The Marathon Training Blog

I have to say, I’m truly in awe of myself that I managed to run 12 miles (along with my running bud Steph) on Sunday. I’m really in shock. I had no idea I had it in me.

I did a few things differently this time -- and who knows if they really helped but I like to think they did. First, I ate more carbs than usual the day before. I wasn’t intentionally carbo loading, but I have been craving bread lately and I decided giving into the bread craving was probably smarter than indulging my peanut butter cookie cravings. Second, I had 1/2 a PowerBar before my run. I usually skip breakfast before a morning run because I get sidestiches when I run with food in my stomach. But Steph’s been touting the pre-run 1/2 PowerBar since we started running together so I finally tried it and she was right. It seems to digest pretty quickly and I think it gave me a little bit more energy, plus, they taste pretty good (chocolate peanut butter is yummy). I’m a big fan. I could start eating these like candy actually.

Third, I ate something called shot bloks at several different times during my run. I just could not do the gu again. Though I’ve gotten some helpful advice ((and thanks to everyone for your suggestions) to try vanilla and chocolate gu. I’m told they taste like frosting. Next time. But when I was in the NY Running Company, such a great resource for all things running, I was introduced to shot bloks by Clif Bar. They're "organic electrolyte chews." Each are the size of a thimble and kind of remind me of those calcium chews. Same principle as gu, but much less offensive.

Steph and I tired cran-razz and strawberry.  Both flavors are good and taste a bit like gummy bears. And overall it’s much easier to maneuver popping a big gummy candy in your mouth than sucking down a package of sticky gu. The problem with these? The package is too bulky stuff in one of those tiny running shorts pockets. I tried putting it my bra, but that was uncomfortable. I ended up just running with it in my hand, which was annoying and also melted them a bit and made them kind of gooey. If I can come up with a convenient place to put these, then I’ve found a winner for race-day. While I’m figuring that out, I’m still going to give gu one more chance. I’m also interested in trying those jelly beans I’ve heard about.

As for the run itself, most of it was great. I’m so grateful to have a friend as my running partner. Honestly I don’t know how you can do such a long run with out someone to talk to. I’ve even come to look forward to the long runs with Steph because it’s our time to talk about everything on our minds. And I think there’s something about running and talking that helps you process things better than if you were just talking on the phone or over a drink. At least it seems that way.

Anyway, we spent the first 8 or 9 miles chatting away as usual -- career stuff, family happenings, Steph’s new puppy, and since she’s happily married I torture the poor girl with my dating talk. All this made the 2 loops around Central Park fly by. But by the second climb up and down the Great Hill, (sometimes I think running downhill is even harder than uphill) my quads felt like they were filled with lead, my hips were starting to burn, and my toes and arches were killing me. I swear those last 3 miles felt like I was running barefoot on pavement.  Every step was painful and we pretty much stopped talking and focused just on getting through the pain. While I was confident that I was fit enough cardio-wise to finish, I really wasn’t sure my body could do it.

When we finished, I walked around and stretched but my quads tightened up right away, and the muscle soreness that usually sets in later in the day or the next day, hit me immediately. I could barely walk up a flight of stairs just a few minutes later.

And the next day? Ouch. My knees didn't feel entirely in their sockets. My ankles ached, my feet hurt if I stood for too long, but if I sat for a while, my legs stiffened; my hips burned and my back was sore. I’m a little concerned by how much pain I seem to be in after that run. I was supposed to run Monday, but there was just no way. Maybe I’m not eating or drinking the best recovery foods? Or maybe this is normal. The problem is, if it takes 2 to 3 days to recover from a long run, then I’m behind in my running for the whole week. But hey, I ran 12 miles. I rock!

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• #1 Comment from artloner 
  9/24/06 2:35 AM | Permalink

  You SO ROCK.  I'm skipping around a bit...did you go out to fast perhaps/
  
  
  andi in sc
  
  http://journals.aol.com/artloner/SheSaidWhat/