15 Mar

Roll Tide, Roll*

Posted by Ms V. in marathon, menstruation, women.

*Some kind of University of Alabama slogan*

 

With this new understanding of your menstrual cycle and the fueling mechanisms that change from phase to phase, don’t view your cycle as a training disadvantage but rather a training secret. Use what nature gave you as your ergogenic aid and have confidence in your training. Sorry, men, but maybe estrogen is the wonder hormone after all! (from Run Planet)

As I’ve explained to people before, Ms.V does not discuss menstruation.  We don’t discuss products, descriptions, anything.  And never in general public.  I had 2 babies with my former husband, and I hated discussing this with him even.  I just think in polite society, we really don’t need to know about your cramps, pms, or anything else related to menstruation.

Until now.

No need to put down your breakfast.  It’s not that kind of a conversation.

I really am interested in the impact menstruation has on running.  Before I started running, you could set your clock to my mood.  A day before I was crying.  I was having pounding headaches.  I was a mess.  Then I was down for 2 days with a heating pad and indiscriminate Advil popping.  I usually forgot when I took the last one, so my friends were always concerned about me.

In training for now my second marathon, I’ve noticed one thing.  Menstruation is rarely a thought.  Like, oh that.  A long run of 15 miles is not canned because I have cramps.  If anyone remembers, I was on day 2 at the Nike Women’s Marathon, having to go in the woods and take care of business.  It was horrid.

I’ve researched some articles that may help.

  • About:   Many women fear that they’ll have their period for a big race, like a marathon. The good news is that it will have limited impact on your performance. In fact, women have run well and even set records during all phases of the menstrual cycle. You may find that running can actually improve your mood and alleviate physical symptoms before and during your period.

 

  • Run the Planet  (RE: The  phases of your cycle) Say you’ve planned your track workouts for every Wednesday. You go to the track during your follicular phase (low estrogen) and hit all your repeats right on. You leave the track with confidence and excitement. A few weeks later, you go to the track but you’re now in the luteal phase (high estrogen). You feel sluggish, tired and lethargic. You feel like you have a totally different body. You leave the track doubting your abilities and your training program, despite the fact that your long runs have been successful. Don’t feel discouraged, though. It’s not for lack of training that you’re performing this way, it’s the way your body is fueling your workouts. In the follicular phase you benefit from a quick breakdown of carbohydrates for speed and efficiency. Your body is primed for providing quick energy for fast running In the luteal phase, however, your body is in the fat-breakdown mode – fueling your workout primarily through increased utilization of fat. Since fat is a source of slower, more sustained energy than carbohydrates, your intensity may suffer during the luteal phase. Basically you’re trying to run high-octane workouts on low-octane fuel. In other words, during the luteal phase your long, slow runs will feel easier and require less recovery time because your body will take advantage of increased fat breakdown. In the follicular phase your tempo runs and interval training will feel easier because you’ll be accessing quick energy through carbohydrates.

 

  • Dudley Ladies: Some research in 1993 (Menstrual Cycle Phase and Running Economy, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Vol. 25(5), pS74, 1993) goes some way towards solving part of the equation. Eight fit, normally menstruating females were asked to run at intensities of 55% and 80% VO2 max during different stages of their menstrual cycles. …None of the variables measured – VO2 max, blood lactate, lactate threshold, maximal heart rate and fat oxidation – were different at any stage of the menstrual cycle.

 

  • Runner’s World, UK 15. There’s no need to miss a run or a race just because you’re having your period. If you’re suffering from cramps, running will often alleviate the pain, thanks to the release during exercise of pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins. Speedwork and hill sessions can be especially effective.

 

  • Running Coach Menstruation is not an illness or an excuse.  Most healthy women can run any time during their cycles.  If you really really can’t – plan your training and marathon carefully and have a heart to heart chat with your doctor about conditions that prohibit you from running. Some women manipulate their menstrual cycle with hormone therapy. Check with your doctor before you go fooling around with your hormone contraceptives or you may end up with unexpected results.

