Adjusted Reality

Race: finished.  Massive amounts of italian food: eaten.  Legs: barely under my control.  Couch: yes, oh my yes.  Standing: overrated.

Chip times not up yet, but if it wasn’t 2:15 it was sure close.  More next week!

Well, race day is tomorrow and the nerves are definitely coming into play.  I’m sure it doesn’t help that I’m stuck at work when I would like to be packing, yoga’ing, and sleeping more (I had a small bout of the wakeup-then-can’t-fall-back-asleep fun last night and netted about 5.5 hours of sleep).  So instead of doing, I’m just going to type.

Things I am worried about:

-I’ve never run 13.1 miles before.  It still trips me out that training for a long race, you don’t run the full distance until you get to the starting line.

-I’ve put in very few miles this week.  I know you’re not supposed to, but it just feels wrong.

-Running in the heat.  I’ve had some good runs lately, but I’ve also had some miserable runs where I felt like I was wading, not running.

-My toe and shoe situation.  Monday’s run, my toe started bleeding for no reason.  My newest and best shoes fit me *perfect* so there is no extra toe room, and when I put them on, they hurt walking around so I wore my old-expired shoes.  My options are a) wear the new ones I’ve been training in and deal with any possible pain b) wear the old ones and gamble on my toe feeling good but the rest of my foot possibly hurting because they’re so worn or c) going to buy a pair just like my new ones in a half size bigger, and risk racing on new shoes (these had literally NO break in period, they were comfy from day 1 but still – not something you do on race day).  I’m thinking a), but I’m hoping d) toesies are fine tomorrow!

-Getting there.  We’re heading down this afternoon to beat traffic and relax and swim in the pool and get a yummy dinner, but I’m not sure how to navigate to the course/shuttles/whatnot.

Things I am confident about:

-Minus the intentional omissions while in Vegas, I followed my training program pretty much to a T.  While it was my program I concocted, it was after researching a LOT online.  I’m ready for this.

-I feel healthy and ready to push myself.  I’m not feeling burnt, I’m not physically exhausted, though I am surprised that I still have mild muscle soreness today having only done about 9 miles, yoga up the wazoo, and no strength training.

-The forecast tomorrow in San Antonio is promising.  The race starts at 78 degrees at 8am (feeling like 83) and ends around 83 at 10am (feeling like 88) with 15 mph wind.  The last few weeks I’ve been training in somewhere between “feels like 90” and “is actually 90” weather, and we have been strangely un-windy here lately, so I’m excited.  It will feel like the middle of winter!

Now, also, since I can’t be packing, I’m going to pretend:

Normal overnight stuff bag with toiletries, shower stuff, pajamas, swimsuit, a change of comfy clothes for Saturday after the race, my slippers just in case my tootsies are shot after the race (thanks for the idea, DietGirl!), a change of going out clothes in case we decide to stay down there another night (probably won’t, but…) and camera.

Body pillow.  I want to sleep as comfortably as I can.

Towel for the car so I don’t sweat all over it on the way back if we leave immediately.

Laptop with Sims 3 and movies to watch in case everything on TV sucks.

Running bag with what I’m going to wear to race in (and maybe a backup), vasolene (my version of body glide), my camelback (just in case I find out the water stops aren’t as frequent as I’d like), shoe wallet and safety pins (gonna pin sport beans #1 to the inside of my skirt, sport beans #2 going in the shoe wallet), both pairs of shoes JUST IN CASE (god I hope I don’t have to use my old shoes), sunglasses, timing watch, zune (just in case, I might as well see if everyone is showing up with mp3 players and ignoring the no-headphone rule), sunscreen, breakfast (fruit and a zone bar), water bottle (lukewarm water will be better than nothing if needed) hair ties, and chapstick.

Yes, I travel light.  Sue me, I like to be prepared!  Now, to finish the rest of the morning at work, have some lunch, hit the store for aforementioned fruit and water, and get to packin’!  Soon, so very soon, I’ll have the 4th race picture to add to these 3!

So I have a HUGE case of what I call “The Shiny Syndrome”.  Known also as “oooh, look, shiny” or characterized very well in the movie Up! as “SQUIRREL!”  Basically, I’ll make these great and grandiose plans, and then get distracted and start wandering away to another path following something else shiny and then all of a sudden, I have no idea how to get back to the other one.  So it’s fine, and I keep chasing the new hotness shiny.  Rinse, and repeat.  And repeat.

