Just One Marathon

All Better Now

Thanks for your positive words and good advice, friends and fellow bloggers! I’m feeling much better now that I’ve turned the page on January, seen an end to the bus strike, put in some quality study time, and most especially since I got two long runs under my belt.

 

Just to recap, I’m now training for the Around the Bay 30K Road Race. The race takes place on March 29^th, in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, which is a six-hour drive east of Ottawa. A little about this race: it is billed as the oldest foot race in North America – three years older than the Boston Marathon. (In fact, race organizers use the slogan “Older than Boston” on their running shirts, a phrase I personally will think twice about wearing on my body.) The race route winds around Hamilton on the shores of Lake Ontario, and is described as flat for the first 20 or so kilometres, then hilly for the last 10K. This description worries me. A lot.

 

Another thing that worries me is the fact that I have not been very good about keeping to my training schedule (attached below, in case you’re interested). I won’t bore you with the excuses – you’ll just have to take my word that they are all good ones (and I promise to do the same for you).

 

Last week was typical. Couldn’t run on Tuesday, had a very busy day on Thursday, and houseguests on Saturday and Sunday. However, with a little creativity and determination, I managed to pull off two 20K runs.

 

The first was last Thursday, when I decided to run to work and back, a distance of 10K each way. This required some planning, because I had to bring my clothes to work in advance and figure out how I was going to transport all the last-minute essentials like my wallet, cell phone, pass-card, etc. Also, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t running in the dark on these short winter days, so I needed to time the run just right to take full advantage of daylight and still put in a full day at work. It was an interesting experience, but one I wouldn’t repeat – or not in the winter, at any rate. While the running itself was pretty comfortable (I took my time), the conditions were less-than-ideal, with snow-covered sidewalks, exhaust fumes, traffic lights, and drivers seemed to think that if they just ignore pedestrians, they will just disappear (which I almost did, once or twice, into a  snow banks). Still, I felt a great sense of accomplishment getting so many miles in on a busy work day.

 

The second took place yesterday, and although conditions were much better, I completely crapped out (along with my Garmin, which doesn’t like the cold), during the last 5K. Let’s just say that although in my head I was running during the last 2K, it may have appeared from the outside that I was, in fact, shuffling. On the other hand, there were a few moments out there when I actually felt pretty good. Something to build on, anyways.

 

This week, I’m determined to put all the January whinging behind me and get back on schedule.

 

 

10 and 1-derful

Amy and Tom over at Runner’s Lounge are asking running bloggers to post their words of running wisdom in thirteen words or less. This week, mine would be:

Learn from your mistakes.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t invent that phrase, but I sure lived it this week on my long run. Just to recap: two weeks ago, I ran an agonizing 32K (20 miles). It was the longest distance I’ve ever run in my life and, believe me, I felt every step of it. Especially the million or so steps it took to complete the last 8K, after I bonked with a capital “B”. Funny thing is that for me, it was a pretty fast run overall. My average pace was 6:27 seconds/kilometre.

The problem was that at the end of the run, I felt completely wrung out. I know if I had to run an additional 10.2K (and I understand they’re pretty strict about actually running the distance during the marathon), I would have spent a lot of time walking – and probably weeping and cursing under my breath.

What I learned from that tough run was that running long distances requires an intelligent expenditure of energy. That means going as fast as you possibly can without going too fast. For each person, that’s a different amount fast. For me, it’s definitely a little slower than a 6:27 pace. So last Sunday, I swallowed my pride and aimed for a 6:30 pace, taking the Running Room prescribed 1-minute walk breaks after every 10 minutes of running. I ended up running with a guy I’d never met before, an experienced marathoner who was making an effort to run conservatively because he was coming off an injury. More pride-swallowing: my comfortable-but-challenging pace was his recovery run.

And it was humbling. The runners that I’d been in spitting distance of in past weeks (if, in my exhaustion, I was actually able to produce saliva) were way out of site. But I was a good girl. I ran more or less the same pace at the beginning of the 29K run as I did at the end. I hydrated like crazy on every walk break (hydrating is runner-talk for drinking water). I made a conscious effort to keep just a little energy in reserve. And I felt great. Like I could run 13 extra kilometres if I needed to.

Not only that, but I felt better post-run. No gastro-intestinal upsets (I think the extra water helped) or seizing up of muscles. I was sore but whole – and a whole lot wiser.

