Training for an Ironman distance triathlon and a marathon requires a delicate balance. While I have never completed an Ironman distance triathlon, I have complete a few marathons. In two weeks I hope to complete what I have done only once before: finish a marathon in under 4 hours. Typically, I gain 20 pounds over the winter and the rest of the year trying to lose it. Then there is a marathon in there somewhere. So, while training for both the triathlon and marathon my body is finding itself tired very frequently....especially this weekend. With the day off on Friday, I took advantage of the opportunity and spent 5 hours on the stationary bike (estimated 100 mile equivalent on the road, 12 miles short of Ironman distance). Later, I completed the next part of my triathlon training program and completed a 2000 yard swim (about 1.2 miles, half the Ironman distance). Then today, my marathon training called for 20 miles. Funny, because triathlon training plan only called for 45 minutes. This is where training for two different events gets difficult. Having just finished a long bike ride and a medium length swim, I felt cautiously optimistic about my 20 mile run. But as I started my run (5 am), I felt the trouble early. I dressed for an early cool and possibly rainy morning - tights under shorts, long sleeve shirt under bike shirt (convenient for carrying food). Within 5 minutes of run I was overheating in the 50 degree weather and there was no rain. As I got to the Willamette river, 4 miles into run, I felt a small reprieve from the warmth and felt the cool breezes off the river. I finished a small loop in West Salem. Then, at mile 6 I started feeling the pains of my bike ride from yesterday. My pace started slowing down and my legs felt heavy. My body was yelling at me to stop. I agreed. With 6 miles completed and about 3 miles to home, I figured 9 miles was good enough. I decided to continue my run, then as I got closer to home I would see how I felt. At about that 9th mile my body slightly woke up and I decided I would extend my run a little bit and go for about 5 more miles, finishing at 15 miles (of the planned 20, not bad). Then, at mile 12ish my body really woke up and I started improving my pace by about a minute per mile...EVEN UP A HILL. I was excited. I was focused on the road ahead of me. Then, SPLAT!!! A couple feet in front of me a large white blobby puddle appeared right before my next step. That bird just tried to crap on me! I laughed. Nice try. Mental victory number 1! I continued my run, I found myself looking for hills to climb so that I could get some downhill to "coast" down. At this point, I was 15 miles into my run. Now on Kuebler Blvd. I could turn down one path and finish with 18 miles (respectable, right?). But that was not the plan. I told myself no, and continued on the path that would add enough miles to make it a complete 20 miles. ...and I was continuing to get a little faster. Funny thing that endurance. It seems like it takes me about 1.5 hours to wake up and start running. Finishing the run with a quick and steep Pringle Rd. hill I felt satisfied that I told running devil on one shoulder "No, I will continue with my plan," several times. Take that Ironman training plan!!! Mental victory number 2 or 3 or 4. I lost count.
I got my mental victories today. Now, go get yours! Every little one counts.
