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February 05, 2006
WEEK NO. 17
REASONS NO. 9 AND 10 FOR RUNNING A MARATHON
Since I have less than 4 weeks until the race, I will need to “double up� on the reasons why, to reach 26 by race day.
Reason No. 10
Training for this marathon has given me a newfound confidence that there is very little in terms of physical challenges that I cannot do. If you had asked me just 3 months ago If I could run over 20 miles in less than 4 hours I would have emphatically said “NO WAY�. Seventeen short weeks later, a sub-four hour twenty-mile run is possible (I've done two of them), and my 15-mile runs are my "short runs�, that I do on recovery weeks.
Reason No. 9
I have met lots on new people while on this little journey that have encouraged me to see this challenge to the end. Everyone I have met has truly been supportive (especially those that know first hand the effort that goes into completing a marathon).
Training this week was fairly routine. Monday was a rest day, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were all 4:30 AM 5 mile runs around Durham. On Tuesday and Thursday I threw a little twist into the run, and did a timed 5k run in the middle of the run – to try to get a least a little bit of speed work in anticipation of the Almond Blossom Run coming up on February 18th. I will probably run the 5k race, so that I can be at the finish line to cheer on my wife, who will be completing her first ever 5k race.
Friday was a rest day, and Saturday was just a little bit of cross training (bike riding and basketball) trying to get all my lower parts and pieces rested (and not sore) for my last long run of the training program on Sunday.
Race day is just 30 days away – so this was planned to be my last run over 20 miles until the marathon. My plan was to do 23 miles, assuming everything felt good. If I had any issues (knees or otherwise) I was planning on cutting it short at 20 miles.
Well, that was the plan, anyway. My left ankle was sore yesterday, but I just figured it was one of those fleeting pains that would go away. I played some basketball yesterday that probably irritated things a little bit more. By Saturday night, it hurt to walk – and I knew that my plans for a long run were in trouble. I did the only thing you can do, rest and ice Saturday night. By Sunday morning, it felt better, but it was still unhappy any time I twisted or turned. I scrubbed the run plans, and went to the gym instead and did 1200 yards in the pool, and some easy spinning on the bike. Spent the day resting and icing (in Between Super bowl Parties). This is the first run that I have had to cancel because of an injury – hopefully I will be able to recover quickly from this, and not have to deviate too far from my training plan.
Posted by Dennis at February 5, 2006 01:44 PM