Oh, That Muscle

When Tom, our clinic leader, described speed training at last Thursday’s clinic, he talked about how, when you run really fast, your legs use “fast twitch muscles”. I couldn’t quite picture where those muscles are (not where you’re thinking, pervy readers). Then I actually tried running fast and I found them – for the next two days. Yup, I can point out exactly where those muscles reside because every time I move, they remind me of their existence.

I didn’t get this way from running fartleks (which I found is Swedish for “speed play” – those crazy Swedes). Fartleks don’t work well with groups. Instead, we played “leap frog”, by forming a line of slow-moving runners (there were 19 of us last night) and then taking turns sprinting from the end of the line to the front.

And now I have to make a shocking confession.

Despite the weird leg soreness, I actually found … this is embarrassing ... I found speed training fun. Yes, the Reluctant Runner actually tried to run faster and had a good time doing it. Who knows where this might lead. I might actually stop counting the hours until I have to run with dread in my heart. Though with only 12 hours, 48 minutes and 18 seconds until my next long run, I doubt it.

Weighty Matters

I didn’t get into running to lose weight. I’ll never be super-model thin. I haven’t worn a size 2 (or 4, or 6, or even most days an 8) since my teens. I have a muffin top, a jelly roll and junk in my trunk. But the truth of the matter is, I’m a healthy weight (140 pounds) for my size. I can maintain this weight with moderate effort. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to spend the next 30 years of my life worrying about losing 5 or 10 pounds.

Lately, though, I have to admit to getting a little thrill when I get back from a long run and step on the scale. Sometimes my weight drops to 138 or 137 over the course of a busy running week. This allows me to spend more time and effort on my favourite cross-training activities: eating and drinking.

Which brings me to yet another reason that yesterday’s long run sucked. When I got home and stepped on my scale, ready for the good news, it read 141 lbs! I stepped off, moved the scale to another part of the floor (maybe it was on uneven ground, right?), then stepped on again: no change. My husband said, “Water retention – you drank tons of water”. And I thought, “Makes sense.” So I weighed myself 18 post-hydrated hours later and I still weighed the same.

I know what you’re going to say: lose fat, build muscle, etc., etc. But you’d just be saying that because you’re nice, and that’s what nice people tell their friends when they put on a few pounds. I guess it could be true, but I’ll tell you one thing: no one is getting near me with a pair of callipers to check. And those digital body-mass measuring scales? Too accurate.

Instead, I’m going to re-read the first line of this post and concentrate on all the other health benefits that running has bestowed on me – stuff like sore muscles, blistered toes, random patches of scabby skin from running clothes that rub my skin raw. Oops, no sorry, I meant things like increased energy and better muscle tone. I feel strong and healthy when I run – even after a hellacious outing like yesterday’s. And I don’t need a scale to tell me that.

n.b. This post was inspired by Nitmo’s very funny post on the absurdity of losing weight to increase speed.

Back from the Cyber-Void

I can’t explain why I disappeared from the blogosphere (blogiverse? blogmos?) over the past week and a half. It may be because the balance has tipped and I am now actually training for a marathon more than I am writing and talking about training for a marathon.

Here is my report on the last 10 days, in numbers. I experienced:

o       Seven hills early on a Friday morning at my parent’s place. Then one week later, I ran up and down eight hills with my training buddies from the marathon clinic. Every time I passed them on the downhill, I taunted them by saying, “Eat my dust!” This ensured that they create an energy-boosting wind at my back when each and every one of them passed me on the way up again. Just two more weeks of hill training to go! Haikus are below.

o       One 2K training run around the block with my youngest son, who is planning to run the 10K at the Ottawa Race weekend in May. He regularly reminds me how his first-ever 5K run time beat my first-ever 5K race time by almost four minutes. Despite this, I refrained from kicking his skinny little 10-year old butt (figuratively, in the speedy running sense) because, in theory anyways, I am the grown-up.

o       Two 29K (18 mile) training runs over the last two Sundays … one of which became a 31K run when my running buddy and I got a little lost. They were both excellent – somehow easier than running 26K a couple of weeks earlier. Not easy, mind you … just easier. I think it’s because the weather’s been mild and the snow and ice are finally starting to clear from the streets. I can’t believe I’m actually writing this, but there were many moments on this morning’s run that were close to bliss … warm sun, great tunes on my iPod, a tiny reserve of energy in my body that never quite gave out, and friendly support from my fellow runners.

o       One afternoon spent hovering near the bathroom after that heavenly run – the agony after the ecstasy. For the first time, I consumed a power gel during my long run and it gave me a most excellent boost, but it caused a fair amount of stomach distress for two or three hours following the run. That’s the second time I’ve had a bad reaction to a high-carb energy snack. Does anyone else have this problem? Is it something you need to get used to? I’d love to hear other people’s experiences (and advice).

