Today was the toughest run I have done. My goal was to go 50k. The first 10k were great and I thought 50k was within reach. 10-16 was a disaster; My hamstrings kept cramping up, I felt like I had no energy, and I got cold.
My plan was to run 16k and walk 1k to simulate what I would do during my 50 miler in June. I couldn’t wait for 16k – I walked and loved it.
I set up a make-shift aid station in my garage and ended up getting there at 18k. I was cold, and obviously dehydrated, and super hungry.
I changed my undershirt and sweatshirt, ate some pasta, a plum, and some leftover scrambled egg. Crushed a banana, blueberry, kale and chia seed smoothie, then headed back out with the intention of hitting 40k. I felt terrible…hamstrings cramping still, no energy, and in a poor mental state. I thought about turning around more often that I really want to admit. But I didn’t – instead I ran 1k then walked 1k. I did this for 12k.
My right knee started to hurt as well – just seemed like nothing was going right today. I felt my right hip wanting to turn in which I think was causing my knee to collapse inward therefore putting pressure on the outside of my knee. I changed that and after a few cycles run and walk the knee pain subsided enough to not turn the run around.
Many times during the run I was so bummed because I had to walk. But the walking was so enjoyable because of all the fallen leaves. At one point the ground seemed to be blanketed by yellow leaves and looked like the ground was touched by Midas.
I resolved to run and walk until I hit 30k. I got close to 30 and figured 32k (or 20miles) is much better. This is the furthest I have travelled – took me just over 4 hours.
Am I disappointed? Yes.
Am I still proud of my effort? Yes.
Could I have done this last year? No. I have come so far in 1 year and am extremely proud of that. But there is still work to be done and lots of room for improvement.
I need to get back into mobility drills and foam rolling. I just kind of stopped doing them.
To summarize – I am bummed and thrilled, and excited for the next run. I need to up my mid-week kilometers and not just crush big runs on the weekend. I am done with runs over 20k until the new year.
Happy running!