Midnight. Just finished my 3rd consecutive long run at what I consider the hardest time to run after a full day of work, kids are in bed and its only 16 degrees outside. (Watching a movie with my husband was beckoning big-time) I know I said I like cold best yesterday, but 16 degrees is pushing it. I had on two pairs of pants (and I mean old school sweatpants), knee-high socks, 2 long-sleeve shirts and a fleece - a big wool hat. I had on so many shirts that I could barely fit my reflector belt around my waist. So cold - my body was still numb.
About old school sweats: there is something totally awesome about them. To be clear, I'm not talking about "yoga pants", I'm talking about sweatpants - circa 1970-80, with tapered ankles, matching sweatshirt and typically grey heather. Honestly, I don't know why more people don't wear them. I have shown up at race sans tech gear in my sweats and I get some pretty weird looks. They are totally comfortable - way more comfortable than tight spandex, in my opinion. I will admit it... I rock the old school sweats. There is actually one dude who runs around where I live and he's got the old school sweats on - and even puts up the hood, Rocky-style. To the guy who runs on 157 in Middlefield, CT kickin' it in the sweatsuit... I'm with ya!
Recovery day tomorrow - and I need it, more for my mind than my legs. Legs feel good, still top of foot pain on the right (which I have to rock because I have gotten stress fractures), but otherwise physically I feel fine. Mentally on the other hand... I'm exhausted. I've seen things that aren't there or gotten kind of kooky on some long runs - but today, that happened on my ten miler and it's clearly because of the mental tiredness from the last three days. So, on that note, it's now 12:40 and time for this girl to get to bed!
Monday, January 5, 2015
Sunday, January 4, 2015
B2B2B long runs and 71 miles this week
Today was the 2nd in a series of 3 back-to-back-to-back long runs. Ran 30 miles yesterday, 16 today and god-willing another 10 tomorrow. Ran a total of 71 miles this week. Lucky for me I felt great this am - legs were not that tired and not at all sore. Other than general sleepiness - no complaints. Lucky for me, I have a kick-ass mom who will hang the last 5-10 miles with me to stave off boredom.
While this blog is meant to keep friends, family and anyone who is interested in the training progress leading up to my first attempt at running 100 miles - I'm hoping it will keep me accountable with my training.
Ultrarunners are known for being totally obsessive about ultrarunning - gobbling up every bit of knowledge they can find (thanks, Interwebs). Normally people do not typically want to watch hours long videos of some random person running with a jiggling handheld camera giving a play-by-play of their blisters, nausea and other maladies. To an ultraunner, though, that makes sense. So, for anyone who is not sure what exactly and ultramarathon is, here are some answers to common questions I get about running in a 100 mile race:
- Is this a relay? Nope, I hope to complete the 100 miles myself.
- How do you not eat for that long? I will eat! In ultras we eat a lot... on the run.
- How do you eat and run at the same time? You train your stomach to exercise and take in fuel - I prefer to eat real solid food during my runs, I find that my body craves it.
- Will you sleep? No. In longer ultras (yes there are longer ones, people will nap for a few minutes here and there, but not typically for 100)
- How do you know you can do this? I don't. But I can train to be as prepared as possible and hope for the best!
Have more questions? Ask me!
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