Not the greatest or most consistent start to my marathon training blog, however, once I catch up a bit with this post I'll be back in the groove.
I'm currently taking a few days break from running due to some pain in the back of my ankle. My trainer says it should be fine in a few days but not to push it and end up on the D.L. even longer.
I am however still doing my upper body workouts until I can get back at my legs.
I've learned really quickly that training for a marathon is more than being dedicated to a healthy diet, running 3-6 days a week, struggling through pain of all varieties, attaining the proper equipment, learning and understanding proper health, nutrition and techniques and of course blogging.
It also requires a serious level of commitment to all of the above that can often become too much to balance.
Immediately learning that I have caving ankles, and the shoes I was running in were horrible for long distance running, not to mention enabling my ankles, I had to bail on a few runs until I was able to get the proper shoes I needed to help with my issue. The biggest issues with improper shoes with no support for my caving ankles could lead to pain in my hips which would quickly start to affect my knees. I don't want anything to do with that kind of pain so I was patient. It was the better part of a week before I got my new Saucony shoes and was ready to hit the streets running, the perfect amount of time for me also to recover from my last squat and lunge workout which of course gave me jello legs and pain in my butt (glutes) for three solid days. A good pain, but pain nonetheless!
My first run with my new shoes was amazing! I couldn't believe the difference! It made running feel so much easier, with less strain. I'm very thankful to Ashlyne for getting me those shoes for my birthday. The best present I could've asked for at the time! We went for a run together that night (July 2nd), only a 3.76K to get myself back into it again after a seven day break, but it felt great. It was a bit of a casual run we finished in 23:40, 6:17min/km.
During my week long break I also started to slide a bit on my diet. Indulging in a few gulps of ice cold pop if the opportunity arose, accepting a piece of chocolate offered to me by a friend, and my ultimate vice, popcorn! Ashlyne brought a box of microwave popcorn home one night, it might as well have been crack! I went through all the bags in that box faster than a kid opening his presents on Christmas morning! They were all gone in two nights.
Another problem is regular life schedule. Dinner plans during running class, a Tigers game on a run day, being tired from a long day at work, etc. There's always an excuse not to run when you want one. That's where the commitment needs to be stronger, the running has to come first or the results you want to see won't be there when you expect them, if at all!
I had a five day rest from running again, this time due to regular life schedules and just feeling too tired to do anything long distance. I managed to get out during the day of July 8th knowing we had dinner plans that night and would be missing running class. I refused to fall any further behind so I made sure I got my run in. I honestly struggled, well, not during the first 4km, but once the overcast and gentle raindrops subsided the ridiculous sun and humidity killed me! I have a hard time in serious heat and I loathe humidity. It slowed me down a great deal and killed my water supply from having to dump it all on my head to keep cool. I ended up running 6.65K in 35:56, which is an average of 5:24min/km. Not too bad considering, but I know I can and will do better. I can't wait to get back at it after my ankle heals.
During that dinner I listened to stories from Ken Cramer about his marathon experience from only a few years back. There were two consistencies he mentioned that stuck in my head and still do. He mentioned all the pain, soreness and agony he went through to succeed, and then the pain and recovery time he endured after his marathon. He also mentioned the number of times his wife Candace had to drive and pick him up wherever he ran to and couldn't continue from. This isn't exactly what I wanted to hear, but I guess with any great accomplishment there is a building process, building strength, building endurance, building stamina, and building a burning desire to finish the race! Like Kevin Spacey says in the movie Horrible Bosses, 'you can't finish a marathon without putting a few band-aids on your nipples!'
