Marathon Training and 16 Miles

And so it begins… the adventure of adding more miles to my marathon training.  I am running further than I have ever run before… and with it comes learning, struggles, physical and mental battles that running only a crazy runner would consider a fun adventure!

This training run for 16 miles was the furthest I have ever run.  It was a personal record for me.  The time reflected on my garmin does NOT include time stopped at stop lights or water refill breaks.  This will change next week for my 18 miler.  This run was super hard!  I wanted to quit!  But I kept moving forward.  I did it.  I ran and covered 16 miles!  I did it!

I really tried to focus on hydration and nutrition during my run.  As this is all a learning process for my final test, the California International Marathon in December.  I fueled before my run with a banana, two raisin bread toasts covered in peanut butter and coffee.  I drank loads of water and even a glass of orange nuun.  Yum.

When I first started running I chewed down a sample pack of Jelly Belly Sport Beans I received at the Rock N Roll San Jose half marathon expo.  They were yummy and easy to chew as I was starting my run.  I think I might need to add these to my nutrition line up.

Miles 0-4 were easy and relatively mundane.  I ran a familiar route (to my gym) and had no issues.  The only issue was settling down into a comfortable cadence… running slower (my goal pace) and preparing myself mentally for the miles I would be running.

Around mile 4, I fueled with a honey stinger gel.  In the process, my yurbud earbud kept getting lose on my right ear piece.  This was super annoying.  I kept trying to fix it mid run and finally gave up.  I chose to only use one ear piece while tucking the other in my shoulder.  One of the most annoying things for me during a run are faulty ear buds and sticky wires from headsets. 

At mile 5.5 I stopped in to Jamba Juice to refill my water, use the restroom and wipe the crusty salt off my face.  It was a god-send.  However, upon running again around mile 5.5 I not only picked up fresh water… I also picked up a creepy bike creeper.

From mile 5.5 – 8.5 I had a man riding his bike very slowly (about 10 yards) behind me.  Keep in mind, I was not running fast.  So he was riding super slow.  He never passed me.  I even turned to look at him and yelled, “Please pass me!”  He just looked at me and mumbled something I couldn’t understand. Creeped me out.

I started to get creeped out.  I ran through stop lights.  I wasn’t sure if he was truly riding in the same direction as me or if he was up to no good.  I kept running and thought I lost him.  I turned on my route only to find him directly behind me again.

I ran on… then just stood there facing him.  Almost as if on a staring contest (from a distance).  I texted my friend letting her know the situation (I don’t know why I did that, as she was unavailable… but that was my gut instinct).  I then paused my garmin and crouched near the bushes to hide while I ate a honey stinger waffle.  Yum.

When I pooped back up he was gone.  Thank goodness!  I then continued on the remainder of my run.

I stopped at mile 8.5 to refill my water again at another Jamba Juice.  Then continued running again.

I ran through my next nutrition re-fuel.  At mile 10 I sucked down a applesauce squeeze.  This added some time as I had to fiddle with my ifitness belt to get out my fuel and zip everything back in.  It was a yummy (and much needed) snack to keep me going.  I liked having this in my nutrition line up.

I refilled my water yet again (it was hot) at mile 12 at a nearby Starbucks.  By this time I was just ready to be done.  I knew I could run another 2 miles (as I ran that distance the week prior sick)… but mentally I just wanted to give up and walk.  Beyond this distance was a more a mental fight than physical.

Miles 12-14 were rough.  My ismoothrun app kept alerting me to  run faster.  When it wasn’t telling me to run faster it would tell me that workout paused… workout resumed… multiple times while I was in motion and moving forward running.  It was very distracting.  According the the ismoothrun app, it said my pace for mile 13 was 9:23 and mile 14 was 9:51.  However, according to my garmin (which was running constantly) it said I was running a 10:14/10:27 pace those two miles.  Very big difference and very distracting.

After I hit mile 14, I knew I was in the home stretch. I was hot.  I was tired.  I was just wanting to walk.  I wanted to give up.  I willed my feet to continue the last 2 miles.  It was a slow incline and then a hill over the highway over pass.  I wasn’t focused as much on pace or time.  In fact, each time my app alerted me to run faster, I shouted out into the air NO!  Like that mattered… but it made me feel better to be defiant to my phone computer app.

Those miles were from my garmin.  My ismoothrun app said I was running much faster than I really was (again pausing and restarting the workout while I was running).  I tried to finish strong… but I managed to finish.

After my garmin (and my phone) alerted me that I had reached 16 miles, I paused my garmin and app…. and began walking.  I then texted my friend Tiffany letting her know how I did and how I felt.  My legs were tired.  My feet were tired.  I was tired.  But I did it.

I walked the almost mile back to my house.  When I got home I did a bit of active recovery stretches and moves (that you can find on Tiffany’s blog).  I did leg drains, iced my knees and then focused on rehydrating and fueling my body.

Today, Sunday, as I type up this training run recap… I am not sore.  I am less sore today than I was when I ran my last half marathon.  I feel good.  I am still nervous how I will be able to add on 10.2 more miles to running in a few short weeks… but it will happen!  I will be a full marathoner!  I will overcome.

Again, a little disclaimer.  The times I shared above are my moving times.  They are not reflective of my stopping at stop lights, refilling water or refueling.  From here on out during my training runs I will not pause my garmin for water or refuel.  When I run my marathon they will not stop the clock each time I need to stop.  I will focus mostly on time on my feet… moving forward… hydration and nutrition… and staying healthy and injury free!

Upon reflection of my solo 16 miler, I am going to change some things up for my longer runs.

1. I will not pause my garmin when I refill my water and refuel (take nutrition).  I will either power walk through it or try to make my quick visit into a local shop as quick as possible.
2. Focus more on the forward motion of my feet… time on my feet… rather than the fast time I am making.
3. Try to keep a steady pace throughout the entire run.
4. Have fun.  Smile.  Enjoy and learn from the run.
5. Remember I am stronger, an overcomer. I will press on.  I won’t give up.  I am alive!

On your long training run days, do you pause your GPS or timing device when you stop to refuel, rehydrate or at stop lights?
Any tips as I begin to hit the higher mileage (18+) on how to survive and thrive?