The Marathon must be respected. It is not easy to propel yourself forward for 26.2 miles under your own power. If it was, more runners would do it. The Marathon requires endurance. Specifically, the training to successfully run a Marathon takes endurance, it takes dedication.
I should have known better than to think the plan was going to go good. I’ve done enough military operations planning to know that nothing ever goes 100% as planned. There are always variables that oscillate beyond expectation or unknown friction points present themselves without warning. This is where resiliency becomes an invaluable trait to have. To adjust, to keep moving and not get discouraged.
This training cycle has been nonlinear to say the least. I’ll do a post-race analysis of all of my training runs and present data as far as miles, pace, workouts and how accurate I was with sticking to the plan.
Sunday: 10.29.2023 (Day 99 of 112): Do the damn work.
Enduring the process to achieve a goal, that’s where I am in Week 15. I’m simply enduring through the training plan and the miles until I reach race day. I’m building endurance in running by increasing volume of miles and time on my feet over a specific period of time.
Discipline is far more reliable and effective than motivation. Motivation is fleeting, paper thin and can be a downright disappointment. As far as today went, I simply was not motivated to get in any miles.
There was a plan in place to get these miles in at 7am, when the temps were near 50F and the sun was still below the horizon. Unfortunately I had other matters to attend to that required my time and attention. On top of training for the Marathon, my wife and I are small business owners and that requires my attention daily, I work full time, am a husband and a father. This morning I simply didn’t have the time.
This is where having integrity and honor keeps you accountable when motivation fails. I told my friends I’d get 16-miles done today. My Coach is expecting me to get 16-miles in today. I’ve already told my wife and my kids. I simply can’t back out of this run being so close to race day. I’ve put in so much work to this point, not doing the run isn’t an option. It’s not peer pressure that is guiding me to the trailhead, it’s honor and keeping my word to my family, friends and myself.
I got to the trail around 12:20pm and got on trial at 12:33pm. It was 80F and would warm up a few more degree’s during this run. I expected this run to take me about three hours and the temperature was going to do nothing but increase during the run. This was going to suck.
The weather was warm but a decent breeze provided moments of relief from the heat. In the direct sunlight, the temperature felt like it increased 10 fold! However under the falling canopy of the leaves it was cool and felt bearable. I had a bathroom and water point at mile 4.6 which I would double back and hit again at mile 11.4. This worked out just right. I went through all of my water on the way out and again on the way back.
This route was interesting as it took me under multiple overpasses of major freeways in the area. It was a surreal feeling to know that above me were all these people driving and probably had no idea there was a greenway system below that connects most of the capital city.
I’m not going to go into detail on this run because it was rather uneventful, except for the five to six groups of South American young men walking down the trail smoking weed or huddled on the side of the trail blazing the grass. As a libertarian this doesn’t bother me so much, what does bother me was their lack of respect of location. Take your ass down to the river or off trail, smoking on the trail is bullshit.
Other than those multiple instances on this run, it was really just one foot in front of the other. Over and over and over again, broken up by drinks of water and texts to my wife. I was running solo today so I would stop to walk and provide updates, drink water and eat a GU. My heart rate increased with the temperature and my real time pace would slow down.
I thought this was my last “Long” run before the race, but I simply forgot bout this coming Saturday! The entire time I was struggling mentally and emotionally. Physically I felt fine with little to no discomfort, but mentally I wanted to be tackling other projects in my life and emotionally I’d rather be home with my son.
Fuck it. That was my mentality. Just keep fucking going. Everything will sort itself out and life will carry on. Which it did when this run was over.
During the run I was miserable and thought my pace was crap, however when it was over and I was looking back on it, the pace was the best for a long-run I’ve had this entire training cycle!! I guess the training is paying off!
16.0 Miles | Avg Pace: 10’36” Avg HR: 136 | Best Mile: 9’46” | Feeling: Dehydrated
Monday: 10.30.2023 (Day 100 of 112): Rest Day.
Yesterdays run was tough on the body. I was dehydrated and a little sore, not wrecked just dehydrated with some minor aches here and there. Despite the hot weather yesterday and how I am feeling today, I’m still pleased that yesterday’s run was the fastest “easy/long run” that I’d have this entire marathon build.
In this Marathon build it would sound legitimate if I said that I decided to take the day off from training and do some stretching, recovery and rehydrating, but that’s not the case. I’m traveling tomorrow for work and will be gone for about 10 days and I really just want to spend some time with my wife before I leave again.
Time is valuable! Time on your feet training for a Marathon is essential. Time on the trails, the roads and track is valuable. It takes time to build the stamina and endurance required for a successful attempt at The Marathon.