Some things take longer than others to lose my interest (gymnastics I gave a good 13 years, pursuing art seriously after college – about 4 years, etc), but eventually, it will fall off my radar, as one can only have a finite amount of passion in their life without being exhausted (or exhausting!).  Some of the more recent and fleeting shinies have been:

-The 100 pushup challenge.  I was enamoured with the idea of being able to do that many.  The problem was when it started to be a workout on it’s own and not just part of my arms workout.  I got up to about 45 and have maintained the ability to do that many though!

-Selling my jewelry.  I dropped 150 bucks on beading supplies and was NOT going to make anything for myself until I had made at least 10 sets (necklace and bracelet) to sell at 15 bucks a pop.  I was not going to buy any more supplies until I sold them, making back my investment.  I was going to do this by May.  It’s the middle of June, I have 4 necklaces made, 0 bracelets, and I’ll already spent at least 10 more dollars on beading supplies.  Fail!  In my own defense, it has been so beautiful outside this spring, I just couldn’t bear turning down gallivanting outside.  And there was a half off sale.  Now that the 100+ heat is approaching, I definitely plan to restart this anew.

-Obsessively tracking/analyzing my food/activity/mood etc.  I was so good for a long time, analyzing calories in vs calories out daily and weekly, as well as how I felt.  I found out a lot of things during that phase, like not to worry about a day or 2 of being up in weight, just take your low per week and count that.  Also, if I could be a “calorie burner” each day (as in, take in less calories than I burn) I did better than if I just did a few marathon days, even if it ended up the same at the end of the week.  I just haven’t been able to get back to that, even if it was probably one KEY element of my success.

So now that we have established that it is hard for me to see things through, I would like to express how incredibly proud of myself I am for finishing this half marathon training (minus the last 2 mile run of course).  Even if I fall down in 2 minutes and break my ankle and I can’t run.  Even if the car breaks down on the way to San Antonio and we get picked up by a carnie cult and end up as circus freaks.  Even if I have to walk half the race or don’t finish or get abducted by aliens along the course.   I managed to avoid “shiny syndrome” long enough to set out a 12 week plan, and see it through.  I set a goal to run 13.1 miles, when I could only run 6 at the time, made a training schedule, and Saturday I shall be primed and ready to do it.  I didn’t quit at 8 or 9, even though it was freaking cool I could get that far.  I didn’t stop increasing my mileage even though the rapidity of it was honestly intimidating.

I know this hobby is a keeper, as I’m already starting to think about training in the fall for the next one in Jan/Feb.  I still maintain that I am super ready to take the summer off and maybe work on 5k/10k times and riding my bike and *supersecretsurprisestuff*, but I’m already figuring out what worked, what didn’t, what I need to add, when I need to start, and how I’m going to run in cold weather.

I don’t even care that I had a crappy tempo run today.  I don’t care that I still have a 2 mile easy run left and all the yoga I can possibly cram into my life before Saturday.  For all intents and purposes, I did it.  I’m standing near the top of the moutain.  Just getting to this point is a victory in its own right.  The rest, they say, is downhill from here.  13.1 miles downhill.

Now, with all that feel-good talk out of the way, I’m taking bets on whether I can smash the 2:15:00 goal I’ve set for myself…

If you’ve been following me here this shouldn’t be any surprise, but for the rest of you and for my posterity, here is how last week went.  I switched around my training a bit again, so I’m just going to list what I did!

Monday: 5 mile run and weights

Check!  Ran in the morning and felt a little stiff from 3 days off (probably shouldn’t do that again but I think in other ways it was really good for me).  By the end I was feeling great though and while I wasn’t just raring to go early in the morning, I was definitely ready to run that day.  Weights at home after work – did not want to do them, but got through it anyway.

Tuesday: 10×400 track intervals (one lap 2:00 or under pace, one lap jog) and yoga.

Check! I went ahead and actually drove the half mile to the track for this.  I was again slightly short on time and wanted to make sure I could get it all done.  However, I was forgetful and my timing watch stayed at home so I had to fake it and just run fast one lap, slow the next.  Made it through, felt good by the end, and said goodbye to the track for a while, at least until I get a wild hair up my butt and decide to do track intervals outside in the hot sun just for fun.  Yeah, probably not until fall, me thinks.  Did the yoga after work, and it was yoga-riffic (though smelling dinner the whole time made me hungry!!!)

