The second 26.2 mile training run

Uggh ! My training program has had me running increased long distance runs each weekend. I've been doing it in pairs, so the first weekend I ran 16 miles, and then again the next. The following weekend it was 18, and then again the next, and so on up to back to back 26 milers (since I was going that far - I had to run the extra 0.2 miles...). The whole process has been very enlightening. Typically the first week I step up to a new mileage, I've suffered over the last few miles. Then the following week - it's that much easier. I'm very glad I've gone all the way up to the full distance. I can't imagine having run just 20 or 22 miles in training, and then having to go through the pain of the extra 4 or 6 miles in the real thing. Now that I've completed my 2 full marathon distance training runs, the distance doesn't concern me.

Back to my initial thought. Uggh ! Last weekend I ran my first 26.2 miler. The weather was perfect. Overcast, temps in the 50s. I left out several bottles of gatorade on the course, and set up my ipod to keep me entertained. I maintained a 7.44 pace the whole way, finishing in a little over 3 hours 22. My BQ time is 3 hours 20, so I was very happy with this effort. The furthest I've ever gone. Running on my own, in hilly Colorado, and not even pushing myself as hard as I felt I could go. I was already starting to plan my sub 3.10 true marathon... That brings me to today's run. The second 26.2 miler. I slept well and went out a little faster. I hit the half at exactly 1.40 - so well on track for the 3.20.59 for Boston. I was still on pace at 20 miles and then it all fell to pieces. Bonk. The last 6 miles were well over a minute slower than I'd been running. I finished in 3.27. I'm pretty sure the back to back marathons in a week were to blame, although it may have been the warmer temps, or just a bad day for me. Still - I can take many positives from the experience. I wanted to stop and walk, but I didn't let myself. The bloody quote from Lance Armstrong was constantly in my mind 'pain is temporary - quitting lasts forever'. Nice one Lance. But I did grit and bear through, so now feel that I've perhaps experienced the worst that can happen and know that I can conquer it - albeit bloody slowly...

And now for one of the nicest words in the world. Taper.

Quick Intro

I grew up in England.  I was always a decent runner.  Never the fastest, but usually in the upper percentiles.  I firstly ran track, and then moved to cross country.   I wanted to run the London Marathon when I hit 21.  I signed up, got in, but then got injured in training and didn't go through with it.  Ever since then I've always thought I needed to run one.  I started working in London, then got transferred to Chicago, and finally moved to Denver.  Life took over and other than a few well meaning attempts to start running again, I pretty much became a lazy blob.  Then I turned 40 and decided I'd run out of excuses for not running a marathon.  I started training, slowly at first, entered a few races, and have basically spent 2009 getting myself ready for Chicago on October 11th.  My goal is to BQ at the first attempt.  As I've done more and more, I've realized I can push myself further and further and feel good doing it - well - maybe not actually while doing it, but afterward.  I'm now thinking of running the Denver marathon the weekend after Chicago as well, and looking to try some of the more demanding races next year.  Mt Evans ascent, Pike's Peak, and perhaps a smaller ultra.  We'll see...  talk is cheap.