RUN: 16 miles, 2hrs ~26mins. The Garmin and I miscommunicated somehow, and it said I started my run around 13 miles or so. And the pace was all messed up. So I ran the 13.1 then another 2.9 miles. The weather was low 40's with some wind out of the east. Here's the run-down:
I had taken Friday mostly off in preparation for this run. 16 miles to me is considered a Long Run. 13.1 is nothing, I can rip one of those off most any day. 14 miles, still OK, maybe a little more prep. But 16 is a distance you only normally do in marathon training.
Breakfast: 500 cals, 66 carbs, 18g protein, 20g fat. 2hrs before race. Definitely more fat and protein than I'd usually eat before a long run. The Usually being pre-PDA. Took some extra water in with the coffee. I sipped some Cytomax on the drive in. Redman's dehydration was on my mind, it's a goal to fix that this year.
The didn't start until 9am, but I'd planned on doing 3 miles before the 13.1 race. Didn't happen. The course was in FP, a figure-8 with circles of roughly 2 and 4 miles. The first circle is flat, second one is not. Obviously, we do the course 2x. I felt awful on the first loop of the course, my mind kept thinking about ditching the timing chip and heading on the park trail to run alone. Then I realized why--I was trying to pace the runners passing me, and it was discouraging. I was aiming for a 9min/mile pace and many behind me were aiming for less. The first 6 miles passed slowly, with my head playing games.
A distance like this can be intimidating. 16 is quite a hike. So when the mile markers say 3, then 4, then 5, time drags on. When you pass the 6 mile mark, all you can think is "10 more!" Not a particularly encouraging thought. Somewhere just before the 7 mile mark I hit 60 minutes. I had taken a gel (Clif Strawberry-yuk, never again) and some water. My feet were hurting too on the soles, as if I was running on unpadded shoes. But that had started miles ago. Nothing new there.
I was wearing a shirt from UofIowa with a microscopy picture on the back that says Experience The Power. Somewhere around mile 2, two guys passing me asked about the shirt. They thought my shirt had jelly beans on it, then as they passed me they continued their odd banter ("The power of what? The power of the sun! The power of God! The p-p-p-power of love!"). I let them go, they were in their own world. Then around mile 5, a woman passed me, commented on the shirt, then asked if I was a cyclist. Why yes, a triathlete, actually. She could tell because of my powerful legs, she said, and she expressed envy over them. Mine? Say what? As she passed me, she was tall and lean, I guess the expected runner's build. Her saying that threw me for a loop--why is it that people so openly comment on my body? More on that another day. I've got a run to finish.
Either the gel or the water was kicking in, and the second run of the course went much better. Still hurting but much more energetic. At mile 8, I realized I was only half-way, at 1hr 14 mins. At mile 9, my gum disintegrated, I think in response to sugar in the carbs I was eating. In this loop, I switched over to the Cytomax in the fuel belt. I would have liked more water, but I packed only Cytomax. I passed mile 10 thinking "only 6 more!" Around that time, I met again the leg-admiring woman. Now introduced to each other, we ran together for a half mile or so. Then I left her and ran with a guy for a mile or so. He was thinking about doing GO!26.2, so we talked long runs a bit. Still feeling great, I left him around mile 12. The finish line was approaching!
I knew that tacking on 3 miles after 13.1 would be tough, but I sailed through the finish at 1:58, not a PR of any sort, but that wasn't the goal. Without stopping I continued out for 2.9 more. It didn't go as well. My mind started to check out, my feet started complaining more, and I hit the headwind. At one point, I let myself walk across a bridge (only my second walk of the run). I started checking the now-reset-to-zero Garmin. At 0.45 I lightly twisted my right ankle. At 0.85 I walked the bridge. At 1.25 I passed the skating rink. At 1.48 I pushed on to 1.50, then turned around. Life became easier without a headwind. I made it back to the truck, focusing on head-up, shoulders back, and feet not dragging--more goals for this year.
The run done, I grabbed a water bottle and another gel. Total run intake: 270 calories as 66g carbs. Two flasks of FuelBelt water and a few ounces at the water station. Probably not enough. Stretched for 15 mins, got chilled, then reached for the recovery shake: 524 cals, 66g carbs, 45g protein, 8g fat (Ensure and protein powder with fruit).
I focused on water intake the next few hours, didn't get a meal in until 2-3pm, but felt good the rest of the day. I'm usually more sluggish, wonder if all the 'extra' water is helping? It's probably water that I need, and I only think it's extra. OVERALL--a good run! Next time is 18 miles, goals for that are better hydration and more fuel. I'm still underfueling.
I should review my meal plan goals, I shouldn't be wondering about that right now!
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