Here are the hills haikus – you know you missed them.

Seven Hills

I ran seven slacker hills on a Friday morning in my parent’s neighbourhood, just outside of Toronto (where I was attending a conference). My Dad got up early to make sure I was fortified for my run.

This hill is too short

But I bask in the warm glow

Sunrise at the peak

Tea before? After?

Forty-four is not too old

To be spoiled by Dad

Eight Hills

I had a bad case of rubber-legs for these hills and couldn’t figure out why. Our clinic leader, Tom, diagnosed my problem in minutes: not enough food. That was pretty freaky, because eating lots is one of my talents. Thank goodness for Karen, a running buddy, who fixed me up with some magic beans.

On eight hungry hills

Three jelly beans are a feast

Next time, dinner first!

I’m pledging to blog more often because running should not get in the way of blogging about running. To quote my 13-year old: that’s just messed up.

A Slice of Heaven -- Medium Fat

I postponed hill training this week. Our family visited Montreal with my sister-in-law, husband and their two kids for a couple of days. I’ve got to hand it to myself: I don’t think I could have consumed more calories in a thirty-six hour period. If it wasn’t a personal record, then it was pretty damned close.

Our family’s favourite place to visit in Montreal is a Schwartzs' Deli on St. Laurent. Their smoked meat sandwiches, pickles and French fries are legendary – worth lining up in the snow, cramming in at communal Formica-topped tables, and throwing dietary caution to the wind. We paid our respects on the way out of town yesterday.

However, I didn’t like the idea of tomorrow’s 26K run on five days rest and a gut-full of medium-fat-on-rye, so I had to get those hills in. To generate a little motivation, I asked my husband to join me. He is one of those maddening people who never skips a run. This morning, I used his envy-inspiring self-discipline to my advantage. When I dragged myself out of bed, he had already made my tea and pre-run breakfast oatmeal and walnuts. That put an end to the little plan forming in the back of my head to just forget the run and read the entire newspaper from cover to cover. 

This week’s haiku interval workout: 2 x 17 syllables.

Can’t do hills this week

Gotta shop in Montreal

Hurray for March Break!

Fifteen years, two kids

Makes running five slushy hills

Together: a date

Tomorrow is 26K (16 miles). And I will probably have to make my own breakfast.

The Bend in the Road

Up until now, marathon training has been just like half-marathon training. It's cool because at parties, I can brag that I’m a marathoner-in-training without actually having logged any marathon-like distances – yet. But the free ride ends this week.

The marathon plan I am following calls for a steady increase in miles every Sunday. Last week, my running group ran 19K – not easy but something I’ve done a few times before. Next week, we move up to 23K and that’s when I’ll be heading into unknown territory.

Here is what the Sunday run schedule looks like for the next few weeks:

March 9 – 23K

March 16 – 26K

March 23 – 19K

March 30 – 29K

April 6 – 29K

April 13 – 32K (!)

April 20 – 23K

April 27 – 29K

May 4 – 32K (!!!)

Those 32K runs are our peak training distances – we never actually run the full marathon distance during training. If you’ve run a marathon before, this will not seem remarkable. However, if you’re a marathon virgin like me, the fact that the training schedule doesn’t actually include a 42.2K run is a bit surprising and unsettling. (But not unusual – many marathon training schedules work this way.)

So, this week is the beginning of the true marathon experience -- going further than I’ve ever gone before and not knowing if or how my body and mind will rise to the challenge.

I think I’m ready.

Running With Other Humans

The Garmin is a distracting little critter. Lately, I feel like I spend most of my running time looking at the little screen, with occasional glances at the road. Which could explain the big wide arc I’ve noticed drivers making around me while I weave … uh, run … along the side of the road.

I can’t help it. Whenever I strapped on the damned thing, my brain asks the same question over and over: “How fast am I going now?” You can imagine how un-helpful this is the actual running part of my run.

Having said that, I’ve noticed some interesting trends. For example, whenever I pass a runner going the other direction, my pace quickens. It’s not like I’m trying to beat them or even impress them (after all, we are running away from each other). It could be that I’m trying to look all cool and stuff as we approach each other. But I really think that the sense of fellowship with other runners gives me a little boost. Even if I’m not running with those other folks, just knowing that there’s someone else as crazy and miserable as I am slogging it out in minus 20C makes me feel good.

