Who Knows

Well my LT run did not go as planned, that much is obvious from my previous post. But what the hell happened? Let's review.

Because I was giving a talk in the afternoon we decided to do the run at Fermilab. This usually works out pretty well because it's very flat and very boring, so during LT runs there is nothing to think about or distracting me away from concentrating on my pace. So the meeting was over, we changed into our running clothes and at about 5:15 off we went to LT our asses off.

I wanted to slow down the first two miles before starting the LT miles because when I have practiced in the past I end up with miles in the low 8s and that doesn't bode well for the faster miles which follow. So we did good there, we were at 8:59 for mile 1 and then 8:35 for mile 2. Perfect. Time to start LT mile 1. Lose Yourself by Eminem came on the iPod :

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You Own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo

Perfect song, perfect beat, perfect sentiment.

First mile done in 7:35. Ok, good stuff. These first miles have been coming in at 7:15 and although my goal had been 7:45 or so I was ok with this because I felt pretty good. I was still feeling good during mile 2. Then at about 1.75 miles into the LT miles I got a stitch in my side so bad that it literally took my breath away. It felt like someone had taken a knife and jammed it into my side and then twisted it around.

Of course the question is why did this happen. I haven't gotten a stitch in my side since, I don't know when. During mile 1 when I looked at the Garmin I would see current paces anywhere from 7:15-7:45 or so (I realize that this isn't accurate but it can usually give me a rough estimate of how I am doing). During mile two when I looked at the current paces it was usually between 6:55-7:10. So maybe Eye of the Tiger was giving me too much pump in my step? Maybe the half a snickers bar I had before we went, or the water I had right before we left affected me.

I don't know. Maybe it was the extra biking and walking that we did on Sunday, or the fact that our pace was probably a bit to fast on Sunday, or it was the biking the morning of the LT run. I could go through all the possible things that I did different or the fact that I was probably going to fast had something to do with it. I am frustrated because had I not gotten that stitch I think I would have been fine. It was the most painful thing I have felt in awhile. I mean sure, legs get tired but your run through it. But this was breathtaking...literally.

The other thing to note is we had 25 mph winds in our face for the last two LT miles. One of the bad things about running at Fermilab is that if there is any wind it really picks up across the ring and is in your face for half of your run. Mile 2 was at 8:30. I gave the Garmin to Jason and told him to go ahead (we need to work on him leaving me when I'm feeling bad..for those of you that are working with Coach Leah, be happy that you aren't married to her because Jason got quite the earful for slowing down to stay with me...and by earful I mean people on the other side of the ring could have heard me "coaching" him). I took his watch and had my last two miles in 17:00. Given that mile 3 was probably at about 9 min/mile (tears and heavy breathing), mile 4 must have been at 8 min/mile. I think Jason's miles were around 8:15 or so.

The final two, post LT, miles were in I don't care what. Very slow.

I hate making excuses and when it comes down to it. I didn't get it done. Whether it was all the reasons I listen above or whatever. In the end it doesn't matter. The pace wasn't there and that's that.

So now what.

Well I'll do what I do. I'll keep lacing up my running shoes, keep trying to do what the schedule says, and I'll just keep running. Bad runs affect me for a long time so I hope to end the week with some better quality runs. I get to fail better at another LT run in two weeks time....so you fucking 9 with 4 that I see teasing me on the schedule, you better watch out. I'm coming for you.

Tonight is a 4 mile recovery. Key word being recovery.