Training weeks 18 and 19

Week 18

This was a "stepback" week after the 20 mile run.  My legs were definitely suffering and felt like jelly for the Tuesday and Thursday runs of 7 miles each.  On the up side the temperatures cooled off after the weekend.

Yummy corn dog

Nick and I headed to the climbing gym after work on Tuesday and then Nick decided we should try out Pallookaville, a restaurant we had never been to.  This is probably not the best place to go if you are watching your diet, but it is delicious!  For dinner I had a corn dog, poutine, and a chocolate milk shake (Nick says this is my "athlete diet").  Good thing I didn't have to run the next morning!

Pallokaville

 By the time the weekend rolled around I was exhausted.  I think all of this training is finally getting to me.  I was ready to go to bed around 6 pm but managed to stay awake until 8 pm.  I wish I had jet lag to blame for this but it was great to go to bed so early.  Despite going to bed so early I was still exhausted when I got up at 5 am.  The temperature and humidity was much better than last weekend and I only had to run 14 miles.  Because I left later the sun was up by the time I headed home on my first loop with Endo.  The down side of this was that I was forced to do speed work because of all the squirrel chasing.

Once the run was over I did the usual: drank gatorade and then chocolate milk followed by an ice bath.  Before I jumped in the bath I put some bacon in the oven to cook.  The smell was killing me while I was in the bath.  This was going through my head on repeat:

After the bath and bacon I did nothing other than laying in bed the rest of the day.  I tried to nap but just couldn't fall asleep.  When evening rolled around I asked Nick where we were going to eat dinner and he suggested that we eat some frozen turkey pot pies.

Seriously?  I ran 14 miles this morning and you want to feed me frozen pot pie?

We ended up going to Taqueria del Sol for some yummy tacos and chili relleno and then back to doing nothing for the rest of the night.  At least Monday was a holiday so I could make up for my wasted day.

Week 19

This week was my highest total miles at 37 (10 + 7 + 20).  Monday was Labor Day so I decided to take advantage of the holiday and move my week day runs up one day.  This meant one less day to wake up super early (still woke up at 6 am) and an extra recovery day before my second 20 mile run.  I am really sick of waking up early, running, heat and humidity.  It is September now, can summer please go away? As much as I do hate waking up and hate it while I am running, I feel great afterwards.

Endo and I did get to witness a nice sunrise and my legs felt much better than my 10 mile run after the Madison half, so not a bad day overall.  Also, the dogs also got some good squirrel chasing in.

Charlie wiped out behind the tree and ended up coming back looking like this:

My 7 mile run went great and I was really looking forward to my 20 mile run until this happened on Thursday on my ride home from work:

Right after the crash I thought that I had lucked out and come away with a bunch of road rash but by the time Nick picked me up both of my wrists hurt (the left one was really bad).  After a shower  we went to urgent care.  The doc at urgent care said my left wrist was broken and to follow up at Emory orthopedic as soon as I could get in, which will not be until Monday.

Ouch

Sleeping Thursday night was challenge because of all the road rash (even with a pain pill).  Friday was filled with misery and self pity (and maybe some crying).

The Grey with Liam Neeson (this movie was awful)

I felt awful and tired and figured there was no way I could do my 20 miler this weekend, but then I got a great night's sleep and felt pretty good on Saturday so I figured I would give it a try on Sunday.  I woke up at 4 am and felt good the first 2 miles and thought that 20 might be doable.  Around that same time we were running by the large fields in front of the elementary school and Endo kept looking toward the field and then I noticed some sort of dog or coyote in the field.  I kept running and turned right at the next road that borders the field and then looked toward where the animal was and it looked like it was running toward us.  My brain went into panic mode and I turned around and head back across the street toward the house of one of our friends.  I looked back toward the field and it looked like the animal changed directions so it was still running toward us.  The house that I was heading to has an elevated front yard so you can only get to the front door up the driveway.  I ran to the front porch and pulled out my pepper spray and just stood there for about 5 minutes and nothing came.  Maybe I was imagining it?  I slowly went down the driveway and didn't see anything so I (nervously) continued on my way.  A few minutes later I spotted the animal down the street behind me so I picked up my pace but it didn't seem to be following me.

At this point I was mentally wrecked, my heart was pounding and I was sweating like crazy.  I kept going but never really recovered and felt lethargic and tired.  Every noise I heard freaked me out.  I was not enjoying my run.  Finally at mile 5 I admitted defeat and turned around and headed toward home.  I ended up doing 10 miles but didn't feel good about it.  I am feeling negative about training and the marathon right now.  I am miserable and doubting myself.  Hopefully I can get a cast tomorrow, get some rest and adjust my attitude.  At least the splint is good for petting puppies.