Quality time with my wife before I travel again is essential to the longevity of this relationship. So I made the decision to pass up the run and spend time with my wife. A choice I have no regrets over………but I do feel like I need to run…lol.
Tuesday: 10.31.2023 (Day 101 of 112): It keeps getting worse.
Of course the DoD would have me traveling on Halloween, it’s not a Federal Holiday after all, but damnit it ought to be! For a decade we generally had the best house in the neighborhood for our trick-or-treaters. What you can’t tell from the above image is the spooky music playing as you walk up. This year was so much different.
I was at the airport by 5am and on a plane by 6:30am, our daughter is working in Florida and our son was at a friends house for the evening. This left my wife home alone and myself in a hotel in Texas. So much different than years past. I’m not sure I like this change. It sucks. I think next year I will submit PTO or submit a petition to the White House to ensure Halloween is a recognized holiday!
Despite the upsetting nature of the day, I had some miles to get done.
After a quick Google Map recon of the area, I found a nearby public park with a walking path that looked like it would fit the bill. It was a short drive away and seemed to work out for this short 3-mile run.
The track was just about 1.42 miles long and a lap around the parking lot evened things out to 3 miles. Even better, there were open bathrooms on site! If you’ve been reading this blog, you’d understand how important that is to me. You’d also know that the absence of a bathroom or porta-john won’t stop mother nature.
I showed up, stretched and got in my required miles.
3.0 Miles | Avg Pace: 9’14” Avg HR: 134 | Best Mile: 8’53” | Feeling: Disoriented
After the run, a shower and food, I logged onto the work computer to finalize some stuff for the next morning. That’s when I got an e-mail I wasn’t expecting.
One of my co-workers had unexpectedly passed away. Mr. Courson had been someone I held in high regard and he provided me with great mentorship over the past decade. Every time I called him he answered. We worked together on projects of high importance that I felt would have a great impact in our field. He was a true professional who dedicated his life to the service of Soldiers and the Army. He was the smartest person I knew in my profession, he was the most experienced, he was a technical wizard and when he spoke it seemed as if Yoda was giving you the secretes to The Force. You simply listened and applied the wisdom accordingly.
The man retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5), a rank rarely obtained by anyone. He was formally educated in mathematics and was particularly good at understanding complex problems and providing clear and concise solutions to issues that seemed formidable. I was but one person of many whom he worked with and influenced over the course of his life. I’m lucky to have met him and worked with him when I could.
Wednesday: 11.1.2023 (Day 102 of 112): Unbelievable.
I arrived at the jobsite and had a conversation with my counterpart that led to more bad news. We were both in shock that Mr. Courson had passed away. We both acknowledge it was a great loss to our field of expertise and his presence would be missed. His years of wisdom would leave a hole that will take years to fill.
Then we get informed that another one of our co-workers had passed away unexpectedly! My former co-worker and all around character, Mr. Hamelin passed away. Another man who dedicated his life to this field of work, a man who retired as a CW4 and further continued his service wherever he could. Jaques was a character, one of those few, rare people you meet and you just know, you’ll never meet another person like this. Truly unique in character!
Fuck! My father-in-law passing away on September 28th, now here in October two more men who I personally knew passed away unexpectedly.
Not much I can do but drag my ass to the track and get the work done.
What was supposed to happen, as prescribed by Coach Brown.
2-mile Warmup
5x 400m at 7’45” + 3min cool down.
2-mile Cooldown
What really happened? EXACTLY that, except faster.
2-mile Warmup: 9’51” avg.
400m Efforts: 7’03” | 7’18” | 7’19” | 7’16” | 7’10”
2-mile Cooldown: 8’59”
This run really did feel easy. I’m not sure why, emotionally I’m not faring so well but mentally I’m in the game. Physically, after 524 miles in the past 113 days, my body feels strong and capable.
I started running on the track when the sun was up and the flag-football teams were just getting warmed up. I was still running when the first game was over and the stadium lights were on. The sun had set and the next game was just getting started as I was wrapping up my cooldown. I’m certain someone saw me running and figured I was some weird lunatic running around the track 24+ times.
6.31 Miles | Avg Pace: 9’46” Avg HR: 134 | Best Lap: 7’03” | Feeling: Confused
Thursday: 11.2.2023 (Day 103 of 112): Supposed to be easy.
The jobsite was busy and I’d spent the majority of my day on the move, but the work had to be done. I’m not too familiar with the area and running in the evening on unknown sidewalks doesn’t seem safe. I wanted a nearby bathroom if nature called and so back to the track I went.
