I've been running a lot of half marathons over the past 2 years and the half marathon distance while not easy is manageable now. I pretty much have kept myself in half marathon shape for the past year so even though I've been on a Marine Corps Marathon training schedule it didn't really get real until today. Today I had 18 miles on the books. 18 miles is not typically a normal distance for a half marathon training plan so it felt like today was really the start of my Marine Corps Marathon training plan.
I was a little nervous heading into today. I ran a 19 miler in March but it was 50 degrees in March. That was not today's weather forecast.
That is not 50 deg weather.
I was a little anxious about the long run today. Okay I was a lot anxious about this run. My summer runs have left me a little defeated lately. Running at night in 90°F Temps is no joke. It's left me feeling slow and sluggish. Speed work I was able to complete with ease in the spring I can't come close to completing now. I struggled through the last 3 miles of my 15.5 mile run 3 weeks ago and started questioning my ability to train for the Marine Corps Marathon and Dopey.
Marathon training is probably 75% mental and 25% physical and the mental part was struggling right now. Last year I let the mental part win and made the smart choice to drop my marathon. I wasn't ready yet, but getting this 18 mile run in was crucial to my mental running state.
I know the temps are crazy and I know they drop over the nighttime hours, what you don't see is how quickly they go back up as the sun comes up. And once that Houston sun gets above the horizon the same temps suddenly seem unbearable.
Knowing that I calculated how long it should take to run 18 miles at a 14 min/mile pace and determined a 2:30am start time was needed. No that is not a typo, I said 2:30 in the morning.
My Galloway Training group is training for January Marathons so the long miles right now for Marine Corps are on me. Fortunately I have some great running friends to help me and keep me company.
I laid out my routes in multiple different loops. It's dark - so scenery really doesn't make a difference. My goal with the route was to run by the car multiple times to refill my water, well lit and safe streets with even sidewalks. I can rralistically only carry enough water ib the summer for 7-8 miles. Running at 2:30 in the morning requires some logistics beyond do I have enough water, to make sure things are safe and that you run by places that are open if the need for a pit stop arrises.
My friend Amy had volunteered to run the first 10 miles with me. Unfortunately she was nursing an injury and couldn't run, but because she is awesome she volunteered to ride her bike behind me to keep me company, provide sag support and a little extra safety in numbers. We were both decked out in our headlamps and flashing lights.
It was definitely hot this morning but it never felt as bad as I feared it would be. There was a nice little breeze, it was hot but not as muggy and it was cooler than the 97 it was earlier in the week when I decided to forego my speed work for a casual 3.5 mile run.
The first 10 miles went great. A nice easy pace. We looped back by the car at mile 6.75. I refilled all my water balls. We headed out for the next 3.25 miles and finished up right at 10 miles right on time to meet Kami for the next 5.
The next 5 miles went well at all. It actually felt almost cool. (Ok not really cool - but not as hot as it could have been). The only problem on this five miles was that my feet were super wet and squishy and my arms were starting to chaff from my soaking wet shirt. I realized about half way through this loop that I should have changed my shirt and socks before starting this loop.
The pace stayed constant and easy for the 5 miles. My arms were really getting sore. I wished there was a med tent to grab some vasoline. Lesson learned - more body glide needed - dry shirt needed. Don't wait to change it. I know I can't change shirts mid race, but I'm hoping it won't be quite as humid in DC in October as it is in Houston in August.
I took a quick break before the last loop and changed shirts, socks, shoes and visor. Yep all new dry clothes. (well except for my skirt which was soaking wet but it's harder to change).
The group was there for the last 3 miles. Having people to run that last 3 miles with was a huge bonus and really helped me to finish strong. I slowed down a little on the last 3 miles. It was closer to 14:20 for most of those miles. I realized during those miles that I really hadn't fueled enough during the run. The first 15 miles I had a small pack of fruit gummies and a couple of pretzels. The pretzels were good to get a little something salty, but they are also dry and hard to eat. Do not try to eat without a water stop straight ahead.
We finished 18.15 miles - total time 4:14:38. Admittedly there were 3 stops to refill my water bottles, change running partners, and find dry clothes which would have added 15 minutes to my total.
I finished upright with a smile on my face at the distance and pace I intended. I actually felt like I could have run further when I was done. I needed more fuel. I needed more body glide and dry clothes were a must but I will work on those for my 21 miler in a few weeks.
Amazingly other than being tired from the early morning wake up, the only negative from the run yesterday was the blood blister on my toe from my wet socks and the chaffing on my arms from my soaking wet shirt. Both are healing up nicely already. My legs felt good.
Finishing my 18 mile run left me feeling much more confident moving forward on my Marine Corp Marathon Training Schedule and my Dopey training plan.
Next up 2 fun weeks of runs in maybe 5 different states and during those 2 weeks I will cross the 500 mile mark in running miles for 2015.
Then it's Dopey training start time. I'm sure as I get close to my first back-back with a 21 miler as the 2nd run on 8/22 I'll start getting anxious again. Until then it's time to embrace a few weeks of travel running, hopefully cooler temperatures and some real hills. Of course it's always a good time to remind myself that these summer miles will make for a stronger faster fall marathon.