Wednesday: 50 mins DDR

Check!  Supposed to be 60, but again, I was running short on time so I did 50 instead-if it was a normal day I woulda just waited ’til after work, but I knew it wasn’t going to be.  Also was supposed to yoga but I didn’t because I worked super late.  So see, it was a good thing I can get up and workout now, even though it wasn’t as much as planned…

Thursday: 5 mile run, 10 mins DDR, and weights

Check and check and check!  I have been really good about making up pretty much all training I miss, which makes me happy.  The run was freaking miserable because I did it an hour later that usual (had a rare late in day at work and slept late due to working late), and it was like wading through a hot tub.  Hot, muggy, and my legs felt sore and sluggish.  I put in the miles though, and got through it.  I tried to go the gym after work but I forgot everything.  At first I thought I had forgotten a hair tie and I was going to make do with my clips.  Then, I thought I had forgotten my zune, and I decided I would deal without music.  Then, I get to the gym and – oops, no gym bag at all.  I got home and decided that was the fates telling me not to bother, and did the workout at home instead.  All in all, not my best workout day ever.  Was ready for a day off mostly the next day and was actually pretty nervous for my long run.

Friday: Yoga

Check!  This was scheduled as a rest day, but I had a yoga session to make up.  Did it in the morning before work.  It was lovely.  It’s just so odd that I can’t stand yoga in the afternoons/evenings, but I love it in the mornings.

Saturday: 12 mile run

Check!  As I said, I was really nervous about this after almost 2 weeks of not having a long run and how crappy Thursday’s run went.  I got myself up at 7:20 and got out before 8.  This is huge for me on a weekend.  I started really, really slow just to be sure I didn’t use up all my juice too quick.  Zliten caught up with me on the bike after a lap around the south part of the neighborhood (he had just gotten back from taking a friend to the airport) and then decided to go zoom off himself so he could complete his mileage too!  He caught up with me around the start of mile 9 and rode with me the rest of the way, bringing me my second pack of sport beans and a bottle of ice water since I drained my whole camelback by mile 9.5.  All in all, a great run, great confidence builder, and I’m ready for Saturday!

Total week 11 mileage 27 (running):   (plus 1-2 miles of walking)

Week 12 – taper week

Monday – 4 mile run, yoga

Tuesday – 30 minute tempo run, yoga

Wednesday – yoga

Thursday – 2 mile run, yoga

Friday – Rest

Saturday – Half Marathon Woohoo!

Sunday – Rest

So here it is, the week I’ve been waiting for – taper week.  Oddly enough I’m a little sad because it feels like I’m not doing much this week, but I know it’s to get me rested up for Saturday.  And I need it.  My muscles are tight little knots of naughty knotness and are definitely ready for some unwind time.  I’m ready to not need a mile or 2 to feel good running, to be rested enough that starting running doesn’t jar my system and make my go “oof, not again”.  I think I’ve skirted the edge of overtraining a bit here, but haven’t quite gone over.  So taking it easy this week is good.  Does it sound like I’m convincing myself here?

What I know is I am really feeling ready for this race.  While in the back of my head, the goblins are saying “you’ve never run 13.1 miles, what if 12 is all you have, silly girl…”  However, the way I’ve been training, I’m perfectly positioned to run it.  I’ve increased 1 mile a week ever since my 10k at the end of April.  Feasibly, I could just keep adding a mile every week until like August and run a full marathon, but I’m thinking I might die first.  But, since 10 to 11 didn’t kill me, 11 to 12 didn’t kill me, I’m thinking 12 to 13.1 will probably not be my untimely end.

The plan for this week besides the workouts is to get as much rest as possible.  Then, a Yelp Elite event I just couldn’t miss showed up for Tuesday.  Then, a friend is coming into town Wednesday who hasn’t been here and MUST BE SHOWN 6th STREET BARS…apparently.  This is my chance to practice moderation (although, if I overdo it Tuesday I won’t even be tempted on Wednesday, so that is another strategy).  There is also the impending possibility of working late any day.  So I’m going to make the most of tonight and Thursday (which there are no goings ons) and make sure I’m in bed early and don’t do anything more strenuous than lifting the remote.

Friday rest is a given.  I’ve even taken time off work (leaving at lunch) so I can eat my pho, go home and pack, and get down to San Antonio before the traffic starts.  The plan is to have a lovely swim in the pool and make use of the hot tub, have a nice big carby dinner, and then relax in the hotel room and get to sleep early.  If I can sleep.  Hopefully I can sleep!  Argh…

The last thing to note is I am taking the week off weights and doing as much yoga as humanly possible.  I am pretty proud of myself for keeping up 2 weights sessions a week through week 11 even though I gave myself the option to cut back, but this week I need to keep my muscles as fresh as possible.  Hopefully 4 doses of yoga will help stretch out some of those knots.  I’m not 100% sure I’ll do all 4 days but that’s the plan.

