This gave me the opportunity to get up when I was good and ready and have a nice breakfast with my wife and kids (they are off school today as well) Payton, my daughter that runs Cross Country, was leaving at 1:00 to head to an out of state meet tomorrow so I figured I would eat lunch and then take her to the school before my run. This would give my body a chance to digest the food and I would be ready to run when I got back home.
This is when things started to go wrong. I got back home and ready to run about 2:00. I had been hydrating all morning so I knew I would be well hydrated for my run, but I only had one bottle of Gatorade left and needed to save that for Sunday's 20+ miler.
The temperature wasn't too bad at 81 degrees, and the humidity wasn't too bad at 72%, but the part that concerned me was the sun. The sun was out in full force, and I don't do well running in the direct sun for too long. The last time I cut a longer run short was because of the sun. I train almost 100% of the time in the early morning with an occasional evening run, but almost never in the middle of the day when the sun is so hot.
The run started off pretty good and I eased into it with a slower first mile like I always do. I had taken two bottles of water with me because I knew the sun would be taking it all out of me. I started to sip at the water about 1.5 miles and things were still going pretty good. At about 3 miles I was getting close to the end of my first bottle of water trying to fend off how badly I was starting to feel. I was starting to feel pretty lousy. I knew it wasn't a hydration issue but was really starting to wonder about the lack of electrolytes and the hot sun.
My legs were getting heavier with each step and I was nearing the longest/biggest hill of my run. I was also running on the busiest road I run on, and it doesn't have a sidewalk so I am running right on the white line. The sweat was pouring into my eyes and it was stinging and making me dizzy. I knew this wasn't a good combination with how close I was running to the traffic so I decided I needed to get over on the grass. The grass is very uneven and I was worried about twisting an ankle so I decided to walk for a little bit.
Walking for even that little bit did me in. I was not able to get myself going again. By the time I reached the top of the hill, try as I might, I couldn't get myself running for more than a couple hundred yards at a time. My legs felt weaker than they have in months of training.... including all my long runs up to 20 miles.
I decided to cut out a 2 mile loop and attack the 4 miles I had left to get home. I ended up run/walking the rest of the way home feeling completely defeated. It has been a long time since I have had to cut a run short or walk this much during a run.
What do you do to keep for falling into the same trap I did?
Tim Wilson - blog.262quest.com - subscribe - follow - virtual4now
Tim Wilson - blog.262quest.com - subscribe - follow - virtual4now
I felt exactly the same on a 9.5 miler yesterday. The silver lining is these "defeats" are excellent simulation of late marathon conditions.
ReplyDeleteI did the very same thing not too long ago.
ReplyDeletePostponed my run until the afternoon, & by the time I got out there, I wasn't into it. My legs & breathing were fine, but I ended up walking on my way back.
It's made me appreciate the successful runs all the more.
Tim, congrats on your awesome time at the half last weekend!
ReplyDeleteSometimes runs are just bad and I accept that it doesn't always work out; some days I push through not feeling it (and end up feeling great about it when finished) and then some days I just kind of fail. Looks like you still got a good distance in, even if it wasn't at the speed you planned.
It happens to me more when I give myself wiggle room like waking up later because running in the heat drains me so much faster and I get bored versus running in the morning and letting myself enjoy waking up through the run.
This familiar greeting from blogger Indonesia
ReplyDeletegood luck and keep the spirit
thanks
when time stopped in my blogger
I keep a gel or two packed in a side pocket always - whether I think I'll need it or not. Better to have it and not need, blah, blah, blah. Moments like those I just turn off my watch, keep going IF I can, as slow as I need to go without beating myself up over it. Sometimes, it's just not time to run.
ReplyDeleteS-caps and lots of water. Doesn't fix everything, but makes it better. Cooler days are coming.
ReplyDeleteTim: I just finished reading a few back issues of your blog. Your first marathon on November 14 will feel incredible. Congratulations on your training and everything you've overcome: weight, collarbone and all the other nicks and pains of marathon training. Make sure you keep it up and run marathons 2,3,...
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the comments - they are so much appreciated and help me keep my head up after runs like this one :) - today's run was much better.... and 21 miles! :)
ReplyDeleteI've had days like that, when you get out there and it just doesn't happen.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you read RW Daily or not, but Mark Remy posted a great article the other day on appreciating your crappy runs:
RW Daily - The Beauty of the Horrible run
~cheers, Irish
www.theirishrunner.com
Irish - Thanks for the link, and thanks for stopping by and the comments!
ReplyDeleteIrish - Thanks for the link, and thanks for stopping by and the comments!
ReplyDeleteThis familiar greeting from blogger Indonesia
ReplyDeletegood luck and keep the spirit
thanks
when time stopped in my blogger