Lessons in Long Runs (without much training)

I don't really like to write about running but today I feel I need to; if for no other reason, to remember my lessons.

The Chicago Marathon is October 11th. Way back in February Amy and I thought it would would be a great idea to sign up. We had lots of time to train and it would be an incredible accomplishment for us. So, we registered.

Fast forward about six months. Race is just over six weeks away and we have yet to train. I inquired to see if I could sell my number. NO. I was stuck with it, either I do the race or I forfeit my money. Amy insisted we had time to train enough to at least finish and that we should go for it. I am wondering now why I let her talk me into following through with this.

Three weeks ago I went out to run, first time since July 5th. It was August 30th and I ran a slow 10 miles. I felt great, maybe because it took me an hour and 50 minutes. Either way, I was thinking this marathon is doable.

Next step... have Erica give us a six week, extremely accelerated, program to train.

Done.

Saturday, September sixth, Amy and I set out for a 14 mile run. This is longer than we have ever run before. I was a little nervous because I had not run since the 10 miler and Amy ran during the week. She was so disciplined, getting up at 5 am and running. I was feeling guilty that I would watch her car pull out in the dark while I sat on facebook and drank my coffee. Now I was wishing I would have gone running.

However, we did it. I did okay, I probably did hold her back a bit but she never let on. In the end, we felt terrific. We had pushed ourselves farther than we had ever run before and we both felt really good! It took us three hours.

Feeling even more like this marathon was going to happen for us, we scheduled our next run, 19 miles. Our plan was to run from Sutton's Bay on the TART Trail to Garfield Avenue, Traverse City.

We were feeling good and excited that we were going to be able to say we ran from one town to the next and we were both going to run a few days during the week.

Didn't happen.

Amy did run on Monday a few miles but Tuesday she ran on the treadmill and her entire body hurt. She didn't run the rest of the week. I took a long bike ride on Monday but that was the extent of it, no running.

Saturday morning arrived fast. We drove my car to the bank on Garfield knowing the next time we saw it we would have completed our run! Amy drove us to the fire station in Sutton's Bay to start our adventure. We were both feeling good about this run. We were going to just run and walk, slow and steady. We could do this.

We were trying some new things, preparing for the marathon, seeing what would work and what wouldn't. We were told to do this during long runs and now I see that it is extremely important.

Here is what we learned, a hydration belt looks extremely dorky and is not very comfortable to run with but was very helpful. GU is gross but worked really good to help us keep running. Old, throwaway sweatshirts or gloves would have been very nice when we started our run. We were so cold our fingers and toes were numb.

The first 12-14 miles were good. We could probably even say we enjoyed them but then we discovered there is a big challenge in running just five more miles. Mile 15 was not too bad but we passed a Holiday gas station and felt a bit tired so figured it was a good time for a Snickers Bar. Inside the gas station Amy began feeling dizzy so she went out and sat on the ledge. I welcomed the rest. We ate our "power bars" and after about 10 minutes we started our run again.

This is were it all fell apart, the last four miles. I am sure the Snickers Bar didn't help us at all. We struggled through the next 45 minutes, walking and running, talking about Slabtown Burgers and Gobbler sandwiches. I don't think either of us was ever as happy to see my car as we were exactly four hours after we left Sutton's Bay!

We drove from the bank right to West End Beach and walked out in the cold bay up to our thighs. This was probably the best thing we did! We ate Slabtown Burgers when we got home, probably the worst thing we did (at least for me.)

My muscles feel pretty good, my Achilles are sore but not bad. My stomach, and Amy's stomach, was upset the rest of the day. I am really wondering now if I want to do this race. Next week we are planning on 22 miles. I guess that will be the true test.

I am betting those three little extra miles will feel like a hundred miles and I am certain we will not be stopping for a Snickers!