I got up crazy early to deal with any stomach issues, which there always is. I also fueled up with one a Garden Lites zucchini souffle, a banana with some almond butter and a half a cup of coffee. I've done many long runs without coffee when I thought that may be the cause of all my stomach problems but now, with the improvements I'm noticing since I've cut out wheat and gluten, I'm trying to add just a little bit of coffee before I run (I drink it like a fish every other morning!). Breakfast was ok but I still really miss having a big 'ol bagel before a run. And as for the almond butter, I'm new to it. I'm really trying to like it...I really am...but I'm having a hard time. Regular peanut butter I can eat straight out of the jar on a spoon, this stuff is a lot different. I'm hoping it's an acquired taste that I'll acquire quick because I know it's a better choice than peanut butter.
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| Pre-long run breakfast |
While I ate, I watched the news. I swear, if the weather jerk told me one more time that it felt more like January or February out there than almost April, I was going to punch the t.v. It's cold. Butt ass cold. I get it. Sure enough, according to my car, it was a balmy 33 out. Awesome.
I met the group at 8:00am and we set off. We ran "the animal route". So named due to the crazy amount of animals we see. Everything from farm dogs to sheep. Horses, cows, chickens. You name it, we've seen it on this run. The first 13.5 miles are very hilly. We run it slower than the last 7 miles, obviously, but try to stay at a steady pace even though it's a tough route. The last 7 is on the trail. Nice and flat. We are able to do a little marathon pacing once we hit the trail.
I haven't been going to any of my classes (as I've mentioned 43 too many times) and while it's making me cranky and I feel kind of puffy and nasty, I was very happy to see that I think it's helping. The pain in my low back that creeps around to my hips always hits, without fail, by mile 15. Last week, on our 17 mile run, I had to walk a few times because the pain was so bad. This run felt totally different. I started to feel a little stiffness on one side at about mile 19 but nothing, not even close, to what I've felt on every other long run during training for this marathon. It gave me a lot of hope and filled me with confidence that hey, maybe, just maybe my body will hold on and I wont have to walk at all during Boston. I still have 3 more weeks to properly rest it and with the taper, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping all will go well. As I've said, I have no big desire to PR at Boston, I just want to enjoy the day. Take every ounce of it in, not walk, and finish with a smile on my face!
