As with most people's training plans, a lot of hope goes into race week. Most people try to visualize success, what crossing the finish line will be like, etc. Not too many people think of the various scenarios through which they might DNF, and that is precisely what I did on Saturday.
(Link to Race Report Coming)
(Link to Race Report Coming)
Monday 06/16/2014 |
| Scheduled: REST Rested. |
Tuesday 06/17/2014 |
| Scheduled: 5 Mile Recovery Run I missed my morning run so instead I ran four miles on the treadmill. I did some intervals, mostly just alternating between easy and insanely easy, though I did throw in 4 x 400 m at HMP just to remind my legs that there is a race coming up. One of the pre-marathon taper jitters that I have heard other people complain about is the feeling like they have suddenly gotten fat - They feel bloated and sluggish. I definitely experienced this in the first mile or so tonight, until I got into the groove and apparently began thinking about something else. |
Wednesday 06/18/2014 |
| Scheduled: REST Rested. |
Thursday 06/19/2014 |
| Scheduled: 5 Mile Recovery Run Skipped, Rested. |
Friday 06/20/2014 |
| Scheduled: REST/TRAVEL I traveled with the family, we stayed downtown at Holiday Inn & Suites. Fortunately we were checked in and settled prior to the 5k, which closed up some of the streets. We made it over to the convention center (DECC) and had a wonderful time at the expo and the spaghetti feed. Back at the hotel we swam with the kids in the pool for a bit before heading back to the room for the night. I was head down by 10PM. |
Saturday 06/21/2014 |
| RACE DAY I did not sleep all that well before the race. I had three devices with alarms set to wake me, though I hardly would have needed them. I woke up to use the bathroom at 12:45 and 2:50, and when the first alarm went off at 5:45, I was up like a shot. (Link to Race Report Coming) After I was back and cleaned up, I took the family to the Duluth grill for some burgers. We took the kids swimming in the hotel pool ( I spent some time soaking in the hot tub and swapping stories with some runners from the Fargo area). Later on for dinner we had some Sammy's pizza in our room. I didn't think that I would still be hungry after the mid afternoon burger feast, but I still wolfed down probably the biggest hunk of anyone. All in all I was a little sore but the discomfort was manageable. I think my pride was the biggest casualty of all. |
Sunday 06/22/2014 |
| Scheduled: REST I was in bed by 10:30 PM and I did not stir again until I needed to use the bathroom 8 hours later. Then I went back to bed and slept another 3 hours for good measure. Miraculously, the children never stirred until after 9AM. We had breakfast at the hotel and used the pool again for a bit before checking out. Before leaving Duluth we walked around the now mostly vacant canal park and had lunch at Grandma's. During our walk my wife took lots of pictures of us and the kids. Even though my disposition was OK, I was still a little too morose to muster up much of a smile for pictures. Post marathon blues are a real thing, and post DNF blues are another animal entirely. |
