Another Long Run Disappointment

I knew during the first 5 mile segment that finishing the whole planned run was going to be trouble.  I just felt dead, even though the trail run from the parking lot across from Hernandez's Hideaway to the foot bridge across Lake Hodges was beautiful.  I could tell that the heavy running for the four straight days prior had taken its toll, and if I really want to be able to conquer these 20 milers, I have to give myself a mini-taper or rest day leading up to them.

I got a late start, intending to get up at 5AM and get over to the start point by 6.  I got to sleep about 2 hours later than I had hoped, so when the alarm went off, I went through two snooze cycles first before turning it off and thinking I'd get up.  Next thing I knew, it was 6:50.  I groggily rousted myself up, ate some cereal and had an orange, used the bathroom and got out of the house around 7:15.  After making the 15 minute drive around Lake Hodges and parking, it was already past 7:30 by the time I started to trod out.

I purposely took no water, figuring that I could hop from the boat ramp at mile 2 to the community park at mile 6 and then home at mile 11, before reversing course and hitting the same spots on the way back.  I started out very slowly, using the first mile as a warmup.  I definitely was feeling the kinks, in my hips and quads, mainly, but as usually, they worked themselves out and I reached the little park on Lake Dr in about 9 minutes.

I wanted, specifically, to practice a run/walk cycle of 9 minutes running (at a slow pace) and 30-60 seconds walking.  I figured that would cover about 1 mile every 9 to 9 1/2 minutes, which I hoped would be sustainable for the 3 hours it would take to make the 22 mile goal.

The 2nd walk break was at the parking lot by the fishing boat lodge on the north shore of Hodges; the point where I'd pick up the 3-mile hiking trail to the foot bridge.  I did a quick scan for a public water fountain but decided not to search too long, figuring I could make it to the RB community park where I knew for sure there was water.  A guy who was just heading out for his own jog struck up a friendly conversation and offered me a mini-bottle of water, which I was grateful to receive.  That and a few sharkies got me going again and I finished the segment to the RB park without any breaks (thinking I'd already used up the walk-break time back at that parking lot).

I reached the water fountain right about the 50 minute mark, and I was huffing.  I'm not supposed to be huffing on these runs, except maybe in short sections such as hills.  If I was going to do this, I needed to really throttle back.

I began the next 5 mile section now all on city sidewalks and streets.  From the RB community park to 4S Commons, there's quite a bit of uphill time, and I began to labor to make it through each 10 minutes run segment to earn my 30 second walk break.  Joan called me with about 3 miles to go to home and asked if I was really going to try to do the whole 22 miles.  I admit, that's when I first started contemplating not gutting it out.

I made it to home -- the halfway point -- making about a 9:00 pace, and even with the walk breaks and the slow jogging pace, I was hurting.  My legs just wouldn't wake up and I dreaded thinking about turning around and going all the way back, even though most of it was downhill.  Now, after I've had a chance to rest, I'm kind of regretting the decision to quit; but at the time it seemed the only reasonable thing to do.  I didn't want to get stranded and have to call to have Joan pick me up, though I probably could have at least made it back to the community park.

I don't know.  Bottom line is I didn't complete the planned long, slow distance workout, and so now I have to figure out how to adjust the training schedule.  I could simply swap this weekend with what was planned for next weekend.  I might be better prepared for a 20+ run next weekend.  This week leading up to the long run was messed up and I had to try to cram my mileage in in four days, and do the long run without a day prior for rest and recovery.  It obviously had an impact.

I'll give the legs a day off tomorrow, starting the week with a swim and weight training.  Then I'll plan my running out for the week to culminate in a 22-mile re-attempt on Saturday.  I might do the old Lake Miramar thing, with Quin if he's up for the challenge.  Miramar works well because it takes the logistics problems out of it, giving me a way to provide self-aid on every lap and not have to worry about water or food.  Plus, it's flat and takes the guesswork out of pacing.

After that?  I'll have to think about it.  I had one more super long run planned, hoping for something in the 23-24 mile regime, the weekend after next, but I don't know if that's wise.  That weekend, though, will be the last opportunity for such a run, because after that, I'll be working on tapering and getting my legs fresh.  If nothing else, today's shortfall demonstrated to me that runs of this distance really require that I set myself up for that distance.  I don't want to deaden my legs like I did with the 6-miler yesterday.

Lesson learned.