That’s one reason I have joined a running group to train for the marathon in May. The group meets Thursdays at a local running store chain (called The Running Room). We met for the first time last week, introduced ourselves (there are about 35 people in the group, some marathon-virgins like myself, others with many marathons under their belt), and went for a 6K tempo run.

It was motivating to be part of a running group again … and difficult. Although I’ve trained with a group before (for my first 5K and 10K), I’ve been training on my own for the past year or so. I’m used to being able to run at my own pace, whenever I want, with only my own thoughts for company.

It will take some effort to adapt to a group again. One of the biggest questions I have is about using the Running Room’s “10 and 1” run-walk method (run 10 minutes and walk 1). I started out doing 10-and-1s, and I’m a huge believer in walk breaks. I think they have helped me to avoid injuries. But I now run “30 and 1s”, which suit me just fine. They say that walk breaks can actually improve your race times but the idea of running an entire 42K in 10 minute chunks is not really appealing to me. Still, I want to keep an open mind because, really, what do I know?

So how will I fit in? It’ll be interesting to see.

Five Alive

When blogger Vanilla launched his “Shave Your 5K Challenge” earlier this month, I thought, “Meh.” I felt I was done with the 5K for the short-term. After all, I’m training for a half marathon, then a full marathon. I don’t need no lousy 5K.

Then I was flipping through a book about marathon training at the book store (it’s not obsessive if you don’t buy them and take them home) and it explained how the 5K running time can be an excellent predictor of your marathon time. It described the 5K race as a great tool for marathon training. So, I was forced to do something I rarely do (just ask my husband): admit I was wrong.

So, now I am totally in for the “Shave Your 5K Challenge”. The idea is to take a 5K race from the first half of 2008 as your base starting point, and then try to improve on this time through the second half of 2008. Vanilla has promised a brand new sports car to every runner who improves his or her time. Or something like that.

Anyways, it’s not about the prizes. Thank goodness, since it’s unlikely I’ll ever win one unless I outlive everyone else in my age category … which is not a bad plan, now that I think of it. No, it’s about the ability to go out for a run, arrive home in 30 minutes or less and feel virtuous doing it. My kinda challenge.

Just to Recap

On January 15, it will be exactly six months since my very first post on this blog. I started it as a motivator in my quest to run a single marathon. I plan to achieve this feat at the National Capital Race Weekend in Ottawa this May. After that, I figure I will have the complete set of medals for my collection (5K, 10K, Half, Marathon) and will be perfectly justified in quitting and never running again.

My year-long training plan leading up to the marathon goes like this:

May 2007: Run the half marathon in Ottawa

September 2007: Run a 10K

February 16, 2008: Run the Hypothermic Half in Montreal

May 25, 2008: Run the Ottawa marathon

May 26: Take up competitive napping as my next hobby. I am already a gifted amateur.

So, how’s it going so far? On the whole, not bad. Here are the highs and lows.

The Highs

§         To date, I’ve managed to run all my goal races and achieve my time objectives. Don’t be too impressed, though. I go pretty easy on myself. Plus, I ran in two other events in 2007: a 5K and a 10K and PR-ed in each (Again, a pretty minor accomplishment since in each case it was only my second race at that distance.)

§         I’m sticking to my training plan (mostly). I am using the Runner’s World Marathon Plan, which only requires three days of running a week. This schedule really fits my life, though I’m pretty skeptical at this point about how fast of a run I will actually have. I’ll let you know after February 16.

§         I hate to even put this in writing for fear of bringing down the wrath of the capricious running gods, but so far, I remain injury free.

The Lows

§         The half-marathon plan I’m following calls for two additional days of cross-training activity. I never do this. So, four days a week, I am basically slacking off.

§         My husband, an experienced runner who never comments on my crazy running habits (if you’ve ever been married or in a long-term relationship, you know why), said the other day: “Y’know, one of these days, you’re going to have to start stretching after a run.” Point taken.

§         I am slow, slow, slow. Or at least, I haven’t gotten any faster. I incorporated tempo runs and interval training into my schedule (two terms I had never even heard until six months ago). But I feel like I’m not making any progress. I remember feeling this sense of frustration in training for my other runs and then turning in very respectable times. But I dunno … I can’t help but worry that I’m not training hard enough for my upcoming half, or that the winds and cold weather will really affect my speed.

The biggest surprise for me is how fun and addictive blogging about running has been. Way more enjoyable than the actual running itself – plus you can do it sitting down. It’s neat to hear feedback from friends and family. It’s also been very motivating and informative to tap into the blogging community, get advice and feedback from other runners, and visit their sites to hear about their adventures. Thanks!