I took a week off. Six entire days without running. I'm going to go ahead and say it: it was kinda nice. I've been running quite steadily since January 1st, with a couple of weeks off here and there, and running a pretty strict training schedule for just short of two months now. So it was a nice break to just not run for a few days. Although, I didn't plan it this way. Jamie said he was going to take a week off after our last long run, but I didn't think I could afford to take time off for fear of losing progress. But life interferred a little bit, and I think it was for the best.
Boy oh boy, did I have a week. I had the kind of week that makes you feel a little crazy. I was riding my bike two days ago (coming to the end of the aforementioned week) and saw a moving truck with a ramp. And because I was feeling a little nutty, I thought, for a split second, of how outrageous it would be to ride my bike up into that truck without hitting the brakes. Not in a dangerous or self-destructive kind of way, just sort of imagining how ridiculous that would be. It was that kind of week.
So I did a little retail therapy. Some supa-fly running shoes and a ballin' new iPod nano. It's all for the running, folks. The iPod was a bit of an impulse buy as I was charging my tiny iPod shuffle and noticed it didn't seem to be connecting correctly to my computer. It's probably broken beyond repair, so I NEED a new one, no question about it. New iPod is in the mail...shazam! As for the shoes, Jamie and I went to the Boulder Running Company. I have to admit, I've been avoiding that place. You know the people who work there are super gung-ho about running and shoes and I'm quite cheap and tend to be skeptical about gel-enhanced soles and sweat-wicking body suits. But I got really lucky and had the great pleasure of being assisted by Mike (or maybe it was John, I glanced at his nametag, it was definitely one of those). Mike, Mike, Mike. You really made my day. First of all, this man brought out three shoes to try, of which I instantly picked my favorite. We then proceeded to the treadmill where they record your running form in the shoes and evaluate whether or not it's a good fit. And these babies were like my own Ironman suit...custom tailored to my apparently very confusing feet. That's right, my feet measure a size seven in length but a size six in some other form of measurement that is known only to the world of shoe salesmen. I know, it's a total mind blow. But Mike wasn't even phased by this abnormality. No way, Jose. He found me the perfect shoe, right off the bat. And, the best part about Mike was that he happens to be an expert marathon runner, ("well, I've only run seven" he says to the first time marathoner who is in awe of his awesomeness). And, it gets better. He used to live in D.C. and though he never ran the Marine Corps Marathon, he did pace a few of his friends through their last few miles, so he is super familiar with the course.
Now, I've been pretty adament about not knowing anything about the course of the race. I tend to adhere to the "what you don't know can't hurt you" philosophy. My parents have seen the course, Jamie and his family have seen it, but I didn't want to know anything about it. Until I met Mike and he unknowingly ruined this strategy for me. But it's ok because not only did I get a very descriptive run-through of the route, but he also gave me a very big tip which I would have regretted not knowing: the last .65 mile of the race is up a steep hill. So, he says, "incorporate some fatigue uphill in your long runs so that you are mentally prepared for that last stretch because it will be hard." Luckily, I now live on the tallest hill in residential Boulder, even taller than the last hill I lived on. So a big thanks to Mike, who was full of information and advice, and completely empty of a big huge ego. I will most definitely be going back to that store because it is full of experienced marathoners and at least one ultra-ist (an ultra marathon is 100 miles!)who love talking about running.
So after six days off, I went for my long run yesterday, as scheduled, an 11-miler. It took a few miles to work out the kinks that had developed. And, although I knew all experts would advise against this, I wore my brand new kicks. Great decision! It was a lovely evening on the Creek Path, and I was rocking to a new playlist (titled "funky fresh"). Looks like Jamie and I will be running our long runs separately because he started school for the fall and his schedule doesn't allow for long runs on Wednesdays anymore. I have to say, I was bummed about this at first, because despite all of my teasing and jokes, Jamie is the ideal running partner and I have a lot of fun on long runs with him. But I have a new gadget coming soon and two months to really find my chi on long runs. Besides, who's to say this is the only marathon Jamie and I will train for?!
Here is a link to the 3-D Map of the MCM course. I still haven't watched it though, I want to have a few surprises...I've never been to Washington, D.C.!
http://www.marinemarathon.com/mcm_community/Video_Archives/3D_Video_Course_Tour.htm
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