It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction. - Rob Reiner

November 21, 2011

19 Miles: Just a Walk in the Park!

 I wish!! 

Well, the weather this weekend just plain sucked.  I was planning to run 19 miles on Saturday, but I had to make a decision…….

Saturday’s weather was warm – about 65 degrees, but it was 25 to 30 mph winds, with occasional gusts in the 40s.  I knew I would be miserable and exhausted running in those conditions, but my alternative was….

Sunday – Major cold front.  Temperatures would be around 32 with 12 to 15 mph winds – so wind chills were in the low 20s.

Neither option was great, but at the end of the day I decided to opt for Sunday.  While colder and still somewhat windy I knew I could bundle up and stay warm – there was nothing I could do to stay out of the winds on Saturday.  I took Jack for a short walk on Saturday, and it was miserable, it didn’t matter which way you were walking the wind surrounded you can just about knocked you off your feet – I was glad with my final decision.

The run went ok, I finished and that’s was the most important part.  I took my time – that’s for sure, and ended up averaging a 13:20 per mile pace.  Yes that’s SLOW.  It took me 4 hours and 14 minutes to do 19 miles.  Seriously, you fast runners don’t know how lucky you are.  Jim ran a marathon on Sunday too and finished nearly an hour ahead of me.  But that’s ok, my goal time for my marathon is around a 13 minute pace so I guess 13:20 for a training run is not too bad – especially considering the weather conditions.  I mean I was bundled from head to toe wearing two pairs of pants, a thermal compression top and fleece jacket, gloves and a warm winter hat.  Plus I had my camelback and food with me.  That’s a lot of extra weight to carry around on a run. 

As I mentioned in my previous post I decided to try out eating while on the run this week.  So I purchased some Cliff Mojo Bars (basically a trail mix bar – good carbs and some protein), Fig Newtons Strawberry Minis (good carbs, small and easy to eat), and some candy orange slices (got these for the pure sugar – 3 of those little babies is 130 calories so it was easy to get calories in).  I also brought along my GU Chomps.  I pulled the trail mix bar into tiny pieces and put everything in zip lock baggies.  I decided to eat every 2 miles – I would have 1 orange slice, 1 piece of trail mix bar, and 2 mini fig newtons and some Gatorade.  I would take a 2 minute walk break to eat.  Then at miles 5, 9, 13, and 17, I would eat a GU Chomp.  Mile 2 came and I tried to get my goodies out of my pack.  It was more difficult than I thought.  Trying to fumble the pack with my gloved hands proved impossible, so I had to remove my gloves and then pull out three separate zip locks.  Already, I realized this wasn’t going to be an easy process and I was going to have to come up with something more efficient for my next run.  My 2 minutes passed very quickly and when it was time to run again I still have the fig newtons and the orange slice to down – which I did while running.  Mile 4 was much of the same thing – fumbling to get everything open and in my mouth.  By mile 5 was time for my GU chomp, but I was feeling full….I didn’t want it.  Mile 6 came and I still wasn’t ready for more.  I just drank some Gatorade and kept moving.  About mile 7 I finally had a GU, and by mile 8 I ate again.  I don’t know exactly how many miles apart I was eating, but it was definitely more than 2.  That’s what the training runs are for – to figure all this stuff out.

The good news is that the food was very helpful.  I didn’t get all crampy and miserable at the end of my run and the food didn’t upset my stomach in the least.  I was tired of course at the end of 19 miles, but I felt ok.  After my 17 miler I didn’t think I could walk another step.  After my nineteen miles I was READY to be done, but know I could have done more if needed.  That felt good.  All in all it was successful, and I just need to keep working at it to determine what’s going to work for me on marathon day. I am pretty sore today, but nothing too bad.

CONGRATS TO:

Jim at 50 after 40!! (that’s my husband).  He set a PR at the Route 66 marathon in Tulsa!  It wasn’t the PR he was hoping for, but I think he’s pretty AMAZING!  He is the most consistent runner I have ever seen.  He put in some hard work on a hard course.  Way to go Sweetie!

Ryan my co-worker – remember the co-worker I interviewed a few months back after his first Ironman?  Well, he did IM Arizona yesterday finishing in 9 hours and 14 minutes!!!!!  He took almost 30 minutes off his finish time.  AMAZING!  I haven’t heard yet, but I think that should mean he earned a spot in Kona!

Just a cute picture of Jack as a puppy for no real reason at all.



24 comments:

  1. Oh I hear you about the fast runners! I'm trying to PR at Disney and I need to average 12:45/mile. BLAZING!! Congrats on 19 miles and finding the right fuel combo! :)

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  2. 19 miles in those nasty conditions. Jim should shave his face just out of admiration for such a great run! HAHAHAHA! Well done. Wish I could have gone with you! Instead I did a lame 7 on the treadmill at the Y. Blah!

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  3. So so proud of you for completing the 19 miler. Those conidtions sound awful but you pushed through and made it happen. You always inspire me Michael.

    Jack is so cute as a little puppy. :)

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  4. Holy crap, an IM in 9:40...that's awesome! Way to go on your 19-miler!

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  5. AND congrats to Michael for RUNNING 19 MILES! INCREDIBLE!

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  6. Congrats on your run! The conditions don't sound fun but you knocked it out.

    Congrats to Jim on his PR! And to your friend!

    You don't need a reason to put up puppy pix!

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  7. great job getting out there despite 2 days of not ideal weather. I think you made the right choice of days :)

    I am so impressed with your 19 miles. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you run, you did it!

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  8. Congrats on those 19 miles. Your so right the weather this weekend pretty much sucked. If it wasnt so windy on day and so cold the next. Your doing great with your training Micheal.. Keep it going Girl.

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  9. Way to go!! 19 miles in nasty conditions!!

    And really, puppy pictures are always good!!!

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  10. 19 miles is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! A new longest distance is exciting isn't it? And so what if you're slow...you're in good company, plus you are 13 min per mile faster than everyone who didn't get off the couch this weekend!!! I'm so excited for you....that marathon is coming up soon! Yay!!!

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  11. 19 miles!!!! I admire you a lot!
    congrats to you

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  12. 19 miles is not easy. Eating while running is not easy. Congrats on both. Slow is much faster than not doing it and you did it in hard weather!

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  13. Great job on your very long run!! I love that you felt ok afterwards!! That's great!

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  14. I'm inspired by your marathon training. It has me thinking..maybe just maybe. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Great Job! I think it takes a lot of motivation just to get out the door to do a 19 mile training run. Very Inspiring!

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  16. Congrats on the long run, I never gone that far on foot before

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  17. Jim may have ran faster but you were out there for over 4 hours, that takes some serious stamina. Great run!

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  18. Congrats to Jim! And congrats to you for getting through a rough run!

    That's the reason I love long runs so much, it's like each one is a little experiment about what works or doesn't work.

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  19. Really good work on that run. And it was great to get the practice managing your nutrition.

    So is the beard staying or going?

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  20. Nice long run! I like to come across blogs about slower runners. I have that in common with you so it is easy to relate!

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  21. Congrats on the 19-miler - nice work!!! And congrats to Jim on his PR - awesome!!

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  22. ahhhh! love that pup pic-- too cute! i think you did awesome at that 19! you are training so specific for race day which is admirable and will pay off in the end! great work!

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  23. Great job, Michael! (I'm catching up on blogs and know I'm late.) I was supposed to do 18 miles today, but all the other adults in the house are sick so I'm on kid duty instead. Sunday is my Plan B this week!

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  24. THAT is awesome!!! I have never ever ran THAT far:) Well...once...but we won't talk of it;))

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