I CAN do it

I am : REFLECTIVE

After all of my talk about how I analyzed my body and legs following a hard leg workout and bad running week...I have my worst long run of the year. What is important now, however, is that I accept that this was just a bad run, to learn from it, not to dwell on it, and to move on. I can't let any encroaching doubt affect my training, especially this close to the marathon. So, for a little analysis.

My run didn't start out that well. I could tell from the beginning that it wasn't going to be great. This didn't phase me all that much, as the first 30 minutes of the long runs tend to be the hardest. I usually don't even hit my strongest stride until about an hour in. It was hot. I was wearing a new orange Nike moisture wicking shirt. I had two Clif bars with me. I had my Willard Water, but this time also supplemented with some Chlorophyll extract. Chlorophyll as an almost identical molecular structure to hemoglobin, which results in richer blood and a stronger flow. For breakfast I had a bowl of grape nuts and a small handful of mixed nuts (cashews, peanuts, soynuts). Even though it didn't start out that well, I didn't worry too much about it because your just supposed to run as fast as your body will take you. Your body knows itself much better than your analytical, worrying, over-active mind. So, I was taking it easy. Not pushing it, not dogging it. Probably about 8:45 min/mile. I was holding steady until about mile 15 when everything started falling apart. I wasn't even really all that tired. I had been more tired on other runs. For some reason, my mental focus faltered. I didn't think I could keep going. Once this happens, you are pretty much screwed. On the long runs all you have is your mental edge. Without it you are just a pile of sore muscles, creaky joints and an upset stomach. Around mile 16/17 I reached the intersection of Summit and River Road and decided to do something I'd never done. I stopped to walk. I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't keep going, and I didn't really know why. My pace had slowed to a crawl and there was no way I could continue on. That intersection had a water fountain so I drank some water ( I had run out of the Willard Water about 2 miles previous) and stretched. I started making all sort of justifications: I was tapering (no need to push it), etc... I then walked up Summit to Cleveland and began to run again. By the time I got to Snelling, my stomach was in knots, my legs were in shambles, and my brain was mush. Which was weird because the first two problems I can usually deal with, but I didn't know how to handle the third. I was confused....disoriented. I stopped again. I looked around, shocked. What was happening? Walking again I started doing some major self-analysis, the results of which are summarized here. I talked to another runner who has run more than 50 marathons, and she said that everyone has bad runs, everyone. The key is to accept it, and let it go. Here are my candidates for the bad run:

--The clorophyll. I had never used the stuff before, and the first time I do = bad run.
-- The Clif bars. I've used them before, but on saturday they just felt heavy and thick. I didn't think I was getting much energy from them.
-- The weather. It was hot and humid. I started my run around 10, and by then the weather was sticky.
-- Overtraining. I've been going pretty hard for about 5 months. I have consistantly done more miles than I'm scheduled to run. Its finally catching up to me.

The winner? Probably the overtraining. I'm taking today off and starting back up tomorrow. Luckily I'm close to the Marathon so I'm in taper-mode, which lightens the load a bit. Thanks for indulging me!

In other news I upped my calories and fat intake last week to 2600 per week and guess what?!? 4 pounds lost (too much, by the way, if accurate) and .5% body fat gone! So, physically, my body is in just fine shape. If anything, at 168, I may be a bit underweight. Tyler said he's concerned about me. Thinks I'm underfed. And Grace thinks I have an eating disorder. So does Crystal Payne. Y'all don't know her, but I work with her.

Miles Since 4/23/05: 562

posted by Lord Alex @ 4:35 AM