The Wall Has Legs!

It's the weekend! Yay! I tried sleeping in, but my sister was running a half marathon without me and I was experiencing race anxiety. It was pretty weird, had to wait an hour to call her (different time zones) to see how she was doing on her race prep and wish her luck.

We talked for a bit and I told her to call me when she'd finished. She was hoping for a 2 hr 40 min finish. Alack, my wall seems to have traveled halfway across the state because she hit it this time. I hope this means the wall is heading on down to Memphis and not back into my hills.

When I tried to explain the feeling of being unable to run last weekend, she didn't get it. She does now. For her, it was terrible foot pain and puking along the race course (TMI?). She still finished in 3 hours, but it was 20 minutes short of her goal. Last week the bitter cold defeated me; the weather was also her downfall.

When we talked this morning, she was concerned about the weather. The forecast was calling for highs in the mid-50's around noon. Pants, long sleeve shirt, windbreaker. That should have been fine. Alack! Never trust a weatherman! Those evil pudgy-faced liars! At noon it was 70 degrees. Yay for playing! Boo for running! As her warm weather is heading my way in the morning...

I have no idea what the hell I'm going to wear on the 20 miler. I'm already pretty freaked out by this distance. Just thinking about it makes my feet hurt and knees creak.

Now is not the time for negativity. The sun is shining, the weather is beautiful and I think it's time for a walk, even if I can't get anyone to go with me.

Toe Sock or Not-Toe Sock

The longer I participate in this sport called running the more obsessive I become about the little things. Little things like socks. Cotton socks. Thin socks. Thick socks. Blister preventing socks. Toe socks. Toe socks? A year ago I would scoffed at wearing toe socks. They were a novelty item that came in holiday gift bags.

The shoe guy tried to convince me I needed Injinji Men's / Women's Tetratsok Mini Crew Socks, because I was complaining of blisters. Blisters were a new complaint for me. I bought into the argument that socks with cotton can cause blisters, but I hate feeling the socks between my toes. I know they're there. I can feel them. And so, despite his assurances that this would fix the problem, I left toe sock-less. I did invest in some cotton-free socks and they were good. Until I upped my mileage again. Bring on the toe issues! This time I had blisters and toe cramps.

So, I was back at the shoe store for a new pair of shoes (for once before my old ones were completely treadless). The same shoe guy did something sneaky this time (as all great salespeople do), he had me try on shoes with the toe socks. I couldn't quit wiggling my toes and I didn't stop feeling them, but...

The sales guy is an ultra-marathoner. If you aren't a runner, then you probably don't get that ultras begin after the marathon ends. Thirteen miles is a short run for an ultra-marathoner. He told me the toe socks had helped with his blisters and it was worth at least trying.

And now that 30+ miles a week is the norm for me, I'm addicted to trying new running accoutrement.  This habit is growing expensive.

$12! For a PAIR OF SOCKS!

My cheap ass self couldn't be convinced to purchase a pair. I guess the third times a charm, because the next time I came to the store the same sells-dude convinced me to give them a try. Cute, aren't they?

I'm still undecided about them. My right foot loves them, my left foot not so much. I still feel them between my toes, which bugs the shit out of me. But I haven't had any blisters or toe cramps since running in them. I do feel after 10 or so miles that my middle toes on my left foot are being strangled. I haven't decided if this is the socks or another problem. These are, so far, the best socks I've used for runs over 10 miles. I'm using them for my 20 miler this weekend and if I can stand the feeling of toe strangulation, I'll wear them for the marathon.

There is a Wall in the Middle of this Race

Last week's run was an utter disaster. It started off well enough. I was wearing my Evo coldgear. I had my rescue inhaler, gels, water, baking soda laced water. I was rested and hydrated. I was planning on a long, slow 18 mile run with a time around 4 hours. Sometimes plans just don't work and it's probably a very good thing that I learned this now, before my first marathon.

The first 8 miles were good. I was feeling the cold, but it wasn't like running in January, when the cold cut through multiple layers and not even sprinting keeps you warm. My pace felt comfortable, no push at all. I even felt good enough to take pictures of the hill at the end of Burke Lane, about mile 7. This is the hill that tricks you multiple times into thinking you've reached the top only to find more climb around the bend. This is the start of the climb. You think the top of the hill is at the barn; you'll think you're at the top at least 3 more times. I don't know why, but I always forget this. (You can just see the last of the flurries on the ground.)

About a mile after this is the killer dogs. I mean 2 dogs that are as big as me. One is kept on a leash in the backyard. The leash is the only thing that keeps him in as his paws reach over the fence.The slightly smaller one has a shock collar and he freaks me out because he steps his front paws on the road. This run, I was alone and I forgot about the dogs. I nearly swallowed my heart! And the run went downhill (and I'm not talking road conditions) soon after that.

Another 2 miles and I changed my route to cut some of the distance; I knew something wasn't right. I thought I must have gone out a bit too fast and I'd just swallow a gel, walk a few extra minutes and I'd feel better. But I kept getting colder and my feet didn't want to move. I pushed myself when I realized I'd walked all of mile 11. I used absolutely every fiber of willpower I posses to pick up my feet, but before mile 12 I was done. 

I was cold, achy, and exhausted. I called my sister, who didn't answer. I thought about calling someone for a ride home, but decided to shuffle myself back home. I couldn't for the life of me think how far away that was. 

When my sister called me back, I bemoaned my lack of ability until she cut me off and told me to re-frame that. I'd already finished a half-marathon and I was still moving. It did help to think in positive terms. She tried to turn the call into a pep talk and told me to run. I tried. 

And nothing.

One hour and 5 minutes later, I had walked the last 2 miles back to my house making my round trip16 miles in 4 hours and 27 minutes. In the warmth of the house, I actually started feeling the cold. And the hives. My thighs looked sunburned. I buried myself under 3 blankets for 3 hours before I started to feel even halfway rational again. On the flip side, I suffered no muscle soreness. I'm giving credit to the baking soda laced water I've been trying on long runs. I'm blaming the Wall on the cold. While the temps were between 29-32 degrees, and my coldgear had worked in temps cooler than that, I didn't take into account the wind and damp. The life-devouring wind, the soul-sucking damp...

I think the recovery time had an extra hour tacked because my nephew was waiting for me when I walked in the door wanting to watch, for the 800th time, the entelodont show I'd recorded, because nothing is cooler than the Terminator Pig. Except perhaps megalodon.

The next day he says to me, "Do you remember that one time when you were covered in all those blankets and you couldn't stop shaking cause you went running in the cold?"

Yes, I remember that and I'm not likely to forget it.