Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The run from hell

 Cocky in my hopes and dreams - pre-suffering.
I woke up today wanting to run.  At first I thought I'd run down at the beach, but then remembered that there is a surfing contest down at the pier this week.  That basically means that half of Riverside County (i.e. the wrong half) would be down there taking up too much space on the beach path.

So I decided I'd run at Bolsa Chica instead.  It's just across the Coast Highway but it might as be a zillion miles from the beach.

But first I had to get some work done, which included an email exchange with a business affairs guy from one of the major entertainment companies.  This exchange annoyed me enough to provide plenty of aggravation to burn off running.  I was looking forward to a good one.

Unfortunately, a "good one" wasn't in the cards today.

I hit the trail about five o'clock.  The first mile was OK, but during the second mile something didn't feel right.  I wasn't getting into a groove.  So I kicked it down a notch and kept going.

Somewhere between the 3rd and 4th mile, I was coming down a hill and making a sharp left onto another trail.  It was at this precise moment that I completely bonked out.  And as was luck would have it, I was at the farthest point away from the parking lot.

I was wasted, but it didn't matter if I turned back or kept going forward - it was 3 1/2 miles to the car either way.  Have I ever mentioned I'm a bit obsessive?  I was also just under 3 1/2 miles away from hitting my monthly running goal.  And it's the last day of the month.

So I kept going forward figuring if it's gotta suck, it might suck less with a different view.

I honestly don't remember much from the last 3 1/2 miles except suffering.  Mile 5 was directly into the wind.  A cruel wind.  A wind that had been surprisingly absent most of the day.  I don't want to assume anything, but perhaps I now know what it feels like when Marathoners talk about hitting a wall after mile 20.

Somehow I got a semi-second wind in the last half mile, and finished 7 miles in just over an hour. 

In the latter part of the run, and maxing out what brain capacity I still had, I thought about Kovas' post on Midwest Multi-Sport Life today. It was about motivation, and that helped keep me going.  I was having an extraordinarily hard time of it, but stopping never really crossed my mind

Today's motivation was a combination of 2 things:  First, I simply wanted to meet my monthly running goal - I'm just like that.  Second, and more importantly, I think I was consciously aware that this wasn't going to be the last time I would suffer, so I might as well get some practice in.  It's easy to say this now that I'm fed, rested, and have my butt planted on the coach, but the suffering isn't as bad when you put it in the proper perspective.

In the end I think it came down to a lack of nutrition  I didn't eat correctly today, and it caught up with me.  To be honest this has been happening a lot lately, but not to this extent.  I'll need to work on this.

Maybe I need a rest day tomorrow, but I hope not.  I really want to bike and swim.

21 comments:

valen said...

good on you for finishing... as you well said, it's yet one more lesson in suffering.

RockStarTri said...

It always happens the furthest point away from sanctuary! Good mental training.

Jennifer said...

Those bonking runs are a good way to teach your body to work through the tough spots, clearly you have figured that one out. As uncomfortable as they are sometimes they also work to remind just how nice the good runs really are! Sorry you were so funky during that run, but it's good for ya! Have a great weekend!

shel said...

not enough fuel. had you had some form of sugar with you, it would have given you new life. the "bonk" in the marathon is, in my estimation, more mental than physical. good on ya for finishing. you're fine today - go and do your workouts

DRog said...

NICE WORK WAY TO HIT THAT GOAL!
-D

KovasP said...

Not sure the science behind it, but suffering DOES make you stronger mentally. Now you know you can finish this run even when mentally you start bonking. Way to hit your goal, that shows fortitude as well.

Exgf said...

Sorry about your run... glad you finished though - what an accomplishment!

Happy July - may you meet your goal this month too!

ajh said...

If I set out to do a certain number of miles I complete them. I sometimes wonder how smart this is but I like your take on it's good practice for other crappy runs. I also think mine often relate to nutrition.

ajh said...

If I set out to do a certain number of miles I complete them. I sometimes wonder how smart this is but I like your take on it's good practice for other crappy runs. I also think mine often relate to nutrition.

Aimee said...

I'm so sorry your run didn't go well, but good job on finishing! Bonking just sucks! I've done enough runs where my lack of water/nutrition has kicked my ass that I no longer even chance it anymore. If I know I didn't eat right or drink enough, I do something else. It's just better for me that way. I hope your next run goes much better!

Johann said...

Tough one, but you still pushed through. Sometimes to just keep going and finish these bad runs can be great motivation for another day.

Matty O said...

put this one in the books. You cannot appreciate your good workouts or races unless you have had bad ones :) Always positive my friend!

Miguel said...

sometimes the rhythms just not there and you have to gut it out.
Take a short break and come back with renewed energy

Kelsey: the Blonde Bullet said...

It always amazes me how much of an effect nutrition has on a work out. I typically eat a piece of fruit or something before each run, just in case my body feels like throwing in the towel that day. Way to keep going, but yikes, I bet you're exhausted today!

Caratunk Girl said...

I call that kind of run a character building run. Way to stick with it and build on your mental toughness!

Jon said...

way to stick through it!

Emz said...

obsessive? what? you? ;)

way to push through it!!!

Barbie said...

So glad you stuck with it. There is not better feeling then reaching your goals.

64 CLASSIC said...

NOT TO START A CLICHE-FEST, BUT IF WERE EASY, EVERYONE WOULD DO IT. A LESSER MAN WOULD HAVE QUIT...

HEY, YOU ARE COMING OFF OF A WEEKEND EVENT, SOME OF IT IS MENTAL, SOME PHYSICAL, IT SOMETIMES TAKES A WORKOUT OR TWO TO GET THE GROOVE ON AGAIN!!

(AND SOMETIMES WORKOUTS JUST SUCK FOR NO REASON!!)

Chris K said...

Yeah, it always trips me out when I can bonk so early. When it happens to me I almost laugh and say, "Oh well", the body is just saying, "Nope, not today".

Glenn Jones said...

I'm an afternoon/evening runner. I always try to grab 200 - 300 calories before I do a workout to protect myself from exactly what you suffered.

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