For weeks, my training for the marathon has consisted of 60 to 90 minute long sessions on the elliptical trainer (my psychological aversion to treadmills will most likely be explored more in-depth in later posts). Last week, we became blessed in the Inland Northwest with some unseasonably warm weather. The Snow melted and the perfect conditions for me to hit the streets and start logging miles brightened my days.
My first adventure on the asphalt jungle produced and easy 5 mile run without stopping or any difficulties. Following that run, my logical conclusion was to run 6 miles. Again, no problems. As we can see how this logic is working, the next time out called for 7 miles. And like the rock star I think I was, no problem. What happens next in this blog post can best be summed up by those famous words from the Apollo 13 astronauts "What do you mean the bathroom is broken?" Oops, I meant "Houston, We've got a problem."
After my successful jaunt the day before, I awoke the next day bright eyed and bushy tailed with an idea. As can be witnessed by my signing up to run my first marathon, not all of my ideas fall into what many people call the "bright" category. My idea for this day definitely would not be classified as bright. My idea, was to run 3 miles (or for my global readers, 5k) in under 27 minutes...after only running 3 times...all year...after just running 7 miles...without eating. I shall never be confused with Einstein, maybe his brother Herb (its the hair).
The course I mapped out featured a gradual incline for the first mile, followed by a flat second, and a down hill third with a small (but steep) 50 yard hill two blocks from the finnish. The first mile started out great, I was flying (for a Clydesdale) and was able to complete the mile in just over 9 minutes. With the hard part of the course over, I knew I could make up time on the back 2/3s. But then part of the way through mile 2, I started to struggle. Gritting my teeth, I dug in and pushed on. As I rounded the corner to for the 3rd and final mile, I noticed a jogger merging onto the same street I was on about two hundred feet back. With a nice long downhill head, I was not going to let this guy catch or pass me. Pain and Exhaustion be darned. For 3/4 of a mile, I kept the other runner at bay. On 37th street, I headed right, and he headed left. My legs were shot, but I was ahead of finishing in 27 minutes. Three blocks from home, I hit the last incline and my legs stopped. I could not get them to move. My mind and lungs were screaming, "MOVE!" Nothing, zip, zilch, nada. I had bonked.
I stood in the street and looked down at my watch. I could not move as the time kept running to and then through my goal of 27 minutes. As I walked the three blocks home, realization dawned upon me that I was not ready to run a marathon. That's ok, because I am not running a marathon tomorrow, or even next week. My race is still over 5 months away. There is a reason why people must train to race a marathon. I have a good base started. Personal Best in 5k's and 10k's will come with the training. I need to practice patients. My journey has just begun.
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