Run #18 - Tempo 3.5 miles + Stairs (15 flights)

Today I reminded myself what it feels like to "Hit the Wall". Like I mentioned in my previous post, I ran yesterday evening right before our volleyball match. So it was literally 13 hours from when I ran this morning. Since we were on a 2 hour delay, I slept in a little. I got up and helped Laurel and the kids out the door and then headed to the YMCA for my run. Since my routine is generally not to eat before I run, I did not think to grab a bite to eat. This was my first mistake since the last meal I had eaten was at 5:00pm the night before.

My run this morning was supposed to be 4.5 miles with 20 flights of stairs. I got to the YMCA at a few minutes before 8:00am. It was a blustery -5 degrees, which made me thankful that I was running inside. My first quarter mile and stairs went well. The first mile of the 2 mile spilt went well, I was 90 seconds under my marathon pace (better than I should have been). My second mile of the split is when things started going to pot. My time was 60 seconds under my pace, but I was in pain. I shortened the number of flights of stairs from 11 to 6. When I hit the track after the last flight of stairs, I was spent. I could not get back into a rhythm and my legs just would not move. Mile 3 was painful. I did a final 2 flights of stairs and my quarter mile cool down. I was totally spent.

Things were crazy when I got to work so I did not get lunch until 12:45pm. Once I ate something I could feel my energy coming back. Thank goodness tomorrow is a rest day. I plan on using it to recharge before my 8 mile hill run on Saturday.

Here is the lessons that I learned from today:
1. Do not try to do runs close together - especially if you are running them faster than you should.
2. I need to make sure and eat between scheduled runs.
3. Pace, pace, pace, pace - I need to work on this skill. Any suggestions (besides a treadmill)

Take care all. At some point I will blog about what music is in my head when I run. I am open to any suggestions of songs as well. I have not hit what I call "Long Runs" yet, so I need to have some good music for those 2+ hour runs, especially since I do not have a running partner at this time for those long runs.

Phillippians 4:13