Hey Everyone, been awhile but here goes.
The past few weeks I've been doing my long runs thinking I still had plenty of time before the "big day". Today, I attempted to do 20 miles. As usual, I did okay up to about 11 miles. At 11-1/2, I began to struggle. After 13 almost 14, I really struggled. My legs revolted against me and refused to function. The heat didn't help - I think the two were in cahoots with each other. I'm having serious doubts about doing this marathon, about running anymore. I get out there, feel fine (the long runs do include "scheduled" walk breaks and sometimes even unscheduled walk break) thinking, "I can do this, what's the big deal". Then at mile 10 my body tells me "what the big deal is". I know that "if" I stick with it it'll come. Maybe I'm just freaking out cause the event is only 3 weeks away and I'm not where I should be. But, man, when I get out there and I'm at mile 13 or 14 and it's still another 5 or more miles back home. . . The thought of running 26.2 miles is scaring the hell out of me. The Achilles tendon flares up (from overuse I'm guessing), the knees are starting to go, whine, whine, whine. Pardon my pity party please, but I don't feel I can talk to anyone in my house cause they just don't understand. And if I express any reservations about running marathons to my husband he would be too quick to say, "maybe you shouldn't do it". I know he would not encourage me to stick with it, he certainly couldn't empathize so here is where I go. I know I'm going to get better, I truly believe that running long distances won't be so bad once my body gets used to it. My plan at this point is to get through this event, better prepare for the next two then work hard at doing this the right way. My long time goal is to run the distance WITHOUT walk-breaks.
That's it for now. Gotta go. House and school work are calling.
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I am sure the heat has something to do with it. You've also got to get the fueling/drinking part down. And maybe even the pacing. Seriously, you aren't going to run the marathon at the same pace you run a 10K. Drop your pace a little - it'll feel slow, really slow, but it will help. Set a timer on the Garmin for at least 9/1, or maybe even 7/1 and do it from the beginning. Do NOT get sucked into going out too fast or skipping the walk break. It's strategy, and it's as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Here's another idea - think of it as six short morning runs of 4.4 miles. Tell yourself, I've got to run 4.4 six times, and count them down. Don't think I have 15 more miles, instead think only three short runs to go...You can run 4.4 easily, and you can do it when you are tired, so it helps to remind yourself. You can SO do this!
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