 

  • Trifuel  The effect of menstruation on training is varied. Most active women notice minimal change in their 5 day cycle and if anything they comment on their increased awareness as to how the body is feeling during this time. Their heighten sense of body awareness is one of the many benefits that comes from training and listening to their bodies. [in marathon training]…Due to the blood loss from the menstruation process, combined with the destruction of blood cells in the feet caused by running, women can find their iron stores reduced. An increase in either red meat or other foods high in iron such as silver beet and lentils along with vitamin C plus a reduction in tea during the period week, will enable your body to absorb and store the iron necessary for everyday body cellular function. The necessary chocolate bar/s goes with out saying – and it would be a brave man who questions any women during this week as to whether she REALLY needs them!

So go ahead ladies, have the chocolate, but do the long runs!!  I’ve done the marathon with the worse case scenario, and the experience taught me that women can walk through ANYTHING…Remember, let your body do it’s work, and stay out of the way!!

Here’s the Story Of Menstruation from a 1946 Disney Film.  Funny!!! (I think it might be the one I saw in Jr. High!)

14 Mar

The little race that almost wasn’t

Posted by Ms V. in LA Marathon, music, running, taper.

Have you ever had a race or a run that was simply pure joy?  I mean, every step of the way?  Today was that race for me.  I am one week away from the LA Marathon, and I was asked to join a 2 man Half Marathon Relay at the ShamrockNHalf at Raley Field in Sacramento.

I was thrilled to do it, because I’m in taper week #2 now, and I knew this would keep me slightly de-focused for the marathon, and it was a short distance.  Also, my new Twitter friend Row, had taken me as a guest to her gym for a spin class, and I wanted to give back just a little bit.  Her husband’s partner dropped out, so he needed a teammate.

Enter Ms. V

The night before, I was treated to 3 hours of WWE Smackdown at the Stockton Arena.  I promised my son I would take him there, and about halfway in, I was totally over the fake fighting (wait, it’s fake, right?)  The only thing that intrigued me was the music, and how it would fit in a playlist.  But I digress.

Coupled with a midnight bedtime, daily savings was going to blow.  I was up at 4am, showered, ate my pre-breakfast, and my now pre-ritual of a half a cup of coffee.  I didn’t think I had much gas, and was hoping not  to let my friend down.

Driving to Sacramento was ROUGH.  I was so tired, but I knew by the time I got there, I would be fine.  I had to be.

There’s something different about a relay.  You’re responsible for your partner.  You can’t really blow it, because they’re waiting for you to come in.  There’s no DNF in a relay.  I mean you have to be losing a kidney to stop.

Mile 1 over the Sacramento Bridge.  Great music.  I knew the music I put on this iPod was going to be fun, and it was.  Repeat.  Mile after Mile.  Never stopped, took no water, just ran. 

Oh, the way I felt.  Not like I was flying, but that I was running.  And I loved it.   At one point, I looked at Crash, and I was running a 9:16 mile.  Without trying.

Details:

1:12:50

7.1 miles

10:16 pace

Splits:

10:28

9:50

10:26

10:24

10:21

10:22

Today’s Playlist made the run enjoyable, and to think:  I nearly missed this race.  Thank you to all the people who support me every day.

I smiled with every song.

Wonderful Night 4:46 Fatboy Slim 

Au Fond du Temple Saint 4:50 David Byrne 

Bad Romance 4:55 Lady Gaga 

 Jump around  3:30 House Of Pain  

Poker Face Lady GaGa

Psycho (feat. Eminem) 4:46 50 Cent 

Hit the Road Jack 2:04 Ray Charles   

Ballroom Blitz 4:03 Blue Oyster Cult    

What Is Love 4:30 Haddaway 

 American Pie 8:32 Don McLean    

Ready Steady Go (Album Version) 4:16 Paul Oakenfold  

155 3:30 +44 (GREAT song!!!)

Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris) 3:06 Taio Cruz (Brand new #1 song this week…GREAT!)

Yes We Can  – Obama Song

Lose Yourself 5:32 Eminem 

Happy Day!!

12 Mar

God Speed the Mark

Posted by Ms V. in LA Marathon, taper.

Life is too short to waste
The critic bite or cynic bark,
Quarrel, or reprimand;
‘Twill soon be dark;
Up! mind thine own aim, and
God speed the mark.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

To J.D.

 

9 days.  Not like I’m counting or anything.

11 Mar

Guess my new PR.

Posted by Ms V. in LA Marathon.

 

Okay, we are ten days away from the LA Marathon.  Please look at my new header, and absolutely beautiful rendition of the finish line, by Restitution Press.  I got this from their Twitter page last night, and it is incredibly inspirational.

Time to focus.  Last night I ran a 6 mile run.  Tempo-ish.  1 mile w/u & c/d of 10:45 and 4 miles at 9:50 were the plan.  I made it almost to the penny:

w/u 10:43 then 9:41, 9:50, 9:51, 9:56 c/d 10:50 It was hard, but so needed for confidence.

Here are my current PRs.  I have no plan yet for the LAMarathon, but that’s not how my coach rolls.  We discuss it the Thursday before the marathon.  What do you think I’ll run for my second marathon?

Any good guessers out there?   C’mon.  Humor me.

10 Mar

Taper Madness X 10

Posted by Ms V. in LA Marathon, marathon, speedy sasquatch, taper.

I’m not really sure if I’m officially *mad* yet.  Yesterday at work, I was just restless, sending my coach links for him to read:  The LAMarathon Course, Pacetats, LAMarathon activities, etc. etc.  Poor guy.  He has no idea who he’s dealing with in terms of my psyche.  So, today, he suggested I use my time to write it ON MY BLOG. 

I went to the WordPress search engine, and typed in “Taper Madness”, and went to the first ten blogs where it was mentioned.  It was a great activity, because I got to read other runners’ taper story, and learned a lot too.  So, here are those blogs, and lifted text from each of them.  I commented on each blog, and have found some great new reads.

What I really loved was looking at peoples’ tag lines, and they are underlined.

Mine is in the upper right hand corner: 

 If not now, When? 

So, here they are.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did, and know that Taper Madness is NORMAL.

Go Erin Go New mother, runner/marathoner, financial analyst, and a sous chef’s wife. This is my life

We have selective memory and tend to block out the unpleasant parts of marathon training; quite like how I’ve heard women who’ve gone through labor and delivery some how block out the memory of the pain and have another child.

Fit Artist She’s an artist, she’s fit, she’s the FitArtist! Watch her go! 

As your training decreases, you start to panic and imagine you are not fit enough, so think it might be a good idea to add in more runs or start running faster, but at this stage, there is no way you are going to get any fitter and should just enjoy the ‘rest’!

Run, Bake, Read  And I work and watch tv and waste time in numerous ways…

Basically, you’ve spent MONTHS training SUPER hard for something. You put in a ton of miles every week and forget what it’s like to walk without wincing in pain. And then it’s time for the taper, and you’re not quite sure what to do with this free time, and you’re TOTALLY freaking out thinking ‘OMG! What if I haven’t trained enough!’

A Marathoner: 3:30 or Death. No. Other. Options.

