TRAINING
So as far as the training went I've clocked in 18 weeks of training, approximately 72 runs (running 4x a week) and about 557 miles. Just guesstimating at 10 minute miles as an average that is 93 hours of running. Holy balls! So the answer to my question "Are we there yet?" is a bonafide yes!
MILESTONES
With a first marathon there has been 3 significant milestones. The first and most fun was 15 miles. Basically we tacked on 2 miles to a Half Marathon race. Highly suggest this tactic during training. Mostly because on a long training run during the summer there is a lot of support at each mile - so water and goo are all taken care of. For this training run we warmed up with 2 miles and then did the 13.1. Besides being my longest run I ended having a PR. Must of been the training, the course and just taking it easy.
The second was 18 miles. This actually was my favorite (I can picture Beth and Debbie scratching their heads at this one). The day we chose to run 18 was incredibly hot and humid, one of this summers hottest. I think it's my favorite because it totally defines our MCM training. Hot, long, brutal but in the end quite an accomplishment. I think it was around mile 15 or so where we turned around on the Luce Line where I was so hot and tired and almost hallucinating. I felt so completely exposed to the heat and sun on this dusty trail but willing myself to finish - "only 3 to go, you can make it." Then 1 mile from finishing at our last water stop I was sweating so much it was streaming down my legs and arms like a river of pea! At this point, I knew I could do this thing. After that run it really gave me a load of confidence. Very happy to be done!
The third milestone was 20 miles. We decided to run at Baker because it's hilly and the MCM has a killer hill at the front end and then a slow gradual one at the end. So we had to do it. So at Baker to get a 20 mile in we would need to circle the path 3x and then add on 2 miles at the end. The run was going well until around 16. It was at this point that I was thinking "what the f*** do I think I'm doing?!" I'm at 16 I have 4 more to do today and at race day I'll have 10.2 more to do . . .f,f,f,f etc. I was so ecstatic to be done with this run but it hurt and it wasn't much fun. And I think it was after this run that the real drama began. . .
DRAMA!
In the bag? Right? Wrong! After this run my hip started to hurt. Injury free for 14 weeks and with the race 4 weeks away I am hurting bad. So basically my self diagnosing didn't work and the things I was doing was actually making it worse I finally got it checked out by a professional. Diagnosis - Bursitis. Basically an inflamed bursa. Treatment - Chiro thought steroids or Cortisone shot (chiro can't prescribe so went to Urgent Care), PA - not steroids too many side effects but an injection of Topadahl (ibuprofen) and 4 tabs of Ibuprofen 3 x a day - if it doesn't go away then Cortisone. Worked but not fast enough so went to Tria saw an ortho doctor and got the Cortisone shot. AHHHHH! Like the doctor said, should've gone to him first! So my taper began a little early but it took away all the pain and swelling.
END OF THE ROAD
So that is my marathon tale. It has been joyful and painful mentally and physically. Like the trails we run: there are ups and downs, bumpy and dusty, and some some flat places in between. I love the similarities because life isn't a sprint it's a marathon. See you at the finish line!
