Saturday, June 30, 2018

It is time to stop feeling sorry for myself and start training again.  I am doing something different this time. I have an online coach through Run Better Academy. It is going to be really strange giving someone else control, but I am excited about working with Coach Matt DeBole.

Here is a snapshot from their webpage:

To begin with, I filled out a pretty detailed questionnaire that also had an open ended portion that allowed me to express any concerns. In just a couple of days, Matt contacted me and added me to a training portal. I can see my daily workouts, input what I actually did and communicate with Matt.  It will be great having someone hold me accountable when it comes to doing specific exercises. Matt is a physical therapist and an accomplished runner, so I am going to hand over the reigns.

Today was my first workout. It called for 80 minutes of running. I usually do a trail run on Saturdays and that would have worked out for the 80 minutes, but I just didn't have time to drive to the trail. I have a nine mile route where I run to a water fountain & back. I don't carry any water.  My first question for Matt is can I keep doing that route or should I concentrate on not stopping at all? I did a tabata at the end, so I guess that I will have to get approval for the that.

Mountains 2 the Beach Marathon May 2018

Well, the marathon is said and done. I finished, but it really was agony. I had a great race until about mile ten.

The pain came on me pretty suddenly and just didn’t let up. I started walking around mile 12. I borrowed a phone and called my husband at an aid station to tell him that I was walking and that they could go back to the hotel. The desire to DNF was strong, but I just couldn’t DNF as long as I was capable of propelling myself forward, but the idea of walking for three more hours was overwhelming. I just put one foot in front of the other, but I was so disgusted that I couldn’t listen to music or an audiobook.I tried the run walk approach, but I couldn’t run even 20 feet. I started walking slower and slower.

Luckily another walker passed me and said something to me as he passed. He, too, was injured, and was on the long walk to the finish. We talked briefly, but when we passed a porta pottie, I had to stop. In addition to the pain in my leg, my guts were turning inside out. When I got out, I could see the guy in the distance. I figured that teaming up with this guy was my best hope, so I decided to run to catch up. The pain was immense, and I was practically holding my breath. Just as I was about to catch up, he started running. I figured that was it, but he stopped after about 20 feet. I did catch up, and we walked together the rest of the way. He was very tall with a long stride. I had to struggle to keep up, but left to my own devices I was truly walking a thirty minute mile. Three hours later with a 6:05 finish, it was all over.

I was so happy to be done that I got teary eyed. We went to the official after party restaurant so the kids could eat, but they band was packing up. We were too early for the night festivities and too late for the “after marathon” festivities. I really sort of fell apart at the restaurant. I couldn’t walk anymore. I couldn’t eat. I got dizzy. By the time we left, I was done.

I took an ice bath at the hotel, but after I got in the bed, I couldn’t get out.  I had dinner in bed and just slept off and on till morning.