Since I’ve already actually completed today’s run, I’ve only 2 more runs until H-day!  The butterflies are already starting, in a good way, of course!

If you’ve been following me here this shouldn’t be any surprise, but for the rest of you and for my posterity, here is how last week went.  I switched around my training a bit, so I’m just going to list what I did!

Sunday: 11 mile run

Check!  Woke up a little later than I would have liked and got out around 10am instead of closer to 8/9, but the more training I can do in the heat, the better I’m supposing.  It was a great run, I felt good the entire way, Zliten actually followed me the whole way on the bike (minus the first 2 miles) and we chatted and it helped me keep my pace easy.  I barely used my mp3 player, which is good, because the race doesn’t allow headphones.  Yipes!  All in all, this run made me feel much more confident that I could easily tack on 2 more miles, and though I don’t think I can tack on those 2 miles without adding time (the 11 miles I did in 1:59, my goal for the half is as close to 2 hours as possible), my biggest goal is just to complete the race.

Monday: 2.7 mile run and yoga

I was still sore from the epic run the day before and low on time (I had somewhere to be right after work so all I had was the morning workout time), so I did one lap around the neighborhood and decided yoga would be more beneficial.  I made up the time later in the week so it worked out.

Tuesday: weights and a 45 minute tempo run

Check and check.  The plan was 60 mins DDR in the morning and weights in the evening, which is obviously not what happened.  I woke up late so I did weights at home instead.  We then changed plans from relaxing to socializing that would make it a later night, so I decided that doing the run when I was fresher and less tired was a better idea.  I ran on the treadmill, because running 5 miles in 95 and humid is not my idea of a good time.

Wednesday: yoga and 60 mins DDR

Check and check.  Morning yoga, and DDR at night.  I had really wanted to run here because it was National Running Day, but I figured it was more important to take care of myself than celebrate.

Thursday: 5.3 mile run, 2 mile run, weights

Check, check, and check.  In the morning I ran around the neighborhood twice, it was a good, comfortable, easy run.  After work I did a 2 mile treaddy run, and then a short weights workout.  After two weeks of hard training with only one day off, I was so very ready to be done.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: Rest

Friends came into town and were staying with us, and I made sure I didn’t have to be ducking out of plans to workout.  It’s a good thing too – I had thought *maybe* I’d like to get an extra yoga session or 2 in to keep limber, but I didn’t have time.  I can tell I’m getting to the end of a really hard 3 months of training because even after 3 days off – I still have muscle soreness.  I do feel a lot more rested and besides putting a lot of crap into my body I probably shouldn’t have, I think it’s just what I needed to have one more really strong week of training before the race.

Total week 9 mileage 26 (running):   (plus 1-2 miles of walking)

Week 11 – the last hard week of training

Monday – 5 mile run, weights at home

Tuesday – 10×400 track intervals (more likely, treadmill intervals) and yoga

Wednesday – 60 mins DDR, yoga

Thursday – 5 mile run, weights at the gym

Friday – Rest

Saturday – 12 mile run

Sunday – Rest

Things I learned last week:

I usually do 5 things, but at this point, I’m just repeating the same things over and over.  I am confident I can finish this race, I don’t think 13 miles is much different than 11.  I’m nearing the end of a pretty rigorous training cycle, and while I’ve enjoyed pushing myself, I am ready for a break soon.  I’m going into this week feeling better than normal, so that’s a bonus.  I have 5 more hard workouts this week (and one tempo next week) and that’s it.  Another bonus.

I’m just going to dig in, finish what I started here, try to eat as healthy as possible, try to cool it on the partying (the next 2 Fridays are carbo-loading, relaxing, and sleep, no going out), and get as much sleep as I can this week.  I think if I make it to Saturday post-run, I’ll be in good shape.  I remember this feeling from gymnastics – what started as fun gets tedious.  What started with enthusiasm and “let’s-do-this-it’s-a-challenge”, now is going through the motions and “what did I get myself into”.  Then, the big meet comes and it’s fun again and all the hard work pays off.  And then, you just can’t wait for the next one to do even better.

I’m ready for my big meet.  I’m ready to put my training to the test.  Almost.  Two more weeks.  Thanks for hangin’ in here with me and hope it’s been a tolerable, if not enjoyable, ride!