My First *REAL* Long Run

Well, since I’ve started over from scratch anyway.  Before my fracture, 8 miles was nothing.

I’m currently training for Rock & Roll Seattle on June 23rd.  This week marks the start of real  training, not just diddling around on the trails to make sure my foot can handle the impact.  I’ve looked over a bunch of different marathon training plans and have settled on one by Jeff Gaudette.  Okay, so I don’t know who the hell Jeff Gaudette is other than he’s this guy…

But I found his training plan through RunKeeper and it looks reasonable enough to me.  There are enough breaks between running days in his schedule that I can feel confident continuing to fit in RPM classes and more importantly, continue teaching Turbo without overtraining.  I hope anyway.  Here’s hoping that continuing to do yoga most days as well as foam rolling leaves me recovered enough for everything I want to do.  One week at a time, right?

I woke up this morning knowing that today was the first long run on the training schedule and I’ll admit it, I was really fucking nervous.  Sorry, really FREAKING nervous. Man, I have GOT to stop swearing! My son is totally a parrot and is now calling trucks, ‘fucks.’  Way to go mom! ANYWAY! The training schedule had me doing an 8 mile run today.  8 miles isn’t all that far, but coming off of two fractures and battling heavy legs can make 8 miles seem pretty daunting.

Thankfully, I have new clothes!!!!! My husband bought me a pair of CWX compression capris as an early birthday present.  These are seriously off the hook and really help keep your legs feel light while running.  It’s just a matter of getting them on…

Along with the tights, the past couple of months I have been searching high and low for a short sleeve tech shirt with pockets. Most tech shirts with pockets have long sleeves or they’re for men.  A few days ago, I randomly decided to pop into Lucy looking for a lightweight jacket and BAM! Right there on the middle table were these short sleeve tech shirts WITH pockets! And what’s more – they have a mother fucking  freaking (UGH That doesn’t sound right) caribiner built into the back of the shirt.  Oh happy day!!!!

Yes, I use my towel rack as a cycling pants airer-outer so I don’t have to wash them everyday. It works! They don’t smell (at least I can’t tell that they smell – maybe they do and all of my RPM class friends hate me. I prefer to live in denial.)

I love that carabiner with all of my heart. It was so nice to be able to run without my keys jangling around in my pocket.

Along with the new gear, I also had a fresh new tube of Tropical Nuun.  I love Nuun and Tropical is my absolutely favorite flavor and everywhere I go to refill IS ALWAYS OUT OF TROPICAL!!! So when Plateau Runner down the street had a whole case on their shelf, you better believe I was ready to dry hump the sales lady.  One more motivator to get my run-dreading butt out the door.

On Tuesdays, since it’s my long run day, I get to drop M.T. off at his babysitter’s condo so I can run solo.  The idea of a long run with the stroller (especially now that it’s BROKEN) sounds about as appealing as sticking a pen right into my eye.  I think this calls for a picture of Jon Stewart.

So, I dropped off M.T. and got my run on.  I found a few different trails, some concrete and some dirt.  The concrete trail was an ass kicker.  Aside from all of the bumps from the roots…

this first trail was 75% incline (and we’re talking one hell of a steep grade that went on for 2 miles) followed by a remaining 25% of rolling hills.  It definitely did the job in terms of warming me up and I’m blaming this portion of the run for the wall I hit at mile 6.

Easy terrain does not exist where I live.  If you want to go for a run and make it over a mile, you’re going to hit some pretty crazy hills.  It’s been a while since I’ve really fit in some true hill runs so by mile 6, I was ready to stop. Or at least walk.  My body was exhausted.

The voice in my head started reasoning that 6 miles was enough. That I was too tired to run anymore and I should walk the rest of the trail back to the street.  That I could make up for it next week.

And then a different voice started talking.  It shouted, “I AM NOT A QUITTER!!! I may be a lot of things, but I am NOT a quitter!  NOTHING exists right now but YOU and THIS TRAIL.  Experience the moment! Quit focusing on being done and run the mile you are in!!! This is how miles 24-26 are probably going to feel so buck up and run so that you’re prepared!!!”

I don’t know where that voice came from, but I listened to it.  I run because I want to destroy all of my limiting beliefs, not add to the collection.  I am not a quitter.  I’m an athlete and one tough bitch and 8 miles is NOTHING to me.  I own the trail. The trail is NOT going to own me.  So I kept going.  I finished all 8 miles and I feel damn good about myself for finishing.

By the way, now that I’ve gotten a real run in with the Enigmas, I can definitely say that they hold up awesome. On pavement, on crappy pavement, on gravel and on a dirt trail.  I’m in love with these shoes.

Now I just need to get M.T. to actually nap s I can get a yoga practice in because I can already feel my legs tightening themselves up.

So I turn it over to you! We’ve all had runs and workouts where we’ve hit that wall.  How did you get yourself past it? How do you talk to yourself to get to the finish?

Tagged as: running, shoes