Saturday Flashback

The program we've been running with down here is primarily geared at getting folks ready for the Duke City Marathon which is on October 19. As such, we're into our taper and did 8 on Saturday and are set to do 10 this weekend. For those of us doing San Antonio, we're supposed to do the Duke City half, then ramp it back up to 20-something the following week before starting our taper into the Rock 'n Roll. Can't believe it's as close as it is.

Like I said, did 8 this past weekend, running along Tramway. Nice cool morning, we started running south from the County Line down to Montgomery and back. Don't realize it until you turn around, but that is one long hill back to the starting point. Still, felt good throughout and shaved about 10 mins off of my last 8 mile jaunt back in late August. Now, just have to do the same on the 20 miler in three weeks.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I know the distress you were feeling, but thankfully didn't have the difficulty you did as a result. Gonna take it real easy for dinner (i.e. NO SPICY) the night before the big event. And GET NEW SHOES, DAMMIT. Don't need you hurting yourself just before this shindig.

TMI

I am not doing very well! I can't say more than that. I ran last Tuesday and that was it for the week. In the past month I've run a total of 4 times (I think). Well, Sunday I went out for a long run, with a new strategy. Instead of 3 minutes running and 1 minute walking (because after awhile it gets hard to get started again after the walk) and thought I'd try running for a mile and then walking for a minute. So I started off at 5:55 am for 20 miles. FTR it's still dark as shite at that time. I busted out the headlamp and whenever I turned my head to the right (into the bushes next to the trail) I'd see a bunch - 4 or 5 pair - of lit up eyes staring back at me. Most likely foxes, but still very creepy. Needless to say I ran on the far left side of the trail until the sun came up. Well the first 10 miles felt great, I was having a blast, enjoying everything, smiling - it was cool outside, no one on the trail, felt like I could run for miles. Well at about mile 15 my insides dropped. You've experienced it DC, if I let it blow - I might end up with a biscuit in my shorts - if I hold it, my insides rumble. I finally made it to a port a pottie in a parking lot. I went in. Said a short prayer. Checked for toliet paper. No such luck. There was however a little box about 10 feet away for dog wallkers to grab a paper sack to collect their dog poo. Now I'm not talking about a grocery bag, I'm talking about an official made for dog poop plastic bag. I'm not sure if it worked, but I used it. Well, after that I pretty much sucked and more less walked it in. The problem was that I was having trouble simply walking. My leg is killing me, although I'm pretty sure it's a secondary effect of my heel, which is the effect of old crappy shoes that need to be replaced.

I haven't finished a long run workout yet - and we're down to like 5.5 weeks. Crap! I think next weekend I'll go for 10 miles nonstop. I'll then try 15 nonstop the following week, and maybe then a 22 miler with the frequent walk breaks which will be my last training run before the taper.

A little note from Colfax and other long runs:
Miles 0 -12 = feel great
12-17 = stop focusing on how much everything hurts and it becomes really hard to get past that (for me at least).
17-22 = gonna be a gut check
22-26.2 = maybe a little adrenealine to bring me in.

I'm hoping the San Ant. course bumps all these numbers back a few miles.