Put that in your pipe and SMOKE IT.
BOO YAH.
THAT, my friends...was the run I needed. Needed desperately. Especially since being told my foot is in piss poor shape.
Okay...well...the run wasn't all sunshine and rainbows and kitties...
The first ten miles. Well. They were hella tough. Hella bad. To the point where I was about to gnaw my own foot off because it hurt so.freaking.bad. OMG. It was awful. I questioned if I'd be able to make it back to home base and finish the distance at 17. I questioned turning around and going back to Jack at the 8.5 mile turn around and hitching a ride back with him. I questioned hailing a cab. I questioned running on 10/22. I questioned if I'd ever run again after today. It was that bad.
I saw Coach Joe close to Castaways and he comes running to me...asks how I'm doing and then remembers that i'm the one with the extra bone in her foot. He helps me adjust my foot brace, listens to me whine and bitch for a few and tells me to just do it.
And so I did.
I told myself to just shut...the f*ck...up. Quite whining already!
Just run.
Shut up and run, Barb. That's all you have to do.
Shut the hell up and put one foot in front of the other...
This quickly became my mantra. It's all mind over body. Shut up and run.
I fed off of other runners. I'd play cat and mouse with people along the course...I'd run and catch up to them...taper off with a quick break...and then catch up to them again...
I'd trail on the end of the CARA running groups, even some that were too fast for me...god love the wonderfully kind folks in the 11:30 pacers. They were a godsend to me when I really needed them. They started running past me and everyone was asking if I was okay. Their pace seemed to be something that I could keep up, so I tacked myself on the end of their line and ran next to this nice woman for the next mile or so.
It was like out of nowhere I was given an entirely new pair of legs!
I had this insane energy...It didn't hurt like it did the first half. I didn't focus on my foot...it was all about moving the ground out from under my feet.
I pushed myself against this one runner...and in turn, she pushed herself against me. We fed our momentum to each other...and soaked the other's in. When she wrapped up her run...she smiled, gave me a high five and we exchanged thank yous! More proof that runners are, by far, some of the coolest cats around.
And before I knew it...I had covered 17 miles. I felt great. My form was strong...my body was feeling incredible...I gave Mike a kiss (he had already finished 20) and made my way north for the last 3 miles.
So I'm running along...feeling great...loving running...feeling like I could go on and on and on...which never happens to me. EVER. Especially after 17 miles.
And I run across Barri. This super cute, super awesome, super funny teammate of mine. Seriously...she rocks. She's walking along having some reeeeeeeeeeeeeally bad knee issues. As I pass her, she tries to catch up with me. Once she does we stop and walk a little bit together.
We're talking and laughing the last few miles. I'm able to get her run another few dozen yards and we decide it's best for her to walk back the rest of the way. And as much as I wanted to run, I knew how much it can suck to be unable to run, especially when you're soooo close to being done...and so I walked with her back to the meet up point.
Once we returned (to a huge, fabulous feast of food, no less!!) I honestly felt like I could go another three or four miles...and MAYBE...just MAYBE...another 6.2.
This 20 felt nothing like my last 20. Last time I came home and cried. But not today!!! :) Last time 20 miles took me...hmmm just under 5 hours? Today I ended up pacing around 13:10/mi. Which is an approximated guess (at one point after adjusting my brace I forgot to turn my garmin back on, so I'm overestimating my "off time")...in theory, it could be a little over 13:00/mi...who knows.
I know this pace isn't what I needed to achieve my elusive 5:30. But it's enough to put me in at 5:45. And this pace includes a few stretch breaks and adjusting that damn foot brace a couple of times. ...so who knows what Oct. 22nd will bring...
...effective immediately. We taper.
And all I have to say at this point, is...
Feet...don't fail me now.
THAT, my friends...was the run I needed. Needed desperately. Especially since being told my foot is in piss poor shape.
Okay...well...the run wasn't all sunshine and rainbows and kitties...
The first ten miles. Well. They were hella tough. Hella bad. To the point where I was about to gnaw my own foot off because it hurt so.freaking.bad. OMG. It was awful. I questioned if I'd be able to make it back to home base and finish the distance at 17. I questioned turning around and going back to Jack at the 8.5 mile turn around and hitching a ride back with him. I questioned hailing a cab. I questioned running on 10/22. I questioned if I'd ever run again after today. It was that bad.
I saw Coach Joe close to Castaways and he comes running to me...asks how I'm doing and then remembers that i'm the one with the extra bone in her foot. He helps me adjust my foot brace, listens to me whine and bitch for a few and tells me to just do it.
And so I did.
I told myself to just shut...the f*ck...up. Quite whining already!
Just run.
Shut up and run, Barb. That's all you have to do.
Shut the hell up and put one foot in front of the other...
This quickly became my mantra. It's all mind over body. Shut up and run.