I will say upfront that I am not very good when it comes to taper week.  I largely attribute this fact to ignorance.  Last racing season, I didn’t really understand why rest was so important before a race and how to strategize during taper week.  I’m not saying that I’m that much more knowledgeable right now, but I do have a plan this time around

Training Hard, Hardly Training  “she’s a runner, a rebel and a stunner…” red hot chili peppers

And of course taper madness me flips out, I mean I can’t leave work early 2 days in a row!!  So unfortunately I have to go mad early like before work tomorrow…but it’s just like I want this thing starting to be taken care of already!  Not much time left…On top of all this, I feel fat from the reduced mileage and from the eating more/carbo-loading.  Especially since I was bad today and had to indulge in the warm chocolate souffle

Am I Mad Yet? running with endurance the race set before me (Hebrews 12:1)

Second One Week Out taper trap that definitely applies to me:

Trap: That Sinking Feeling

Symptoms: A feeling of malaise, depression, and hopelessness, which often accompanies the physical sluggishness that intensifies at the end of a taper.

Cause: “Generally, running counters feelings of anxiety and depression,” says Hays. “So as you run less miles, bad feelings tend to crop back up and increase.”

Solution: Take a short-term approach. “You only have to get through the rest of the taper,” says Hays. Do a little low-impact and low-intensity cross-training–like pool running–to generate the good feelings you normally get from running. Also, use your downtime to focus on other things that bring pleasure to your life, such as listening to music, cooking, and being with family and friends. And rent some funny movies or read a few joke books to lighten your mood.

Races Like A Girl

Every stupid ache and twinge heralds pre-race injury.

Run 4 Haiti

Taper madness is still in full swing.

Amy Reinink

True to their toddler-esque name, taper tantrums led me to not only get cranky, but to act out in rebellion, staying up past midnight to watch the Yankees game and devouring two unbelievably delicious salty-oat cookies from Teaism

Navy 2009

It’s tough to cut back the mileage you have come to love and count on, especially if you are feeling really fit and really eager for race day.  But too bad!  You need to.  Running less reduces your risk of injury, gives you time to rest and recover, and allows your muscles to store carbohydrates in preparation for the big race.  There is no benefit at this point to working out super hard.  So don’t overdo it.  And don’t start doing new kinds of exercise that your body isn’t used to during the times you would have been running.  This can put new stress on your muscles and cause fatigue and soreness that will not help you on the big day.

Conversely, don’t under-do it.  Do the miles in the training log!  Maybe you are starting to max out on running, and you are looking forward to the taper as a break from running before the marathon.  It’s not a break!  You still need to keep up your fitness level.  If you cut too many miles from the schedule, you will feel deconditioned and sluggish come race day.  You have worked too hard to let it all go to pot now.

Here is my plan for this week.  I didn’t run last night, but am looking forward to tonight, and the rest of the week, ending in a Half Marathon Relay in Sacramento:

TOUGH STUFF IS OVER. Now just fine tuning!!
Monday: 1-hr walk-Done, with pictures!

Wednesday: 6-miles [1m w/u @ 10:45, 4-miles @ 9:50, 1m c/d @ 10:45 

Friday: 6-miles [Hi's & Low's: 1m @ 10:45, 1m @ 9:45, 1m @ 10:30, 1m @ 9:35, 1m @ 10:20, 1m @ 9:20-9:30] + CORE WORK
Saturday: 3-miles Relaxed & Easy just to stay fresh and loose

Sunday: 7-miles in the Relay
Thanks to my coach, who inspires me every day.

 

***By the way, go to Racevine for a big winter giveaway.  I always put my race reviews there!!***

8 Mar

“Lay It Down”

Posted by Ms V. in LA Marathon.

Yesterday’s 20 mile run was brought to you by Shaun White, who after winning the Gold in Vancouver, was asked by reporters how he could have done such an amazing, death defying, stunning stunt.  Shaun’s reply?

I just laid it down.

I had read Kara Goucher’s interview in Runner’s World on Saturday, and read that she has a tough time mentally during her races, and she cues up a word, fighter, to get through.  I tried that word yesterday, but it didn’t work for me. 

Then, Shaun’s words started coming out of my mouth.  Like what he did looked so HARD, and yet, he just laid it down.  It was the attitude I was after.  Complete ease.  Pull it out.  Lay it down.

