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| Post Rochester Half |
I had a hugely exhilarating run this afternoon, which I needed desperately. Between the cold and the wind and the snow, I haven't had a run I felt confident during since the Hamilton Marathon November 4th. I had my fastest pace ever, 8:30. It was just what I needed to push me through taper.
When I signed up to do the Goofy Challenge (you run the half marathon Saturday, then you run the full marathon Sunday) at Disneyworld's 20th Anniversary Marathon weekend, I thought I had the perfect plan. I'd be at peak conditioning - I thought I'd only need a week recovery after Hamilton, and then I would jump right into a 7 week training plan with 38 miles, working up to 50, and then have 1.5 weeks of taper. I would use the NYC-turned -Hamilton training as the Disney training...it would just be a 27 week training instead of an 18 week plan.
What ended up happening: essentially I took almost a month off. While I was running, I was shaving off mileage here and there, and eating like I it was still marathon celebration, not marathon training. My right hip, and my right Achilles were killing me. November was a bust. BUT, the weather was beautiful.
So I really buckled down in December, and true to form, Buffalo winter kicked in. I really have no assessment as to how I'm doing. Is the wind making the run harder? My overall pace has improved, but I haven't kept up with the distances as much. And I have had some awful runs (although all could be attributed to running in unplowed snow, or very high winds), and at this point Achilles tendinitis is raging (thankfully the pain subsides within the first mile, and then I only have to contend with it when I'm not running). I have been doing back to back long runs (9 miles Sat/18Sunday, for example) to familiarize myself with what it feel like to run after a semi-long run but on some I cut things short: 7 miles one day, and then the next day's 14 was only 7. And it doesn't feel good...during the second run my legs are heavy and I am tired. I felt amazing during Hamilton - clearly training and leaning-up had paid off.
Lessons learned: 1) at 36, the wear and tear of training for, and running a marathon, requires adequate recovery time before resuming a 35+mile/weekly plan 2) I need at least 16 weeks to train, 16 weeks that don't encompass another marathon 3) I need to reexamine time goals (oh, did I mention in my original plan that I thought I would PR at the Disney Marathon?! Braahaaaah hhaaaa YEAH.)
So no immediate marathons planned after Disney. Based on the canceled NYC Marathon, I have guaranteed entry to either 2013, 2014, or 2015 (with no fundraising needed). However, I have to decide by January 10 and choose my year. Right now it's between 2014 and 2015...this year is all about the Half's! I'm looking to do 12 half marathon's this year, the idea being one per month but I'll have a couple months of none and a couple months of 2. On deck: More mag's Women's Half in NYC (did this one a few years ago, it's Central park loops), Cleveland Half (also did this one a few years ago, great party atmosphere), maybe Cinci Half, definitely Buffalo Half, Rochester Half(I do this one every year)...so with these and the Half at Disney I'm half way to 12! Just looking for June/July/Aug/Nov and Oct races now.
As for full marathons...looks like Disney may be my only one of 2013 (*disclosure: I'll probably get the marathon bug and add a fall marathon...maybe Marine Corps? Or Hamilton again? Or do the full at Rochester?)
Because, running is the most wonderful time. It's my vice. It is a reminder to not take my physical abilities- like running - for granted. It reminds me what it must be like for Emily to have to work every single day for something. It reminds me I am stronger than I think. It shows me how far I have some from the bleak darkness 4 years ago of hearing "your baby had Myelomeningocele Spina Bifida..." when I thought my world ended. It keeps me healthy for Emily. And it is my only ME time: I don't have to answer to anyone but me, I don't have to take care of anyone but me for those miles. It is my daily rejuvenation, and I need that to make sure I am at my best for Emily.
