Chapters 7 & 8: Still Going.
Two weeks of Fun and Running.
I love running.
However I don’t love every run, and yet I still love running. This publication explores the physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of training for The Long Run. Each of those elements have a significant impact on my performance during training for The Marathon. For the human body to traverse 26.2 miles on foot by self propulsion requires certain physical adaptations that can only be obtained through repetitive action and increased, controlled stress on the body.
So during Week 7, when I took a cut-back week, it felt self defeating. From August 26th through September 1st, I only completed three runs for 9.06 miles. It was a serious cut-back week that not only decreased mileage from 49 miles the week prior but also included increases in drinking, eating and fun.
Training for The Marathon is repetitive. My days turn into a wash-rinse-repeat cycle of wake-up, run, eat, work, run, eat, sleep. I am like most other humans on this earth in that I am a creature of habit. I find comfort in knowing exactly what I’m doing and when to accomplish a set goals. Week 7 was a disruption of those habits and it started with a Bush / Candlebox concert on a Tuesday night! It was a night of drinking, laughing and singing! It was a great time with friends and kicked off a week and long Labor Day weekend of relaxation.
MONDAY 9.2.2024
Week 8 started on Labor Day with a Club 5K planned for the day off. My friend Chrissy is training for the NYC Marathon and through persistence and unwavering commitment to training was onboard with getting in an additional 3-miles before the club run. It was an easy sell to get Rob onboard, so we met up early to get it done. Training for a Marathon is tough. I love running, but I don’t always love the run I have to get done. This is where the benefits of running with friends has critical impact on the emotional side of running. In this case, I was enjoying running with my friends more than I was the actual run itself. Making the run enjoyable is essential to maintaining it as a hobby. While I didn’t enjoy the run itself, it felt great to find myself running with two other Marathoners who understand the trials and tribulations of training for The Long Run.
5.02 Miles | Avg Pace: 10’53” | Avg HR: 134 | Best Mile: 9’47” | Feeling: Good.
TUESDAY 9.3.2024
The Tuna 200 race is fast approaching, and my Marathon training is aligning great with the demands of that race. In the Tuna 200, I’ll be running 3 separate legs approximately 8 hours apart with each leg being between 4 and 9 miles in length.
Tuesday morning was starting at 5:15am with a quality run consisting of intervals that would culminate in 6.64 miles total. All in all that’s 12.64 miles completed just 11 hours apart, a good training setup for the Tuna 200. I met up with Wendy and Carla and while we each had different and unique times for our intervals, we started on the track together and completed the work passing each other and providing words of encouragement. My fastest effort of the morning was when by happenstance my 800 meters of effort aligned with Wendy’s at the same location. We both set the pace and maintained a 7’50” pace for more than 600m before her rest period hit. I’m a firm believer that healthy competition produces better performance. The type of competition that doesn’t breed conflict but is conducive in increasing effort and toughness to do a little bit more when things get difficult.
There’s a common saying, universal in application but specific to running.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with a friend”
While generally true, the speed this morning was produced by running with a friend.
6.64 Miles | Avg Pace: 11’13” | Avg HR: 123 | Best Lap: 8’01” | Feeling: Faster
WEDNESDAY 9.4.2024
Marathon training season makes runners do crazy things, especially when the weather is good here in The South. Every Wednesday I run with my local run club and get in a 5K. It’s been a habit of mine for over 5 years now. Now that fall is settling in and Marathon training is building, there are more and more of us getting in early miles before the planned club run.
6.02 Miles | Avg Pace: 9’39” | Avg HR: 147 | Best Mile: 9’02” | Feeling: Frustrated
Thursday 9.5.2024
I showed up and got in some “bonus” miles with the club and got to have some conversations with new runners. These easy 3 mile runs are always a nice break.
3.01 Miles | Avg Pace: 11’52” | Avg HR: 125 | Best Mile: 11’09” | Feeling: Frustrated
Friday 9.6.2024
It’s pretty simple. I got lazy and fucked up. I could have ran at 6am, but I made the decision not to. I’m ashamed to admit it. Yet here it is, in all it’s truth, open to the daylight. I got lazy and chose wrong.
Lesson learned, again. Don’t be fucking lazy. Just go do to the work, you’ll feel better that you did.
Saturday 9.7.2024
I moved my long run from Sunday to Saturday as I’d be traveling all day Sunday and wouldn’t have time to run. So I laced up, met up with the club and got in 16-miles on a wet trail that left me with wet socks and shoes. I got in the first 6.5 miles with friends and then finished up the last 9.5 miles solo.
The last 9.5 miles was a battle of the mind. Many times I wanted to walk, but I just kept telling myself to “just keep going” and put one foot in front of the other. That little trick worked and I ran the entire distance.
16.00 Miles | Avg Pace: 10’52” | Avg HR: 137 | Best Mile: 10’08” | Feeling: Determined
Sunday 9.8.2024: Travel Day.
I arrived in El Paso, TX and noticed a man wearing a TEAM USA shirt and an Olympic Medal around his neck!! I didn’t recognize the man, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to congratulation this American Olympian for representing our country on the world stage and winning a medal!
So I walked up and asked: “Excuse me, are you an Olympian that just got back from Paris?”
With a big grin and a welcoming demeaner he informed me he WON 2 SILVER MEDALS for Track and Field. the 100m Sprint and 400m Sprint!
I was thrilled, not only was this an Olympian but a runner!
His wife and kids were there so I tried to make it short and not interrupt their family reunion, but he was very nice. He got a picture with me and even allowed me to hold the medal and look at it. It was HEAVY. I’ve seen a lot of race medals before, but this was the absolute coolest medal I’d ever seen in person or held. He was very nice and kind.
His name is Ryan Medrano! A 2x Silver Medalist Olympian in the Paralympics for the 100M and 400M.
Once he told me his name, it sounded familiar, then his face looked familiar.
You probably recognize him from CBS Survivor show. (Season 43).
https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/ryan-medrano
