Out of Gas

I did something a little different for my long run this weekend. I ran it on Friday night after work so I could be home with the girls in the morning.

My plan was to run 20 miles at the Pettit Center which is just under 73 laps. So I headed there after work and was able to start running at about 6:15PM. My first mile was a little fast but then I settled into an easy pace of about 9:20 per mile and clicked off the laps. Speed skaters were training which was cool to see. I even saw a young teenage girls practicing that looked really good. Maybe she will be an Olympian someday, a lot of speed skating Olympians come from the Pettit.

45 minutes into the run, the ice oval was for open skating which is fun to run during. All sorts of different sized kids and adults skating at all different levels. Some falling, some cruising, some holding hands, and some just trudging along. It made the run a little more entertaining. I only wish I could have run the opposite direction as they were all skating so I could see them better.

By the time I got to about 15 miles, I was the only one left on the running track and there was only about 15 minutes left for open skating. Suddenly a young girl was skating next to me while I ran and saying she was going to try to keep up with me. She made it 1 1/2 laps before she had to rest. It was funny to see her try to keep up and made me think of what my oldest girl could look like in a few years. She asked if I skated and I said yes, but not very good and I told her that my oldest daughter wanted to learn to skate and was getting ice skates for Christmas. After she rested, I didn't see her again.

Open skating ended and I was all alone around the oval except for the Zamboni driver. Hockey players were in the center rinks and some fans, but that was it. Then with 8 laps to go, I was gassed. My lap times dropped 5 seconds, then 10 seconds, and then 15 seconds. It was all I could do to keep going. I gave myself 1 last break with 4 laps to go and the slowly finished up. It was a real bummer end to a run that was OK until then.

Here is something I have never done. While I ran, they were playing a local radio station that was playing all Christmas music. I have never run to Christmas music before. While it is not the most inspirational music to run to, there are a few surprisingly upbeat song that were able to get me moving. 2 that come to mind are "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" by Mannheim Steamroller and "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" by Trans Siberian Orchestra.

I am now over 100 miles for the month and I said before that I have a minor goal to reach 1600 miles for the year. I am currently at 1550 miles but I think I am going to scale back now are rest up some. I felt a twinge in my right hamstring at about 14 miles and I have no desire to let that get worse. I also was to rest my knee some in hopes it will improve. And most importantly, since I am running 2 marathons in 1 weekend 3 weeks from now, I think rest will do me good.