Sunday was a dress rehearsal for the LA Marathon, coming up on March 21st.  I ate carbishly on Saturday, and while I had 5 kids at dinner, I mostly relaxed and hung around the house.

Saturday I got up at 5:15 to eat, just like I would in a few weeks.  Wheat bread and peanut butter.   I had no bananas, and was really sleepy.  Then I remembered on my Half Marathon in Fresno, I had a small cup of coffee.  Very small.  And, I PRd that day…So I heated up some coffee and had a slug.

Kim came over at 7:15, and we took off.  Her plan was to run the first ten miles with me, and I would drop her off so she would get ready for church.

Miles 1-5 were about an 11 minute pace, and felt great.  Spring Creek Loop.

Miles 6-10 were getting slower, a 12 minute mile.  Jack Tone loop.

Then I dropped her off. 

Miles 11-15, I thought would be easy, because it was the Spring Creek loop again.  It wasn’t easier.  In fact, it was now 9:30, the sun was up and around 60 degrees.  As I started out there, I had to mentally prepare myself for running the same road again.  When I got to 11 miles, I could breathe a little easier, because now I was in single digits.  The mile splits  here were about 13-14.  My feet were starting to hurt, my lower back was talking to me.

As I approached the catwalk for the third time, I had to pull out some words, and I just started saying, LAY IT DOWN LAY IT DOWN.  I didn’t want the bonk from last weekend, because it took until Wednesday for me to pull out of the spin of NOT doing the miles.  It was about getting. it. done.  I didn’t want to say I couldn’t do 20 miles either.  I want LA.  I do.

However, the last five miles were brutal.  I got in 14 minute miles for 2 of them, then I had to struggle to stay upright.  I forced myself to take my last Honey Stinger, which I like, but I just didn’t think I needed it.  That’s the thing.  You don’t THINK you need to follow your plan…but I did it anyway, and was glad.

The sun was hot on my skin.  I approached the 8th overpass of the day, and I knew I was going to finish.  I had Powerade (it’s on the race course) in one of my bottles, and I had water in the other.  Both were nearly depleted.

When I finally stopped at 20 miles, I was a block from home.

I do know this.  (From my friend Shannon)

Dead Legs Follow A Positive Mind

Everytime I wanted to stop, I remembered this.  I was a positive as I could possibly be.  Knowing I could do it.  Knowing I would finish.  Giving myself the support I give to others.  Knowing that I was NOT stopping until the time was up.

My only question is….How will I add 6.2 miles to the end of this run? 

Time to taper, and get my mental game on…

20 miles, 4:16, 12:49 pace

5 Mar

20 mile motivation

Posted by Ms V. in LA Marathon, youtube.

Ran a 5 mile tempo run this morning, with 1 mile up and back.  Spin class tomorrow was taken off the docket.  All that’s left of this training before taper is the 20 miles I’m going to lay down on Sunday.  I will cue this up right as I’m leaving.  Please send all your mojo love at 5am PST Sunday.

Happy Friday!!

3 Mar

Ms.V on the Treadmill…One Night Only

Posted by Ms V. in LA Marathon, Speedwork, treadmill.

Through no fault or planning of my own, I had to go do speedwork on the treadmill tonight.  It was pouring rain, but I’ve run in the rain before.  It wasn’t dark yet, so that’s not a factor.  I simply was alone, and it was getting dark and the roads were slick.  So, I found myself at the gym.

I keep my $25 membership at the gym, because it’s so cheap.  That, and I’m fiercely loyal…I have been a member of this gym for 10 years.  You can’t get a gym membership for 25 bucks, and it has a bathroom, so if I have to use it, I can run in there if need be.

I come in, and get my treadmill.  I’d rather stick hot pokers in my eyes than run on the treadmill, yet there I was. 

And there I was.  Five years ago.  Standing around.  Chatting with people working out.  Leaning on machines.  Yawning.  What is it about this place that makes people do nothing?  Wait, don’t answer that.  I’m watching people come up to people’s machines, make small talk, stand … and leave.

