You can disagree with that if you want, but you'd be wrong.
Seriously, good luck, sistre!
You will be so much more mentally prepared for the marathon having that tough run (and conquering it!) under your belt. Way to go.
The house for SF looks beautiful - what a fun trip!
Wow! Nice house!
You will do great!!
I just know you will!
Good Luck!!
great job on that LONG run! it is a lonnnng way to run :) you are going to do amazing in 3 weeks!!! now rest up and get those legs fresh for race day :)
That is truly a CASTLE you are renting in California. That's a beaut!
No question - you are going to rock in your first marathon. You will be called a marathoner pretty soon.
Rest up !!!
Wow!! You are one tough chick!!
Everytime I feel that I can't push a little further, I'll think of you, how's that?
Now, Go Kick Some A$$!!
It's going to be great. If it were a breeze, everyone would do it, right? Mental game, you got it. So much mental. Physical, duh, yeah, but mental, got to suck it up, tough it out. You got that part down. I have no doubt.
What matters is that you made it though - just keep going at the marathon and you will be fine!
19 is incredible no doubt! i totally "check out" too sometimes, but definitely way before 19 miles.
that house is gorgeous. you might just decide to move in ;)
You are doing amazing, just think Mel < 3 weeks you will be a marathoner! The San Fran house looks awesome!
Yay - another Melanie! Melanie - congratulations on an amazing run. That's an incredible feat being able to do such a big run. I'll so look forward to seeing where you go to from here.
19 miles is AMAZING. I'm still a beginner so it's SUPER AMAZING to me!!
Awesome! 19 miles is nothing to sneeze at, im jealous. I have my first and only 20 miler this week. Trying to mentally prepare for it.
I defintly see what you mean about seeing somethin and mentally shutting down, thats why I run away from my apt, hah
At least you made it through your bad run - you toughed it out and proved that you have what it takes! My last run before my half, I couldn't even do 2 miles!! Then I went and had a pretty good race - and in conditions I had never even trained in (rain). So yeah, I think a lot of it IS mental. And you can totally do it!!!!!
Ah, in three weeks, you'll be a marathoner. You respect the distance, you're ready for it.. you'll get it done!
Very nice house!! Is that where you're staying for the Nike women's??
What a perfect weekend to be running your first marathon, mother's day!! You'll have a blast and yes the marathon, at least for me, was a 6 mile race! All the adrenaline and cheering fans and excitement reallu help you with those first 20 but it is all up to you to run or walk or finish those last 6 miles! The last marathon I raced was NYC and my knee got tweaked around mile 22-i was so bummed! I was hobbly with a wrapped knee and had to force myself to get to that finish line! It is all MENTAL!! But you can do it!!!!
Penny
19 miles is LONG! congrats!
First, congratulations on making it through a tough run. Just call it "character-building."
Second, wow! That place looks amazing! You girls are going to have the time of your lives.
<3 weeks... YAY!
Do you think that you were hurting because you just freakin ran 20 miles!! I would say that was it. haha
I'm in awe!
Funny to think that going anywhere for 20 miles would require a car.
Wow - with digs like that, how can I ever feel good about my night-before-the-race Holiday Inn Express?
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