Well, the title is not exactly accurate, where the first 9-10 miles were actually quite pleasant. The last eight sucked, though. Here is a recap, in bullet form:
- Animal friends: two different families of deer (one mama, two babies in each), one giant possum
- Animal enemies: mosquitoes kept landing on the same part of my arm, also got me in the back
- Temperature change from start of run to end of run: 50 degrees (okay, it was only about 12, but it felt like 50!)
- Trees (or large branches) down, fully blocking the path, resulting in fancy maneuvering: 6
- Number of teammates seen who also did not want to drive into the city for training: 4
- Times I stopped to change socks: 1 (my fancy toe socks have a devil seam causing my blisters!)
- Times I forgot to restart timer after climbing over downed trees: 1
- Times I wanted to quit: 4
- Times I called the husband to whine: 1
- Times I started to tear up: 3
- Miles ran: 18
- Time of completion: way too freakin’ long
- Part of the body that hurt: feet, toes, bunions, hip, knee, head
Here is a photo that I took halfway through the run (when I changed the devil socks). The mud was much more widespread after the run, but I was too pooped to take a picture then.
I never posted about last week’s long run. Here are some hightlights:
It was only 90 minutes so my feet did not get to the “I want to chop them off” phase.
I ran through an industrial area for a change of pace.
It was probably a bit too deserted to be running by myself.
I am fairly certain I saw a drug dealer.
I like my new waistpack/bottle holder thing because the pocket is enormous.
I have to run 18 miles on Saturday. Yikes.
Today was another short 20 minute run. It is not as hot today as it has been, about 80 degrees or so, but it was still pretty hot in the sun. As a result, I am very sweaty, even though I only ran about a mile and a half.
About 10 minutes into the run, I stopped at the drinking fountain at the nearby park for a quick sip of water since I had not bothered to take my water bottle with me. When I first went to drink the water it was HOT. That is right, hot water in the summer. I let it run for about 30 seconds until it cooled enough to drink (although it was still lukewarm). I realize that I should be grateful that they still even have water coming out of the fountains since the children are heading back to school here soon (and everything in this town revolves around the children), but I could have used a cold drink of water.
I feel like I could handle this marathon thing a lot better if I did not have feet. Well, actually, if I did not have my feet. I just cannot seem to fix this blister problem, despite trying all the tricks and following all the suggestions that I have found.
Last Saturday’s long run was 12 miles, another cut-back. It would have been entirely doable without incident had it not been so outrageously humid. With the heat and humidity come sweatier feet, and, in turn, more blisters.
As a result, it was another excruciatingly slow run which took about 30 minutes longer than it should have. I did have some nice company in the form of Ernie Harwell on my iPod, though. I listened to his new audio book, which chronicles the important moments of his long career and includes audio clips of him calling the events.
Today was 16 miles. I am still tired. Too tired to form proper sentences, so I will do a bulleted list.
- The new injinji toe socks worked very well. No blisters or abrasions between the toes.
- Got blisters in new place (side of both big toes). I don’t think the socks had anything to do with it.
- I stared at a little after 6:00 a.m., because the coaches gave us an early start option because of the heat/humidity.
- I ran the majority of it on my own, except for a mile or so that I walked/ran with another woman who was training for the NY Marathon.
- Early into the run I saw a deer walk across the path. I started walking so I did not scare her. She was shortly followed by a baby deer. And then a second baby deer.
- I saw a green caterpillar inching across the path.
- Late in the run, I thought I heard a truck breaking nearby (the path gets very near to the roads at times). I looked into the woods and saw a different kind of deer there, snorting at me.
- My feet hurt a lot during the last part of the run and my hip required some stretches during the run.
- I was fairly miserable during the last 5 miles or so. It was humid, my feet hurt, etc.
- It took an eternity to finish, or so it seemed.
Here is a photo of my new Injinji socks. My mom has some and recommended them to me. I have not yet tried them on a run. After I do, I will be posting a full review.
Training update: I did one 20 min run and one 30 min run per the schedule this week. I have 16 miles on Saturday. High temp: 90-something. Eek.