It's a good practice to have a game plan that includes a fueling protocol that you have refined during training, but you need to be flexible. Evaluate and adjust accordingly as race pace and weather dictate. Have a game plan, but write it in pencil, not in ink.
My plan for today and tomorrow was 5 miles easy today and 15 miles tomorrow. Unfortunately, my Dad's health has taken a turn for the worse and I'll be driving to Fresno later today, then on to San Francisco tomorrow. That meant if I was going to run 15 miles, it needed to happen today. I didn't sleep much, I'm pretty worried about my Dad right now. I finally gave up tossing and turning and got up at 4:30.
Remember I mentioned it was windy yesterday? Gusts of about 15 mph. Here's what this morning looked like:
When I got home ~ in case you can't read it, winds were gusting up to 35 mph.
My game plan changed about 4 or 5 times while I was out. First I was going to run 15 miles. Then I thought I'd go for 13. Then I thought I'd run a minimum of 2 1/2 hours. I finally downgraded to 2 hours. It just wasn't working. Every corner I turned the wind seemed to get worse. At one point I was pelted by sand and leaves. Another time I was whacked in the leg by a branch!
Really, who else was running in this stuff today? Not.One.Other.Person. That's right, I didn't see anyone else running while I was out! I had leaves in my clothes when I got home and this is what my socks looked like. I ran on sidewalks the entire time, not a trail!
All in all, it wasn't my worst effort, but it certainly wasn't my best. I just didn't have the emotional strength either, I felt like I was carrying an extra 50 pounds on my shoulders. 50 pounds called "Worry."
9.02 miles in 2:03:11, 13:39 pace.
Ave HR 133
Max HR 154
Calories burned 798
Most folks would have just stayed in bed under these circumstances... you get an A+!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry to hear about your Dad....I am praying for strength for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteLove you...