Hail Mary: My Super Sweet Sixteen!

My last 16-mile training run kinda felt like your last hookup with a guy you know you’re never going to talk to again. You’re going through the motions, thinking, “Oh, this isn’t that great, but I’m not going to tell you because what’s the point? I’m just going to do your fraternity brother next weekend. Ow, ow, my back. Ehhh…sigh.”

So I had planned to do my last 16-mile training run Monday…and then I accidentally got drunk on Sunday…so I was unsure if it would happen. But I just wanted to be done with it. At least I knew what to expect: a very, very long run!

To satisfy the monster appetite (and hangover), I started the day with a bagel, a chocolate smoothie with Amazing Grass, hemp oil, and fronana, and coffee…

I had planned to run right away, but I was just so tired. I’m not good at sleeping when I’ve had alcohol. So then I did something I never, ever do: I went back to bed for an hour! (Some may call it “napping.”) I hate naps, and can only take them if it’s still really early in the day. Fortunately, this was a successful nap. I woke up and wrote articles/worked on freelance stuff (please check out this gem on Facebook Wall flirting if you haven’t yet), and then, oh, it was time to eat  again!

One reason I hate doing my long runs after lunch is because I have to be really careful what I eat before. Too much fat or fiber and I’m screwed. I needed carbs and protein, but I wanted to keep it light. I made a Morningstar veggie burger on a whole wheat bun with lots of veggies and a bowl of Campbell’s chicken noods.

Yup, cheap-ass Campbell’s soup that probably is laced with cockroaches and old car parts…but I needed something light with protein and carbs, and I actually wanted the extra salt. Fact: that stuff is $1.09 of pure comfort food!

The morning started out really nice and sunny, so I was debating running outside, but the first few winter flurries were falling when I left the house, and it was really windy! I took it inside; this is boring, but for long runs, it’s super convenient for hydration purposes. I decided to start out on the treadmill, where I ran the first eight miles. Not bad! I played around with the speed because I am delighted at how much faster I am than I was two months ago, even though I’ve done absolutely no speedwork. I felt really light and good the whole time. Toward the end of the first eight miles, the soles of my feet, particularly the balls of my feet, started to hurt a lot. I think I forgot to mention this, but I actually was fitted for orthotics in October and they came a couple weeks ago. My podiatrist said they might make my feet hurt at first, so I have been using them on all runs except the looong runs so I can break them in. Well, I forgot to switch them out Monday, and figured it was time to do a long run in them anyway, so…yeah. They hurt. They make certain parts of my feet/body feel better, and I don’t even know if I can blame them for this, but bottom line, my feet were really, really bothering me.

At the 8 mile mark, I stopped for about 60 seconds to refill my water, suck down my energy gel, and move over to the indoor track. It was a verrrry slow start on the track. My body was just tired of running and I was losing steam. However, some good tunes and a few laps into it, I started to feel better. I felt like my energy ebbed and flowed and it goes a lot faster overall on the track, but my feet would not stop hurting! It felt like major blisters were forming all over my feet. NOT COOL. The only other thing that bothered me was my neck; I’ve noticed that no matter how loose I stay or how much I relax my upper body, the base of my neck gets more sore than anything when I am running.

I spent a lot of time thinking about the actual marathon when I was running. It’s just four weeks away!! I can’t wrap my head around that. It still surprises me that the training is working like it is!

Finally, mercifully, I finished the last eight miles, walked a lap, and then collapsed to stretch. That felt amazing. The gym was packed — it was nearly 6:00 — and I just sort of staggered around in a stupor. I felt like Rip Van Winkle; it had been afternoon when I started! I had a banana and PB in the cafe and then headed out into the freezing night.

The best thing was that my mom had made dinner!! When I walked (dragged) in, there was steaming spaghetti with meat sauce waiting for me! I love to cook, but this was honestly the best feeling.

I had salad with homemade bread (leftover from the party)…

And spaghetti with a little fresh black pepper and real Parm!

The food was delicious, but the most delicious part of the night was putting on my Uggs.

Say what you will about Uggs, but my feet were so raw, this was the only thing that helped. Uggs + basketball pants + food….mmmm!

One good thing about doing the long run so late in the day is that I really couldn’t overextend myself later. It was already time to wind down, so I did. Oh wait, until I realized I had to eat again! Um, I hate Taco Bell’s “Fourth Meal” ads, but that’s totally what I had to do: I had eggs, whole-wheat toast, and an orange.

It was good but I was just feeling a bit delirious at that point. I went to bed right after that.

My marathon book said we would be starting to get very tired the day after long runs, and that’s definitely true. I’m stil pretty sore, so I am going to take it easy this morning…just writing and seeing what DVR has for me! I am planning to be quite productive and make a big dinner this afternoon, but it’s going to take more carbs and rest time to get me there.

The good news is, 16 miles and I are OVER. Three weeks and now I am moving on to the last big thing: Mr. 18!! He totally feels like the older guy who is going to come and teach me a thing or two and I’m all about it. Two of those bad boys, a taper (best Christmas present ever), and then the longest long run of all! Eeeee!

Tagged as: carbs, marathon training, running