After a week and a day after running the Santa Barbara International Marathon I laced up and trotted off thinking I would run a nice 8 mile run at a relaxed pace before settling down with my report cards for the day. I thought I would hop right back into running because in my mind it (the marathon) was just another workout. My clothes and self weren't drenched in sweat when I was done as I usually am after even a short tempo. My legs were tight yet in the game for the 26.2. Even the hip cooperated. I hadn't run in under 3:30 so my 3:33 something day was going to be chalked up as just for fun. For most of it, it really was.... just for fun that is.
Within the first couple miles of my run today my quads tightened up and my legs felt a little wobbly. Oh yes... I did run 26.2 miles at an 8.07 pace. My body was letting my brain know that I really did run last Saturday and it really did count. I quickly changed my plans and decided on an easy 6. As I ran, I pondered what it was about last Saturday that robbed me of the 3:30. I totally could have done it given the right day and blah blah blah.
Here are my thoughts...
1. Last Saturday I probably went into the race still dehydrated from my travels to NY along with the fact that it is very hard to drink enough when you are teaching and your pee time is run by bells. Lesson learned. Pound the water don't worry about the pee factor.
2. I did drink at almost all the stops, but it wasn't enough, At a few of the water stops early in the race the volunteers were too far away from the tables and ran out of cups to hand out, so I went without. But I didn't worry about it too much. In fact, I recall having the feeling of the water sloshing in my tummy even though I still felt thirsty. Lesson learned. Make sure you get water even if you have to run up to the table and snatch it yourself.
3. To add injury to insult, even though it was cool it was also very dry out there last Saturday. The weather reminded me of the Long Beach Marathon in 2009 when I not only died at mile 17 but my hip decided it was done with 5 miles to go. At least this last Saturday my hip cooperated. Also much like Long Beach, I was nicely dry and preserved in my own sweat salt when I finished the race. ( Note to self, Jana doesn't run well in dry weather even if it is cool. Fog is good.)
3. I didn't wear my Garmin and that made miles 16-21 difficult because the mile marks were either not there or blown here and there. I had lost George around mile 17 right at the part of the bike path / Modoc where I get very mental.... bummer! If I had had my Garmin, I probably would have rallied much like I did at Eugene when my foot hurt so badly and I willed myself to get back on pace for the last two miles. Lesson learned. Wear the damn Garmin and only look at it if you need to. Who cares if you look like a fool with two watches on!
So, yes... last Saturday counted. It was a lesson in hydration if nothing else. I am not depressed or even discouraged. I am not a marathon time. I just am. The Garmin read 5.89 as I trotted up to the house this morning. Because I am who I am, I jogged to the end of the street and back to make it an even 6. It counted.
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