Kiera's new gaiters (her birthday present from me)
I followed our fantastic three-mile run on Saturday morning with a sliver of chocolate coconut cake, coffee and then salad with a diet later on. Eventually, I remembered I was supposed to go for another seven on Sunday morning, and realized I should be drinking water to rehydrate and prepare for the run. I managed to down a couple of glasses before heading down to 4th Ave Saturday evening. At least I carbo-loaded at Caruso's for dinner (linguine with pesto sauce, mmm...). I managed to get to sleep probably around midnight, although I remember looking at the clock once and seeing 1:30 - had I already been asleep for awhile before I saw that?
A leisurely morning in bed left me with less than 15 minutes to get ready and get out the door to meet Kiera. I managed to get dressed, brush my teeth, find my map and grab all the necessary items for running that were scattered on my floor to take to the car (normally I have them all in a bag - sunscreen, gaiters, hat, etc.). I chowed down on half a PowerBar Harvest Bar on the way. I had to get gas, but I still drove into the parking lot a few minutes early and at the exact same time as Kiera. I grabbed all the loose items and tossed them in Kiera's car and finished getting ready.
We made it out to the trailhead by 9:20. It didn't seem too warm yet. We sunscreened up, got our gaiters on and headed out. The trails out at Cactus Forest are fantastic - gently rolling, not too rocky, full of saguaro and jackrabbits and mesquite trees and golden grasses. And horses. We saw about six horses out there - more than usual.
I realized early that I was not prepared for this run. I was tired, my legs were shaky and I had no energy - and this was on the first mile! It quickly deteriorated from there, as I downed a gel and starting drinking water (I was so thirsty). This was the quietest run Kiera and I have ever been on together. I couldn't talk, I was having a hard time breathing, kept needing to take walk breaks and eventually, got so hot that my head started feeling like it was going to explode. I realized I was going to run out of water way before the end of the run, and I was worried about getting heat exhaustion. The beauty (curse?) of the Cactus Forest trails is that there are trail junctions about every third of a mile - this place is covered in trails and at any point in time, you can turn and be back at the trailhead in no time. So we cut out early.
I ran out of water on the last two miles. I ended up drinking 44 oz of water in about 1 hour and 15 minutes! I was still thirsty and having no stomach issues - just leg and heat and head issues. Finally made it back to the car where we got to overhear a couple of ultrarunners talking about running and how one was out to get 20 miles that morning as she prepared for her upcoming 12 hour race. Kind of inspriational, but at the same time, a little depressing. I only managed 5.34 miles, and I was beat.
I'm definitely doubting my running abilities and my performance (or lack thereof) at the relay at the end of the month. I'm very slow and it's very hard for me right now. I don't feel like I will get in shape by July to run 31 miles. I know I've done it before and I can do it again, I just feel a little down about it. I'm out of shape, weigh 20 lbs more than I did during my last training cycle, and I'm having difficulty with my training schedule - having to run on specific mornings and days when I don't have Ash (plus Saturday mornings when Mike watches him). It used to be that if I wanted to run, I rolled out of bed on any given morning - whenever I felt like it - and ran. Ash would be watched by his dad. But not this time around. I also have to make sure that I'm done with my runs on Sundays by a specific time so I can shower and pick up Ash for Sunday evenings. I just feel overwhelmed with all this. Plus I have yoga three nights a week, which - while absolutely fantastic and much needed - cuts into my (possible) running time (not that I run much at night anyway, but still).
So Kiera and I finished up the morning by meeting her family at Beyond Bread for breakfast, then I headed home for a few hours of rest before picking up Ash. He had fun playing while I created a cool new piece of art (much needed therapy!).
My computer crashed yesterday! It froze, then I turned it off. When I tried to turn it back on again, the light came on, indicating the computer was on, but there was absolutely nothing on the screen. I tried twice. So now I'm not sure what I'm going to do.
Angie, we all have bad days and adjusting to a new schedule is difficult. Just remember that you are "5.34 miles" better off than had you not run at all. Give yourself time, it will come. I've run in the Cactus Forest and it *is* beautiful. However, it is also very unforgiving. I had my first experience trying to hydrate with HOT Gatorade there. Take care.
July is still a long way off! You'll get where you want to be! Just be positive and get in teh training when you can and don't worry too much when you can't!
Running while being dehydrated is always a bad idea, and in Arizona it's an even worse idea.
I don't think you've lost the ability to run. But you have to be better prepared next time.
coming back after not doing something is hard, no question asked from me. all we can do is stay on course and find something else besides our ability to do better to lead us on. you ARE 5.34M better than about 80 of population. and if this is not a problem solver, you are a very nice person on a trail outing with a very nice friend towards a very nice living path.
sorry about computer. at least mine still has email and word files. how did we live without them before?
Part of the comeback might be remembering all of the run prep as much as it is about getting back to running. There's so much more that goes into it, and being properly fueled, rested, hydrated is sometimes the hardest part (for me, at least!)
You'll get there, and you'll adjust to your new schedule and kick total ass in your bday run.
The crappy runs have a way of seeping into our brains and convincing us they will all be that bad. But, of course, they aren't. Sounds like you just were a little too parched from the start. The next run should be golden.
If all of our runs were great...we wouldn't appreciate them as much. I was told that once and it's true. We must have a few bad ones and pull from them what went wrong. Your next run will put you back on track!
Good athletic days and bad athletic days happen to everyone. Everyone!! Even elite athletes who train their whole lives have bad days. As Paula Radcliff if she though she would end up pulling out of the 2004 Olympic Marathon as she stood at the start. Just chalk it up to a bad day and let it go. Just go out next time and focus on all of the great runs you have had before. You will have them again!!
Unless your relay team is highly competitive, I wouldn't worry about it. Go for the experience of a relay, running after being up all night and hanging out in a van with unwashed runners. Enjoy the process, forget about the product.
As for the 31 miles, July is a ways a way. You can do this - you know you can because you have before. If you can't get a long run in with your current schedule, then do a split schedule a couple times a week - five-ish in the morning, three to five-ish in the evening.
And as everyone else said, bad days, even bad weeks happen. Keep pluggin away at it!
You've done it before...you can definitely do it again! I remember being astonished at how hard 4 miles was last November after being off for a month. You'll get it back. Just keep at it! : )
Don't let that run get into your brain like that. You can do it..you know what you need to do. Shake it off and just learn from it. Easier said then done, I know!
As for your computer, that happened to us last December and we never got our data back. It's still on the hard drive but we had to get a new hard drive to get the computer to run. Call over someone that knows how to tinker on computers and see if your hard drive went out. I sure hope that is not it!