Survivor

Well, I officially posted my worst half marathon time yesterday at the Queens Half out in College Point. The course was hilly with a turn about every 0.1 miles, seriously. But I really liked the course. I had no idea what people were talking about after the race when they were describing this nightmarishly steep hill at mile 8 or the constant "surprise" rise in elevation after yet another bend. I noticed the hills, but they didn’t daunt me. One might then ask themselves why I ran my slowest recorded half marathon if I liked the blasted route so much. The answer comes in 3 little letters: ITB.

I attempted the first of 2 planned 20 mile runs in preparation for the Marine Corps Marathon at the long training run in Central Park. Somewhere along the first loop I started feeling a semi-normal for this training season ache in my right knee. It usually disappears after running a bit or focusing on my stride, but it decided on the start of the second loop (after 6 miles) to morph into a sharp stabbing like pain that jabbed me with every step. I finished the second 5 mile loop and called it quits after consulting my running club's president for some sage advise. I was disappointed and frustrated but deep down I knew I made the right decision to ditch the 20 miles. I ran easy, very easy, iced, stretched, and foam rollered all the following week in preparation for the Queens Half.

I also prepared mentally by telling myself I can and should stop if the pain comes back or it's too achy. I have a larger training goal ahead in the 18 mile Tune-up in Central Park this coming Sunday. I need to do 20 that day! Long story short I prepped myself for a "did-not-finish" or a walk-a-thon ending in a 2 hour plus "race". I may not be that speedy, but I have taken a lot of pride in the strides I've made as a runner in 2 years, in addition to the hard work it is. I've never posted a 2 hour half; my second to worst was ironically the Queens Half last year, in April; I did a 1:55:55. The most frustrating part of it all is that I was faced with doing a 2 hour PLUS all because I've neglected stretching and that nagging ache whilst and after I run.

However, despite stopping at nearly every mile marker to stretch my poor, pathetic leg, I managed to keep a pace of 8:30 to 8:40 per mile, and it was more than comfortable. It took a little bit of stewing to realize that I didn’t “feel” the hills because I stopped so often. I also realized that by the time I made it to mile 10, my mild discomfort had not increased, in fact it had decreased at some points in those miles. In the name of conservatism, however I didn't pick up the pace or stop stretching along the course. Also at mile 10 I realized that I might just make it under 2 hours! Barely. I stopped at 11 for a quick stretch, and when I was cruising through mile 12 a glance at my watch told me that if I stopped now my NYRR record would forever record 2... I kept on chugging and even picked up the pace slightly. I ended up finishing at 1:59:42! And you know what? My ITB survived. And so did my record!

Cheers to Recovery Beers!

Ok, so I've had a tough time this marathon training season finding the motivation to fit in my weekly miles. Getting over the first 3 miles or so of a workout is a gigantic accomplishment these days. But there is one tiny bit of motivation (outside of the fear discussed in my 2nd post) that seems to help me get these exhausting long runs completed: the promise of BEER.
E-man (the boy-toy) and I seem to have fallen into a habit of running ridiculous miles then hopping right into a marathon drinking situation. This may seem like we have a problem, but we don't. Honest! We have had a relatively busy social calendar this summer with parties and bbq's and championship hurling games. But we marked on the calendar our key runs, and we've stuck to them despite these social "obligations". (Life is so tough sometimes!)

The promise of relaxing later on a Saturday afternoon/evening with friends and a frosty brew is HUGE at 6 AM or earlier after a long week of work and running! It's like ripping off a bandaid. There is a lot of fanfare and dancing around mustering up the courage, then yank! And it's over. There might be some residual stinging, but eventually it dulls and you get a lollipop or an ice cream (or at least I did sometimes growing up). So beer is my lollipop.

Actually the relaxtion and laughs could be my lollipop; beer is a bonus. It just so happens, coincindentally, that beer has a lot of good stuff for runners to replenish what they've lost running. OK!?!? I don't have a problem! (Note: Mojitos are also highly motivating!)