We’re a few days into October and this means it’s officially race month! In 6 days I have the Chicago Marathon and in 26 days, Javelina Jundred. Yes, the time has arrived where the fruits of my training for the past 10 months will be realized. I know I’ve trained all year for this month and I can’t believe it’s here! It was bound to happen, right???
I wish I had another 10 months. But I don’t.
This past weekend had me doing my longest back-to-back runs. Friday and Saturday had me diving into 25 milers on both days and I can safely say, I was pretty nervous about them.
Friday morning I met up with some friends, Jim and Ta’Mara for a few miles before I decided to embark on another route which allowed me to have access to water and a restroom twice. Initially I was only going to make the stop once, but then I decided to venture down another trail that would bring me right back to the water and a restroom 7 miles later. And I’m glad I did because it was scorching hot out there. With temperatures upwards of 100 degrees Fahrenheit having water was my big concern.
I tried not to let the heat get to me mentally because I know Javelina Jundred will most likely be hot so this is all part of the training plan. However, physically I was pheeling it. Get it? Ha!
Seriously though, the heat was intense. It’s been awhile since I’ve been out there that long in 100 degree temps. And then the thought came to me: I have to do this again tomorrow and I will likely need to do this for 30 hours in a few weeks.
But then I tried not to focus on that and just get through this day. 25 miles later, I did.
Closing out September with 213 miles brought me my second highest mileage this year, and I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed. If I didn’t have issues with my left heel a couple of weeks ago and completing only 10 miles that week, I would’ve easily hit 250 to 260. Easily. But I didn’t, and I had to remind myself that had I not allowed myself to rest, I probably wouldn’t have even hit 213 in the first place!
Honestly, I’m not going to complain about that, because 213 is pretty darn sweet considering when I normally just train for a marathon I’m probably only hitting 20 to 35 miles a week.
When I woke up early on Saturday morning, my body was drained. My feet weren’t too happy. Not because of any intense pains or injury. They were achy from the previous run. I dragged myself out of bed and so happy I decided to brew my coffee the night before so I didn’t have to think too much in the early morning hours.
The good news was, I was started out earlier than the day before, so it’s wasn’t as hot. In fact, Saturday’s weather was about 10 degrees cooler and breezy so it was a nice respite from the heat. So, with the high heat not being a big factor, all I needed to contend with was how I was feeling.
My body was exhausted when I met up with Jim and Ta’Mara again. We were all exhausted. I try to stay positive in these things, but I was dreading the day. I know I shouldn’t have, but there was a part of me dreading it. I try not to say these things out loud in front of other people because that could affect them. And I don’t want to be that Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy in the group because why make an already long day, feel even longer? Maybe because I felt so miserable during Friday’s run that I tried to stay optimistic during Saturday’s run. But I was flat out tired even when I had enough nutrition with me.
Running on tired legs and a tired body is no joke. I’m basically running on tired at this point and this is when the mental aspect to training kicks in because this is what’s going to happen at Javelina. I know it is. But being tired is normal at this stage in the game. Yes, that is what I’ve been told, and I believe them.
I also had some issues going on during this run. I didn’t wear Injinji socks for Saturday and when I don’t wear Injinji socks, I normally get blisters. I tried not to have this get into my head early on and manifest them, but I’ll spare you the suspense, I got a couple of blisters. I also ran out of the water. Yes, luckily it wasn’t super hot, but I still ran out of water because silly me forgot to refill it. I’m thankful Ta’Mara brought a cooler and it contained some water which allowed me to pour me some to get me through the last 7 miles. Thank you Ta’Mara and Jim! I wasn’t thinking clearly and maybe that’s what happens in 100 milers. Maybe that’s what pacers are for. To remind runners to make sure they have water. Lesson learned!
I struggled during Saturday’s run/walk/close to crawling session. There was a very small faint teeny tiny voice in my head that said “Ehh, you got close to enough to 25 miles, why don’t you stop at 20.” And it would repeat itself, “stop at 21…stop at 22…stop at 23…stop at 24…Call it a day already!!”
There was another voice in my head that said, “No, you’re not going to stop until 25 because this is what you signed up for.”
I was tired from the get-go, but there was nothing physically painful and out of the normal realm of just being tired and sore from these long days that would actually be a strong enough reason for me to stop.
So I didn’t stop until I hit 25 miles and my body hated me. My feet were absolutely killing me. They were so achy and I really wanted nothing more than to have a nice soothing foot massage for a good 4 hours. Instead, I showered, got ready, and went to Chipotle with my sister because that’s what I wanted after completing 50 miles in 2 days.
And this is the sad, yet, funny part…I’ve done a 50 miler before. Twice, in fact. But they each took one day. I think doing 50 miles over the course of two days was actually a whole lot harder!! When you do the race, you’re in it. But consciously having to drag your body out of a cozy bed AGAIN to do another 25 miles was tough!
I even asked myself how did I survive 50 miles in one day?! I don’t know, but I did. And guess what? I’m going to survive Javelina as well! I don’t know how just yet, but I will.
Thanks for reading!