Marathon #2 Training

Well, it's eight months later, from my first and painful marathon, and I've been training like a very mad woman, determined to avoid the anguish of that run. Training in Texas in the summer proved to be anguish in and of itself! It required many very early buzzes from the alarm clock and a headlamp to light the way through the dark, quiet, sleeping streets. My neighbors would have made fun of me for doing this, but they never knew because I was done with 20 miles and back inside before they got out of REM sleep!

Did I mention it was the hottest summer in the 13 years I've lived here? It was rarely below 70 degrees and 99 percent humidity...ever. Am I whining? Yep! It was brutal. Especially when I was too lazy to get up when my alarm went off. Now I should explain: My fall training was guided by my running group and a good plan. My summer training was mostly done on my own according to no particular plan. So when I got a late start, I felt compelled to run the particular mileage I'd set for myself for that day regardless of conditions. (Learning Opportunity: Adjust schedule based on temperature and mental state). So knowing that temps would reach well into the 90's by the time I was done with my scheduled 25 mile day, I planned a 3-loop run that would take me past home twice to refuel and get more hydration. The run seemed to be going okay, but boy, was it HOT! Wanting to ensure I didn't get dehydrated, I opted to drink mostly water in lieu of Gatorade. (Can I still make rookie mistakes? Well, I did). And not really having much knowledge about fuel, I ate high protein bars which sat like a rock in my gut. (You can see that I am a subscriber of Runner's World and all those magazines with helpful articles.)

At mile 15, I can't believe I still have 10 more to go. It's soooo HOT. So I grab more water and opt for no protein bar. I am sweating like a pig, but you can't tell because I've been pouring water over me for the last half hour and running through any sprinkler I can find. One lady was even finishing up watering her flower bed with a hose and I begged her to give me a good dousing. She looked at me like I'd lost my mind and hit me good (probably thinking "Now take that you running lunatic, and quit wasting my water!")

At this point, I've talked myself into just doing 23 miles because I'm not understanding whats going on with my body- but it's not right. I don't feel like I have to use the bathroom, but I look like I'm going to have a baby! And my fingers are swelling up, and my watch is getting tight. I am now having flashbacks of my agony in my first marathon, and wonder why on God's green earth I spend a lovely sunny day torturing myself when I could be floating in the lake right outside my door! So I finish 23 miles and I can't even be too happy about it because I am disappointed in myself for a) not getting up with my alarm and b) for not completing the full scheduled run. Knowing that my endorphins take a while to kick in, I am hoping for joy to find me in a short while. Unfortunately, Joy went a different route and wasn't coming back today.

Agony is trying so desperately to be my friend. It keeps coming around and trying to scare off Joy. But I really like Joy, so I am going to do all the things Joy requires of me so she will visit more often! I am starting with abolishing ignorance (which has definitely not proven to be bliss!) And from this point on, I am getting up with my alarm, or adjusting my schedule as needed, so as to be very well prepared for the Quad Cities Marathon in September of 2009!