The honesty of a 3-hour run

It was tough today, but I had to get the training done. It is the tough realization. The pros talk about training 20 -35 hours a week during their build. For some people, myself normally included, I don't have the fitness base (forget about the available time) to actually accomplish that much training. It would make me melt very quickly!
So, while I don't mean to sound whiny about the difficulty, I am just admitting I find it difficult, so if you are training too, and you think it is difficult, we are in the same boat. The only way through it is doing it. It is an honest consistent effort. It is not "fun", but it is gratifying to have accomplished a goal. It also makes me "rerespect" the task at hand.
I have found in marathon training, you really make your money spending time running in the two to three hour range during the long runs. Most runners can get up to two hours pretty easily, but the training time between two and three hours is very helpful. I absolutely know there is a mental aspect to getting through it, and obviously there is the physical part of it. For the mental part of it today, I knew we were having Mexican food for dinner, so I tried to look forward to that. I often think about Christmas too. Christmas is generally a time of comfort, food, and relaxation! I won't be running on Christmas Day, and by the time I get there, all this effort will be history!
After two hours, the hips hurt, the legs get that "scissor in your muscle" feeling, blisters generally manifest, nutrition becomes an issue, and time seems to slow down. I also had an achy back and I say, kidneys, but I can't be sure they actually bothered me. I am sure it had to do with some inevitable dehydration. Even the movement of air in the chest (a good thing) while breathing is noticeable and tiresome.
I used three gels, and had plenty of water, but I went through my gatorade pretty quick. I really tried to slave to the heart rate monitor, so I wouldn't waste myself for the rest of the week. I did get the chills 30 minutes after the run, so I must have been pumping a lot of heat out of my body during the run. My legs are tight, but otherwise, I feel pretty good. I think I finally replaced some of my lost fluids.
Weatherwise, It was a nice day to run outside. It was standard warm and humid, but the sun wasn't blazing on me. When I finished around 6:00 p.m., the heat index was 87 degrees, so it was an honest effort (70% humidity). The course was pretty flat, and if I was in better shape, the "percieved effort" would have been a little easier. I followed the standard protocol for heart rate. I backed off as much as I could to keep it under the target 155 average, but in the end, I averaged about 157 for 3 hours and 16 minutes of running. Somewhere in the 22 mile range.

While running, I saw a very bad motorcyle accident along the road I was running along. I didn't see it happen, but I saw the rider on the ground before the first responders had arrived. He was being aided by some motorists, and had been wearing a helmet. It was pretty awful. I hope he does alright. Drive safely. I know I sound old.

Before the run, I swam 70 minutes. It was a good swim; generally uncomfortable, but no big fatigue or "out of shape" issues. I just have another month of grinding through it. I will add Ironman Champion Dave Scott is a master at describing swim technique through the written word. I have learned so much from some of his articles. Specifically, I have been trying to rotate my wrist outward after the initial hand entry to get that "hand on the ladder" feeling and "cupping the water". It seems to help.

I am grateful I don't have any injuries, so besides the fatigue, everything is going along just fine.

The posts this month may be short and grouchy. This is normal for the accumulated fatigue and higher volume. Just be glad you are not Andrea!

Thanks for checking in, I will try to find some humor again soon!