Last season's training for the half marathon had a motto. It was, "make it to 13.1 miles." I didn't follow any training plans. I just ran with the idea that I had to be able to run the half marathon. This season when I started training for the marathon, I decided to follow a training plan. Part of the reason was because I wasn't ready to jump back into training and I knew I didn't have the motivation and gusto I had last spring for the half. So the motto started out as, "stick to the plan." Well, that went out the window pretty quick. Instead, this season's training motto has morphed to "listen to your body."
Last week, despite the 18 mile long run I had on the schedule, I skipped it. My body was telling me that it does not want to go out there and run. I went out there on Wednesday and started a planned 8 mile run. Instead, 1 mile in I had to stop and walk. My muscles were more fatigued than usual. I was getting nauseous. I did some mental math and knew that this was the week. This was the week once a month where the running thing just doesn't work for me. After a half mile walk, I felt a bit better and finished out the run with 6 miles, but I knew the long run wouldn't happen that week.
So I took it easy for the next 5 days and didn't run because I just didn't feel like it. Unfortunately, the weather decided to take a downturn for the worst too. It was cold, raining, freezing, and windy this week. I ran a couple of times that week, but nothing of note. Come Friday, I walked out that morning and felt great. The weather felt warmer than I expected though it was still only 40, and I felt that today was my day for the 20 mile long run.
It's amazing how easy 15 miles can feel when my body feels ready for it. Even one mile felt like the hardest thing ever when my body just doesn't want to run. Mile 16-17 was hard though. I hit the wall there and I slowed to a crawl. But one foot after another and I started to find a second wind around mile 19. Suddenly, I was nearing mile 20 and I was picking up my speed. I thought to myself, "holy crap, did I just do that?" 3:35 on the clock.
Saturday morning though, I had signed up for a 5k at the Arboretum. Barry and I parked near Seminole highway and then walked about .9 mile on the trail to the start line at the Arboretum center. I thought this would for sure be my slowest 5k yet. My legs definitely felt tired from the 20 miler. It was also chillier and windier than I anticipated. Barry and I warmed up for about .5 miles, reassessed our clothing choices (I decided to go with a hat and gloves along with a light jacket), and waited at the start line. It was a simple out and back and mile 2 was definitely the hardest. I finished with 28:23. Not a PR, but not my worst either. And it was better than February's Valentine's 5k when I first started running again this season.
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