I fed off of other runners. I'd play cat and mouse with people along the course...I'd run and catch up to them...taper off with a quick break...and then catch up to them again...
I'd trail on the end of the CARA running groups, even some that were too fast for me...god love the wonderfully kind folks in the 11:30 pacers. They were a godsend to me when I really needed them. They started running past me and everyone was asking if I was okay. Their pace seemed to be something that I could keep up, so I tacked myself on the end of their line and ran next to this nice woman for the next mile or so.
It was like out of nowhere I was given an entirely new pair of legs!
I had this insane energy...It didn't hurt like it did the first half. I didn't focus on my foot...it was all about moving the ground out from under my feet.
I pushed myself against this one runner...and in turn, she pushed herself against me. We fed our momentum to each other...and soaked the other's in. When she wrapped up her run...she smiled, gave me a high five and we exchanged thank yous! More proof that runners are, by far, some of the coolest cats around.
And before I knew it...I had covered 17 miles. I felt great. My form was strong...my body was feeling incredible...I gave Mike a kiss (he had already finished 20) and made my way north for the last 3 miles.
So I'm running along...feeling great...loving running...feeling like I could go on and on and on...which never happens to me. EVER. Especially after 17 miles.
And I run across Barri. This super cute, super awesome, super funny teammate of mine. Seriously...she rocks. She's walking along having some reeeeeeeeeeeeeally bad knee issues. As I pass her, she tries to catch up with me. Once she does we stop and walk a little bit together.
We're talking and laughing the last few miles. I'm able to get her run another few dozen yards and we decide it's best for her to walk back the rest of the way. And as much as I wanted to run, I knew how much it can suck to be unable to run, especially when you're soooo close to being done...and so I walked with her back to the meet up point.
Once we returned (to a huge, fabulous feast of food, no less!!) I honestly felt like I could go another three or four miles...and MAYBE...just MAYBE...another 6.2.
This 20 felt nothing like my last 20. Last time I came home and cried. But not today!!! :) Last time 20 miles took me...hmmm just under 5 hours? Today I ended up pacing around 13:10/mi. Which is an approximated guess (at one point after adjusting my brace I forgot to turn my garmin back on, so I'm overestimating my "off time")...in theory, it could be a little over 13:00/mi...who knows.
I know this pace isn't what I needed to achieve my elusive 5:30. But it's enough to put me in at 5:45. And this pace includes a few stretch breaks and adjusting that damn foot brace a couple of times. ...so who knows what Oct. 22nd will bring...
...effective immediately. We taper.
And all I have to say at this point, is...
Feet...don't fail me now.
posted by Iron Jayhawk at 1:01 PM
19 Camper Comments:
Congrats on the long run and welcome to taper land, a nice comfy place that i joined about 4 hours ago.
You rock! Nice job on the run and pushing through. I'm also glad to hear you had a great birthday.
And it is ashame we didn't see each other but hopefully we will soon.
Awesome job on the 20 miler and hanging in there. Sounds like you are physically and mentally ready for the 26.2 enjoy the taper,
Great job! I am going to remember this post when I start back in a week or so. One foot in front of the other.
Way to go! I'm so proud of you...blue, you're my boy!
Wow, that's great! I need to try that running mantra "Shut up and run". I like it. Sounds like it was very effective.
Way to get the long run accomplished. You pushed through with grit and determination to spare. I'm jealous you have so many others to share in the experience!
I can't wait to meet you and hope that we can somehow run Chicago together. It seems that our pace will fit perfectly together.
Great job!!
Just happened by via Runners World. Awesome 20 miles:) Good luck at Chicago!
Marty
Way to go Barb! I'm doing my 20 alone (boo hoo) Monday evening because I was out of town Saturday in an un-20-able location. I'll remember what you said ... what was that? "Shut up and run!" -- love it!
xxxooo Margie
Yes!! That sounds awesome!!! Way to fight through it!
Congratulations on the long run. Screw that lame extra bone.
Way to go, Barb! You did it! Now enjoy the taper and focus on getting ready for Chicago.
Way to go Barb! You rock. Enjoy the taper!
Great way to tough out the long run. Enjoy the taper! It'll make you stronger on race day.
Barb, we're on for race day.
As I'm still planning on my race day attire, I can't specifically tell you what I'll be wearing, but I do know for a fact that I'll be the one in the girly-girl running skirt. :)
Rest of outfit TBD...
Email me for more details of our meeting up...this is going to be GREAT!!
Great job on the long run!! That was the run you needed! Enjoy the taper!
congrats! i'm so jealous you did two 20s! but way to push through the pain! I'm not sure I'd have the mental toughness to do that. Great job!
glad you had such a good run! Looking forward to the 22nd!
Way to go, Barb!
See you on race day!!
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