The Last Long Run

This morning would essentially mark the end of my training for the Arizona Marathon. I do have two weeks to go but those two weeks are easy/taper weeks readying myself for the marathon. Today would be a scheduled 20 mile run. As I try to qualify for the Boston Marathon I have upped my training from the past two marathons and this would be the 4th scheduled 20 mile run. I did very well on the first run, I didn’t do very well on the second 20 mile run as my calf was really hurting me and I had to finish out on the bicycle. I did exercise for 3 hours which is good but the mileage was less than 20. On the third 20 mile run I did very well doing 4 additional miles which was incidentally last week. Today I did make the 20 miles but had to struggle. I felt much better doing the 24 miles last week than I did doing the 20 miles today.

I started out well but never really found my “zone”. I normally find this “zone” around mile 9 but really struggled throughout the run. I noticed I was sweating more than normal and certainly more than last week’s run. It is amazing how much different a week could make in my running and I have to believe that my body had had enough totaling 125 miles for the two weeks. This is the most miles I have run ever and this includes my incarceration time. I was very happy to finish the run and I am not sure if I could have completed 6 more miles at this pace so I am a little concerned about the marathon.

I have researched the pace I need and I have also looked back at my pace times for the two previous marathons. In the marathon I ran in June I had no idea what I needed to qualify for the Boston Marathon until I completed the marathon. I was about 5 minutes shy of the qualifying time so I set my sights on this during the Long Beach Marathon in October. I was right on pace but realized around mile 23 that I would fall short. I didn’t push myself to reach that goal because I didn’t have much left. I was very happy with my time and I only missed qualifying by a minute and a half. During those two marathons I only ran more than 20 miles twice; now at least I have more miles in the bank and hopefully I can contain myself by not going out too fast.

I was very surprised as to how much I was sweating today and my water intake was very high as well. I couldn’t seem to get enough water and it did seem like running an actual marathon. Hopefully this was a good “dress rehearsal” and in the next two weeks my legs will be reinvigorated. I don’t know what will happen during the marathon I can only do my very best which is exactly what I will do. Five years ago I ran this same marathon and decided to stop around mile 15 as I passed my family standing on the sidelines. I do want to finish this marathon and it would be extra special if I would be able to come in around 3 hours and 20 minutes to qualify for Boston but no matter what happens I am completely blessed in all aspects of my life.

The run was over and I returned home feeling like I had run 20 miles. The decorations inside of the house were being put away and my job was to take the tree apart. It is certainly easier to take the Christmas tree apart as opposed to putting it together. Additionally; taking down the lights was a breeze as opposed to putting them on the tree!! My wife tried to find a new Christmas tree at one of the many after Christmas sales but to no avail. The tree we currently have has served its purpose and as I was taking it down I noticed that it is indeed falling apart. I think we can get next Christmas and who knows what will transpire over the next 11 months but I do know that life is so much more fun living one day at a time so I will “cross that bridge” when Christmas arrives.

The rest of the day was very relaxing and we have been readying ourselves for our guest. Yes, my mother is coming for another visit tomorrow and is staying the week. This was a scheduled visit for a long time and with the children off from school it will be a fun filled week. We will be going to Disneyland along with California Adventure this week and the children are really looking forward to this. The last time we were there was about 7 years ago when they were very young. They don’t remember much from that visit other than the photographs we have at home. My daughter and son have mapped out their rollercoaster rides and yes, it will be a great time.