I started my warmup mile.  All good.  I was startled with the feel of the pull of the treadmill.  Not much work, just set the machine and go.  A group of 4 20 year old young men take the machines around me.  I’m well into my speed work, absolutely dripping, and on my jog cool down, they stop.  They were on the treadmills no longer than 2 minutes.  A young teacher I know is slowly doing the elliptical while watching TV.  I am sweating.  I am all over the place. 

My body is screaming, I am one of those people with sweat all over the machine, and all over the ground around the machine.  The 4 men leave.  A group of women are standing at the child care.  They are doing Zumba.  Kids are screaming. The music is blaring.  They are standing.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I know people work out.  I just have a new filter right now.  I am so used to burning it out of the road…and so used to making noises.  So, I start clapping.  Yelling at myself.  Because interval 5 & 6 are killing me.  KILLING me.  People are still working out, and I am laughing, and pretending I’m on the road.  By myself.  I start singing Bohemian Rhapsody which is on my iPod, just like I do.  I’m sure they thought I was insane.

Yes, insane. Judgemental. Annoyed. Critical of the standers. 

As I laid down to do my core work, I couldn’t help but think of the woman who used to hang out in the gym, and the woman who just finished 50 minutes of speedwork (4.79 miles).  She’s the same, and yet today, I wouldn’t recognize the first one if I met her on the street.

2 Mar

This too shall pass. But when?

Posted by Ms V. in youtube.

have an absolutely empty tank.

but this video.  watch it to the end.  loved it.

1 Mar

unprepared

Posted by Ms V. in LA Marathon, nutrition.

This is one of my favorite youtubes ever, credit going to LARunner , where I saw it the first time.  Unfortunately, in yesterday’s run, I was the guy that stopped.  That didn’t get going.  I let my head rule the run.

The title is called unprepared.  My partner was unprepared, but really I thought I had enough water for the both of us, so I also did not have what it took to finish this run.

On the schedule was 17 miles.  I was so nervous, that I did nothing in the morning.  I didn’t go to church.  Was sort of paralyzed, really.  We had planned to go at noon, but that will be the last time.  Morning runs are key.  For one thing, you’re done, and the other, mid-day, mid-sun runs are never good for me, and I should have known that. (Mistake #1)

Kim and I went out strong.  Good 11 mile or so pace, trying to stay slow, so as to finish.  We went over the Green Bridge to Salida, then to the mall in Modesto.  All along the sidewalks.  Lots of Sunday traffic, but smiles.  I was feeling good.  Took a salt tab at Mile 5, and it was working for me.  I felt free, breezy, light.  I told her she could have half of my water.  I carry two bottles in a fuel belt, and thought it would be enough for the both of us. (Mistake #2)

We went over the Standiford-Beckwith overpass, down into the country, and what we thought would be a straight shot home.  This was mile 7.5, and things were still on track.  At Mile 8, I looked at her.  She had no hat, no sunglasses, and was sweating.  We were running into the sun, into farmers’ fields, and I started to worry about this.  We chose to go into a field rather than fight the traffic on a 2 lane road. 

Suddenly, we found ourselves in the middle of bees.  Lots of bees.  White boxes where they were living.  And, before we could think I said, “We gotta get out of here, quick”.  So, we had to turn around, and run over a cement bridge that was 1 foot wide.  Not pretty.  Not fun.  As we ran along the other side of the canal, farm dogs were charging toward their fences.  Finally, I saw a street, and thought we were headed back.  This whole debacle slowed me down considerably.

At mile 9.7, I turned and saw that Kim was vomiting in the ditch.   Here’s where the mistakes start to pile up.  I couldn’t leave her.  I knew that.  However, I decided I would give her my bottle of water, because it was the right thing to do.  She told me to go on, and I would take one with me.  (Mistake #3?) I’m not sure what else I could have done, but suffice it to say, it was the best I could do in the moment.