This run was simply brutal! It was a horrible, no good, draining, miserable kind of run. I had zero motivation to get it done, no desire to be running around this fucking track, over and over again for 16 laps! I didn’t want to be there. I was also hungry and angry.
Regardless of how I felt, I did the damn work. 4-easy miles and yes, I took it EASY. That’s discipline isn’t it. To do what must be done, what is required, what is demanded for success even if you don’t want to do it. The Marathon must be respected. No matter what you do, 26.2 miles is tough.
Mile 1: 10’31” | Mile 2: 10’28” | Mile 3: 10’18” | Mile 4: 10’41”
4.0 Miles | Avg Pace: 10’29” Avg HR: 115 | Best Mile: 10’18” | Feeling: Uncomfortable
Friday: 11.3.2023 (Day 104 of 112): Unplanned ZERO Day.
There was 7 miles planned on the day and I simply wasn’t having it. I took the day off and started hydrating and preparing for tomorrow’s Long/Easy run. After a full plate of pasta and a breadstick, I was overstuffed and done for the evening.
I don’t know how to explain it. I just felt like I needed a break. So that’s exactly what I did.
It was all good until informing my wife of my decision not to run. She simply asked, “Why not?” and I really had no good explanation. Just decided to take a zero day, but now I felt a little down because it’s just expected that I run every day.
Saturday 11.4.2023 (Day 105 of 112): The Sun Rises Again
I did it. I set my alarm for 5am on a Saturday morning. Only a man possessed or obsessed would do such a thing. Seriously, it’s my day off and I’m setting an alarm for 5am.
After several attempts to hit the right spot on the phone the alarm goes silent. I thank the good Lord for giving me air in my lungs and blood in my heart and before I can think about how insane this is, I swing my feet off the bed and turn on the light. HERE WE GO!
I can tell immediately that I’m feeling better. My low points usually don’t last long and I’m not one to feel sorry for myself or dwell on sorrow. I understand that life is short, it’s precious and spending an unhealthy, prolonged period of time in sadness or depressing thoughts is detrimental to living a full life of happiness. I don’t avoid these emotions or feelings, just choose not make them commonplace. I give credit of this resiliency to sports, fitness and especially running.
I’m always amazed so early in the morning just after waking up. Taking a second glance at the time and it almost doesn’t feel real that I’ll be running and sweating in about 90 minutes. I’m still in my room contemplating if I should have one or two coffee’s before this run. Today I chose just one.
I got started right at 7:30am and the temperature was roughly 58F with dense fog from the 98% humidity. I wasn’t too concerned with the humidity as the temps were so low and I had plenty of water on me for a 12-mile run. At this point a 12-mile run seems like a warmup run, I was actually contemplating taking as much water as I did.
This was supposed to be an “easy” run, which is really by feel and not pace, but the expected pace was around a 10’15” to 11’15” pace. With the cool temps I found myself continually creeping up to a 9’15” pace or better without even thinking about it. I had to make a concerted effort to reduce my cadence and stride to bring it back down.
Throughout this run I took a sip of water at every mile along with eating a GU at 40 minutes in and then every 35min thereafter. I also took some Salt-Lick tabs at mile 7 even though I didn’t feel like I needed them. Now that’s the trick isn’t it. To take the nutrition, electrolytes and hydration before you NEED it. To prevent the moment dread, of realizing you NEED something to continue on with the run.
The miles ticked away and I was thankful for the fog as it concealed the five mile stretch of road I had in front of me. When running 5-miles, it doesn’t seem too far nowadays, however once it’s laid out in front of you, within eye sight, it seems daunting and immeasurable. The dense fog and humidity were on my side this morning.
As the miles ticked away I came across more memorials and equipment displays. It’s always neat to run through a military post as compared to my hometown trails. You don’t see tanks, helicopters and parade fields in my small town in North Carolina.
The sun broke through the fog and started warming things up just as I was on my last mile. The timing of this run seemed to work out just right! I knew I woke up feeling better and the day would take a more favorable turn.
12.02 Miles | Avg Pace: 10’02” Avg HR: 132 | Best Mile: 9’28” | Feeling: Brighter & Lighter
That’s it!
The final LONG/EASY run of this Marathon training build! It was the easiest long run I’ve had this cycle and the fastest! Physically I’m feeling good for The Marathon, however now the nerves are setting in!
We’re all stalking the weather, figuring out final plans for movement to the start, nutrition, hydration and how to stay warm at the start. So many of us are ready to get this race in the books. It’s been a long 105 days!