Well, I thought I had 20 miles on the plan for today, but it was another 18. I decided to stick to my training plan and not rush, unless I absolutely felt like running those extra 2 miles. Unfortunately, I started out late this morning, and so only did the planned 18.
It was a great run. I have been slowly eliminating my 30 second walk breaks during my weekly runs and did a lot of that on this long run. I am falling “in love” with running again. Yes, there has always been love, but being in love with the way my body feels on the trail and how my mind seems to wrap itself with the open air is definitely something different. I don’t want to stop once I find my grove. Thoughts of pulling a Forest Gump and running for days creep into every run now.
My knees started hurting around mile 13 and my calves and thighs by 15 were feeling heavy. I knew this was from the straight running without the walk breaks on the last 7 miles. I wasn’t bothered by it as much as I was enjoying the pain. I am such a weirdo. All I could think about was how I finally had a reason to use the KT tape I had saved from my last marathons in 2012.
I also realized today that it is probably time for a new pair of running shoes. I had been so used to my Vibrams that I could literally run the soles out of my shoes before transitioning into a new pair. However, I have not run barefoot since before the holidays, and I am enjoying my Asics again.
With the added milage, fueling has become doubly important. I don’t miss a meal for sure and pay extra attention to breakfast. I’ve also had to make sure that I am hydrating properly. In my last two doctor visits my sodium levels have been lower than doc would like. She suggested adding more electrolytes to replace what I am loosing with every run. I stopped with the pickle juice, which she frowned upon and picked up electrolyte pills and premixed drinks to replace the water in my hydration belt. As far as actual food, I still strive for diabetic friendly choices, but now that my A1c is under control, I have added more carbs. I found I needed them to help me through my longer daily runs.
Changes on the home front include having child #4 move out and into campus housing. Yikes! What a grow up moment, both for her as well as myself. Selfishly, my scary thoughts are not about her moving out but about how I was going to get my runs in without her help with the littles. He he… I am aweful, I know!!!
In the anticipation of one less kid in the house, I decided to pick up a couple of strangers to help bring life into our humble abode. Meet Boxer and Teddy Bear! The newest additions to our kingdom. I am so in love with these little guys. My stress levels have literally fallen by several degrees. Good things. Good things…
I am finally enjoying my life, and 2020 had a lot to do with it. I will be eternally greatful for everything I have had to learn to live without and everything I have had to both relearn and learn from scratch. I don’t want life to go back to Pre-Covid days. For me, the growth from within that has resulted in who I am right now is priceless.
My next super long run will be 20 miles in a couple of weeks. In between I will lower the long run miles to average 12-15, with four days during the week of 5-7 miles each.
In non-running news… I have not done another road trip and am desperately looking for the next opportunity. I have also started remodeling the inside of my house, starting with removing flooring and refinishing the concrete floor underneath. I plan to sell this old house in a couple of years and purchase another fixer upper, but this time somewhere closer to a body of water (most likely a nearby lake). Water just calms me, as well as being out in nature. Finding a property near water and lots of nature trails would be ideal.
For now it is just keep learning how to just BE… probably the hardest thing I have ever had to learn, and still struggle with, but the one journey that is bringing me the most inner peace and joy.
Happy running!
Runmom_6 