Baltimore Marathon Training Week 14

Monday: 2 Miles  (19:12)

14 weeks ago, I would have enjoyed the idea of running short distances and taking days off, but this week, it has killed me. The thought of “tapering” as it’s called in the running world, is an agonizing thought. To put so much time and energy into weeks of training and then to suddenly turn it off and focus on just going through motions has been difficult to comprehend. I understand the process completely, but during this transformation, my focus has been on building my base and now, I feel as though I am working against myself, running less miles and slowing pace tremendously. I know it is the right thing to do, but the thought of logging so few miles is painful.  Today’s run was simply that, painfully slow. Not only was I on a treadmill, but my pace was less than stealthy.  But, two miles is two miles and I can live with that.

Quote of the Day:

“I would have never thought that one sport could change my entire life, until I began running.”

Tuesday: 4 Miles  (30:55)

Remember that conversation from above, well like the stubborn mule that I am, I ignored my own words and I took off today with the intent to cover 4 miles as quickly as I could to push myself after the agonizing run yesterday. The temperature was in the 90’s, humidity also relatively high, but the run felt great, I was able to push my tempo averaging a 7:43 pace and running negative splits, which hasn’t happened in quite some time.  Though I was out of breath at the end, I still felt like I had a lot in the tank to continue to push, but resisted knowing that this weekend I would have all that I can handle. I want to get to the point that I can maintain this type of pace for long distances, I know I still have a ways to go, but these types of run give the hope that I can eventually achieve the lofty goals I have in my head.  

Quote of the Day:

“The real purpose of running isn’t to win a race, it’s to test the limits of the human heart.”

Wednesday: 3 Miles (26:43)

I had another date with the treadmill this morning. Though I love my new Garmin watch, the indoor running feature isn’t necessarily accurate or aligned to the treadmill and though I ran to 3 miles on my watch, the treadmill picked up almost .2 more, so today’s run was basically a 5k, but it felt good running slower negative splits and feeling as though this pace was very comfortable for the entire time.

Quote of the Day:

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”  

Sunday: Quad Cities Marathon (3:57:53)

The range of emotions I experienced today left me mentally drained but simultaneously at peace.  Quad Cities was not part of my plan, but reflecting on today’s experience, if i had the chance to do it again, I would take it. I allowed myself to really run my own race today, I experimented with fuel and pacing, and really learned how to listen to my body. I ran solo as well, which doesn’t seem like a big deal to most, but to me, it was probably the most difficult aspect. During training runs, I am always with someone, it helps pass the time and the conversations distract from the little voices in my head, but today, the little voices were heard loud and clear. I had intended to race with music, but by mile 6 my brand new wireless headphones had failed me and I about lost it. At that point the voices in my head started in and needless to say, I was ready to throw myself in the river and backstroke it to the finish line.

With no one to talk to and music no longer an option, the weather also reared its ugly face as the race progressed.  With the sun beating down and the rays bouncing off the river, water stations turned into hydration for not only the inside but outside of my body. I was taking two cups of water at most stops, dumping one on my head to cool my body down and trying to drink the other. If it says anything, even the pacer that I had began running with, pulled away from because of her inconsistent splits, eventually caught back up with me to only tell the 2 remaining people with her that she couldn’t continue and stopped running at mile 22 to sit down on the side of the road.  

With Baltimore 3 weeks away, I did learn some valuable lessons that I wouldn’t have acquired without running Quad Cities and have a new time to beat as I knocked another 12:41 off my marathon PR.  In addition, Ashley, Robert, and Ben provided insight into situational events that helped me overcome some obstacles that occurred during the race. I feel much more prepared for Baltimore having finished Quad Cities and I truly believe that I can clip my PR dramatically if the weather conditions are right and I got my fuel figured out in the later stages of my run.  

Quote of the Day:

“Everything you ever wanted to know about yourself you can learn in 26.2 miles”

Final Thoughts:

With just 3 weeks remaining, I have officially logged 512 miles in my training (35 this week), 44 miles ahead of what my projected totals should be at up to this point. Though 44 miles is not a lot, to think that I have been able to achieve this type of mileage in just 14 weeks gave me additional confidence that I needed leading up to Baltimore in October. Do I still have doubts, absolutely, but do I feel more confident in my abilities, most definitely.  

During the marathon I experienced a “runners high” unlike any other. While this high very immensely for everyone, my body felt weightless.  Any discomfort I was experiencing disappeared my pacing dipped as low as an 8:02 pace and never went above 8:17, nearly 30 seconds faster than I had anticipated running.  During this time, I felt amazing. It wasn’t because of the pacing, but with all of the feelings and emotions that came with it. Marshall Ulrich described it in his book as if he was watching himself run as a spectator and while I can’t say my feeling was identical, my body was weightless and I spent many miles unaware of my pace or even where I was because I was entranced by the feeling and scenery where I was. There were several miles during this time that I don’t remember because the state of euphoria I was in at times seemed like a dream, running 26.2 miles shouldn’t seem like a dream, but it did. The clarity during this time was also vivid. My thoughts seemed so black and white, I didn’t need to overthink because the pieces in my mind just fell into place, any issues that i felt, I had problem solved and ultimately, even with my body being put through torture, I felt at peace, as if my mind and soul had been cleansed.  

These moment, I will continue to chase them.  The raw emotion and vivid clarity have made running my magnificent obsession because even in these moments, I find the peace I am searching for both in running and my own personal life. I know it’s there, I just have to find it, capture it, and figure out a way to bring it back after the high wears off, because after it is gone, it's like falling out of the sky without a parachute, and we all know how that ends.