SOoooo, After a few training runs, I settled into a pace that I felt comfortable with. Based on this pace, I was able to come up with a new goal. The problem was, I based that goal on what I am capable of NOW on the training runs. I did not take into account all the other things that come up during race day, bathroom stops, water stops, crowds, tired legs, etc. But anyway, I've come quite attached to this goal! I worked my butt off this training cycle to make sure I came in under pace during every training run.
With that being said, I do have a few concerns. First of all, I am completely exhausted! I'm at the point now that I don't want to work towards that goal anymore. I'm not giving up, but I need to realize that if I don't make it, it's my own fault. I just can't put the effort into it anymore because I have been SO tired. I don't know if I even have one more long run left in me. I just can't wait for the race to be over. As we were talking about tapering, I expressed my sheer exhaustion to a running friend. She asked when my last long run was and I told her I did 15 miles that weekend, 12 the weekend before, 13 before that, and 18 before that, and so on.
"Well no wonder you are so exhausted" she said.
She told me that when she was training for Dopey last year that she was only doing long runs every other weekend. Weekends in between long runs she only did 6-8 miles. I took her advice this weekend and only did 7 miles and it felt SO good!
My second concern is this. My injury has not come back but I can tell that by mile 13 I'm running on tired legs and my feet are starting to hurt. Not an, I'm injured kind of hurt, but a my feet are tired of hitting the pavement type of hurt. I currently wear the Mizuno Enigmas, which have some extra cushioning. I've bragged about these shoes because I DO like them BUT the thought has crossed my mind to go back to my Altra Olympus (the shoes I loved but they didn't love me back).
You may remember me saying that the Olympus were the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn, hands down! And even though I don't wear them anymore, I will still stand by that statement. I don't wear them anymore because they are zero drop and I believe that may be what caused this whole pesky injury to begin with. However, last year my chiropractor gave me some heel wedges for my running shoes to see if that helped. I never ended up putting them in my shoes because at that point I was just ready to try a non- zero drop pair. I know that going back to those Olympus (even with the heel wedge) is probably not a smart thing to do so I doubt I'll actually go through with it, but it is so tempting when I know how comfy they are! I have worn my current Mizunos for this entire training cycle (since August) so perhaps it is time for a new pair. I did let Santa know that!
Do you have any advice for me? -M