Mistake #4 is trying to find the road to take me by Salida Middle School, and I couldn’t find it.  I ran into a residential area, and it was way too crowded with Sunday peeps washing their cars, smoking, dogs, kids.  Finally I asked someone how to get to the Middle School, and they pointed back OUT.  When I got out, I could see Kim going further down a road that I didn’t think was the way, but at that point, I couldn’t get her attention.  I could see Fiscalini Farms, where my friend Heather lives, and thought, if all else fails, I can go get her.

Mistake #5.  I ran for a little bit.  Then, I simply stopped.  I laid down on grass in the shade, because I couldn’t take the sun, and I had less than one inch of water left in my last bottle.  A car with two guys came up, and the driver said, “Are you okay? Do you need water?”  I said yes.  He brought out a half bottle of Dasani, and rather than drink it, I asked him to pour it on my salt lick arms.  Mistake #6, because when your internal self needs water, and you put it on the skin, your body works to cool down the skin, not hydrate YOU.  I looked to see what he was looking at, and it was blood.  I had bloody nipples on my cute new pink top.  Mistake #7.  Wearing a top that isn’t tight enough to prevent this.  I had only heard of this happening to men.  However, I will only be wearing this for short runs, or yoga from now on, so not a total loss in the *lessons learned* department.

I was done.  And it was only mile 11.5  I could see the freeway.  Could see the Salida exit.  Could see the joyous run from only an hour ago.  And, I didn’t know where Kim was.  We had originally planned for her to walk, and I would continue and get the car.  But, since I didn’t know the area, I had no clue where she was (Mistake #8–always drive the route, as my friend Shannon says).

I got up, and started walk/running.  I ditched my fuel belt.  I had one Gu with me, but no water, so it would be pointless to take it.  However, it would have been better than nothing.  I ran to the Fire Station to get water.  There was no one there.  I turned on Ciccarelli Road…and found a little bit of heaven.  I stopped at three orange trees.  I peeled and ate.  Peeled and ate.  And, I knew I was done.  I was doing a 22 minute mile here with all the walking, but I didn’t care.

Finally, I could see the overpass that would take me into Ripon.  I sat down at one point.  I couldn’t move.  Oddly, I ran over the Hammett overpass.  Huh.  I walk the whole way, and run over the overpass.  A biker stopped, and he waterfalled some of his water.  I asked everyone if they had seen a girl in a blue top.  At this point I was worried that she was out on the road waiting for me, or that I couldn’t make it home.

I forgot to turn on Crash Davis.  But I think it was 15 miles in all.

I made it to the Shell station.  Out of gas, dehydrated.  I went in, and the attendant gave me a Gatorade.  Never tasted anything sweeter.  She said, “You’re training for a marathon, aren’t you?” She knows, because the Shell station is where I stop every day for the bathroom…Most days.  I had no money, but told her I would bring her some.  Then she let me call Kim’s house.  This is when I knew I was in trouble, because I couldn’t remember her phone number.  Finally got it, and she came and got me.  She paid the attendant for the Gatorade, and got me up and we got in the car.  She felt horrible.  She was so sorry that she had taken the water, etc.  She is not a long distance person…AND, she is an awesome partner, but I know I’ll be doing the longer runs by myself.  I do not fault her.  At all.

We drove back to get my fuel belt.  We drove down Ciccarelli Road and laughed at all the orange peels.  It was like Hansel and Gretel. 

Unprepared.  I was unprepared for this run in many ways.  I have to take care of myself and my fuel.  When I run with someone, I have to make sure they are ready too.  I don’t listen to what I’m supposed to do in the fuel arena.   Last night I was so dejected, I decided not to do the Los Angeles Marathon.  Really.  Today, that part is over, but I feel hungover at best…

And, I have 3 weeks to figure out if I have what it takes.  Or if I’m going to be the girl that stays behind.  Stay tuned.

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