It was cold! The first 7 miles I was underdressed. So at about mile 5 two miles left before I reached the car at midpoint, I was miserable. I took to mentally rehearsing what I would do at my aid station... what spare clothing I would don. I think miles 6 and 7 might have been the hardest of all 14 of them.Lesson: low 40s - dry or wet - is a threshold for me. Layer up. Have dry hats and headbands ready. Gloves are a must. Prefer tights over loose running pants. My bottom was cooold!
I did well at my aid station car. Not a thought to stop and not run the rest. I was there longer than I would have liked to been, but considering I rummaged thru the car and put on clothing, I did well! And I left better clothes for the remainder of the run.
I did something I would never have predicted I'd do. I ate the last 1/4 of my breakfast cookie! I don't know why. I just did it. It was there. You know what? I did fine with it. I can eat small portions of food I guess. I didn't think I could so I never tried.
Lesson: Experiment (carefully) with food.
Back running I tried something I read in a book. I concentrated on the ground 10 feet in front of me. I'd notice a leaf, watch it til I came close to passing it, find another, and track it, then another... little teeny mini goals just 10 feet or so apart, accomplishment after accomplishment.
Oddly, those leaves began to become symbolic for me. Okok, I am about to get all weird on you. But if you know me then it won't be tooo unfamiliar!
For my "perfect run tape", scattered (and ideally crisp) leaves are one of my favorite parts. The road ahead of me is not so covered as to be unsafe but leaves are plentiful. I enjoy the rustle of them and the crunchy sound under my footfalls. I enjoy the shapes - I love God's great design work - and the colors, and the brown smell they give off.
It was interesting to me that those leaves would help me traverse the miles, one doable leg at a time. I was completely digging the symbolism. Then, I rounded a corner and there in front of me was my "perfect run" tape! The leaves were perfect. Some were older, damp, fully stuck to the pavement. Some her newly fallen. Crispy brown!
The leafy area quickly became chock full of meaning and things to appreciate. It was like I was running thru a field of accomplishments! Each leaf representing some thing I had never done before, and did. Some accomplishments older than others some new and crisp in my mind ... The reminder of so many carried me further!
Now, on the last mile, mile 14, the last leg of distance, a distance I have never run before... there were no leaves. None at all. I mean the pavement was void of them! It was NEW territory, leafless. I was creating a new leaf by running that mile. And someday it will beckon me along for a 10 foot leg or be in a glorious field of goals met!So if you have come to the conclusion that I am coocooforcoacoapuffs, well, just be nice to me anyway. I'm harmless. And if you get it, then thank you for being in the coocooclub with me.
Back to running.
This route was fairly flat. Only a few slight inclines mark the entire distance. I would still change my chant to include "I carry my momentum over the top" and keep chanting it until my breathing returned to normal running rhythm.
I knew that on the last mile I would want to slow. The challenge of the last 3/4 mile of the 1/2 marathon flagged an important task for me: Learn to get thru to and past the finishline strong and not slow down. Push thru the "the end is close" hesitation.
I discovered that I already had the solution! I already had practice making it work for me too. Once I saw the connection, a small little chant containing all the important pieces of the others fell easily together:
I am a marathoner
I love to run
I carry my momentum thru pass the finishline!
This did indeed help me maintain a steady pace on the last mile and even quicken my steps once the 'finish' was in sight and ran right thru and pass! A strong finish. 14.1 miles!
I walked around, all proud, for a while. I stretched well enough. I felt pretty good!
There you go.
My knees ached for the first morning hours. I also had a new pain between my right inner calf and shin. It wasn't bad and I could only feel it for a fleeting bit during a specific part of my natural gait. I couldn't duplicate it otherwise. Noting it just in case I need it later.
DATE: 07-Dec-07
MILES: 14.1 miles
TIME: 2:46:29
PACE: 11:48
ROUTE: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1489003 followed by http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1489016
NUTRITION: 3/4 bfast cookie early. 1 Gu before, 1/4 bfast cookie 2 Gus during, only 12 oz of diluted sport drink.
WEATHER: Overcast, 40°F
COMMENTS: I didn't drink enough fluids. Needs work. I felt fine, but I know better, I am a sweater.
CONFESSION: I calculated my pace as soon as I got home. It's not like I am fast! Why could it matter? Sigh. This is a big thing to kick. This event is not the place for pace-caring. It's been a battle to let go of disappointment in my performance. WHAT? I ran 14 miles, that can't be good enough? I ran it and didn't keel over! THAT isn't enough? I ran it felt pretty good!!! That's. Simply. Awesome. I will kick this pace thing before long.
Thanks for your support and good thoughts,
Nancy, Marathoner.
No comments:
Post a Comment