Training for White Rock 2010

So I finished my first marathon! Just under 5 hours... I got on the computer wanted to write down my race story, but I think I'll write my training story. I didn't realize I had so much to say about my training, so I'll save my race story for my next post.

Wow. A lot has happened in my training since my October 17. I ran that 18 miles, then the next week ran on the treadmill at the gym on Tuesday. My legs hurt... there was pain, but quoting Hal Higdon, "You may still be feeling some residual fatigue as a result of the 18-miler that you did over the weekend." I didn't think anything of it... figured it was just aches and pains that come along with training for a marathon. Looking back, I should have taken a few days off. I ran hills with ThatPinkGirl on Wednesday. I remember actually saying "Ow. Ow. Ow." during the run. Then Thursday I "ran" again on the treadmill. I couldn't do it. It hurt too much. After some internet reading, I figured out that I had posterior shin splints. Fun. Now I was injured.

Why did I get them? Old shoes? (had run about 250 miles in them) Treadmill? Running faster than usual? Who knows! All I knew was that I was injured. Ugh.

I skipped the "long" run (12 miles) that weekend and I skipped the long run (20 miles) the weekend after that. I invested in some new shoes (cute pink Mizunos) and leg warmer thingys (Zensa calf sleeves).

The NEXT weekend I ran the DRC with ThatPinkGirl, Jen & Adriana. Well kinda, ThatPinkGirl and Jen took off FAST. I just put in my tunes and ran at my own pace. I felt great and PR'd! 2:13:06. But then... guess what? Shin splints. (returned the Mizunos... they just felt wrong) Sooooo... more rest.


BUT I was determined to do my 20 miler that week. We ran on Friday (11/12/10) because I was going out of town. We finished. It wasn't pretty. It was humid and we were slow and walked a lot, but we finished. It actually was kinda fun. Staci, & Sarah ran the first 10 miles and then we just did the loop again.

But then... guess what? Shin splints. Sooooo... more rest. I'll call it extreme tapering.

I did run the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving with the fam. I ran with Jill, Gary, & Grubby (hubby). It was Jill's first race. (Her 2nd was the WRM!)

But then... guess what? Shin splints. Sooooo... more rest. I figured I'd just rest until the big day. No reason to take the chance of injuring myself more now... I'll just do that during the marathon.

A few days before the marathon, I started receiving emails saying that I've worked hard and I'll do great and I've put in the time etc. I really just felt like I hadn't. I had rested SO MUCH. I was starting to get a little nervous. But I was pretty good at just not thinking about it. As my 6-year-old says, "It's fine Mom. It's fine." I thought, it will be fine. I'm not trying to break any records.

I just want to finish.

BUT I did have my 3 goals. FIRST, I wanted to finish. THEN, I wanted to run faster than 5 hours. THEN, well, I'm not going to tell you. ThatPinkGirl says I shouldn't tell people my 3rd goal. I'll keep that one secret until I reach it someday.