This week is another high mileage week with about 51 miles. Yesterday I had a 10 mile track workout, and today I had a 10 mile easy run. I love how their called "easy". These feel harder to me than the speed and tempo workouts! My body is so fatigued already, so when I go to do these easy runs, it's just hard. With that being said, you seriously have to listen to your body. I knew I could run the distance, but I also I knew I had to really slow it down, and even walk eventually if I felt my body needed it.
I ran straight through to mile 7.3, but then my body really started to hurt and I felt like I had no energy. This is when I decided to stop, take a breather, and drink some water. Doing this made me feel so much better, and I finished off the run. It may have been very slow, but it was definitely the right thing to do. The last thing I need now is an injury less than 7 weeks out from my first marathon (WHAT?!?) I finished the run and my sneaker were literally sloshing with sweat. I could have rung out my socks, but I didn't because that's just gross!
I got another pair of C9 Compression Shorts from Target. These are definitely my favorite and I will certainly being wearing of pair of these for my marathon. They are the perfect length, don't ride up, don't cause any chafing, and wick away sweat nicely. If I were to wear a pair of normal shorts, they would just become sopping wet and bother me the whole race.
The start of my dinner.....
....And the finished product. An egg salad sandwich on whole wheat bread with miracle whip, mustard, salt, and pepper, and then topped with some bread and butter pickles! MMM
My first marathon is officially 47 DAYS away.... Holy cow! I have been working my butt off for 9 weeks already, and I didn't even realize how quickly it was moving! This has not been easy, but it has been totally worth it. I am loving, and sometimes dreading, the training runs, but I getting up every morning and doing what I need to do. Some days I love it, some days I hate it. Some days the runs feel easy, some days the runs feel impossible. All that matters is that I am trying my best and getting in the miles. I have also been committed to strength training and also rest. I think I am doing everything properly. Here is the list of things I have learned in the training cycle over the past 9 weeks:
1. There are days you DO NOT want to run. You will hit slumps, you will be tired, but you just have to stay motivated and keep moving along.
2. You have to find the energy that works for you. I discovered my love of GU energy gels, specifically the chocolate flavored ones. Some things will agree with your stomach, and other things will not. Trust me, you'll know if they do or don't.
3. You discover what clothes are comfortable and what you'll never want to wear again. Running a few miles a day is a whole different story than training for a marathon, and clothes that feel good for a few miles, may not feel good for long runs or speed workouts.
4. You'll be hungry. All the time. Need I say more?
5. You'll be tired. All the time. Need I say more? But really, I have never been one to nap or just fall asleep at random times, but lately, I have fallen asleep on the couch countless times, napped after a long run, and been in bed before 7 pm.
6. People will constantly ask you about the marathon. I do not talk to people about running unless they want to hear about it, and surprisingly, is very often. They'll want to know how far you run, when your race is, what you eat, if you're tired, how you can possibly run so far without stopping, blah, blah, blah....
7. Finally, you will learn who your supporters are. My mom is my #1 supporter. She comes to all my races, she is always interested in how far I've run, and always knows what's on the schedule for a workout that day. She has boughten me numerous pairs of running shoes, shorts, t-shirts, energy gels, and anything that has a running quote on it! She sits at races waiting for me, she gets up at the crack of dawn travel with me, and she has even booked hotels for us to stay at for a race. I honestly don't know what I would do without her. My whole family supports me, which is a great feeling!
1. There are days you DO NOT want to run. You will hit slumps, you will be tired, but you just have to stay motivated and keep moving along.
2. You have to find the energy that works for you. I discovered my love of GU energy gels, specifically the chocolate flavored ones. Some things will agree with your stomach, and other things will not. Trust me, you'll know if they do or don't.
3. You discover what clothes are comfortable and what you'll never want to wear again. Running a few miles a day is a whole different story than training for a marathon, and clothes that feel good for a few miles, may not feel good for long runs or speed workouts.
4. You'll be hungry. All the time. Need I say more?
5. You'll be tired. All the time. Need I say more? But really, I have never been one to nap or just fall asleep at random times, but lately, I have fallen asleep on the couch countless times, napped after a long run, and been in bed before 7 pm.
6. People will constantly ask you about the marathon. I do not talk to people about running unless they want to hear about it, and surprisingly, is very often. They'll want to know how far you run, when your race is, what you eat, if you're tired, how you can possibly run so far without stopping, blah, blah, blah....
7. Finally, you will learn who your supporters are. My mom is my #1 supporter. She comes to all my races, she is always interested in how far I've run, and always knows what's on the schedule for a workout that day. She has boughten me numerous pairs of running shoes, shorts, t-shirts, energy gels, and anything that has a running quote on it! She sits at races waiting for me, she gets up at the crack of dawn travel with me, and she has even booked hotels for us to stay at for a race. I honestly don't know what I would do without her. My whole family supports me, which is a great feeling!
Questions to ponder:
Do you ever just stop during a run to regroup and clear your mind? What is your favorite type of sandwich? What did you learn during your first marathon training cycle? Who is your number one running supporter?
Happy hump day! Enjoy your runs :)