Last 20 miler

I have trained for three marathons.

The first was for the 2002 Portland Marathon. The second one was for the 2006 Spokane Marathon in which I got injured 6 weeks before the race, and this one I am currently training for is my third.

I have pretty much always considered the last 20 as basically the end of marathon training as everything else is just a short run, plus you are basically suppost to relax the last 4 weeks and rest up.

So last weekend was the "end" of training. I have been training for 27 weeks of a 30 week schedule and I have to say that this run was the shittiest run of every run for 27 weeks.....what a way to go out huh?

Jeff is in Mexico, so I am running this one solo, which normally isn't a problem. I knew that going in to the run I just wasn't feeling it but it had to be done so off I went.

I decided to run the Fish Lake Trail, which is an old railroad grade turned in to a paved trail. It's scenic, quiet and a good running trail.

So I started in downtown Spokane at Riverfront Park.....ya know near the big red wagon? I wanted to run through Browne's addition so I could have one last great fall run with all the colors of the leaves and all (I guess I should have run the south hill instead then). Two miles in I hit the trail and up I go. Why do I say up? Well as I am running I keep checking my Garmin and the elevation, up,up and up I go. Luckly like I said it is a rail grade so its not too stee but I am running up and I dont care who you are if you run uphill for 10 miles, you are going to feel it

The other problem on this trail is no water. Now I have noticed a few things in my marathon training that point me to believe that I have some major brain damage. The first is, I enjoy running 20 miles, this has been pointed out to me several times so I just ignore it now. Another one is I really must have an ego about my abilities when running, apparently I can do ANYTHING while running and it is ok. A good example you ask? How about running 20 miles with 32 ounces of water? Here's a pointer for anyone training for any long long distance run. You are suppost to drink 20-32 ounces of water an HOUR. We'll get to my time later.

So I'm not doing too bad here, but I do start to feel my IDBS act up around mile 7 or so, but not too bad. I get to the end of the trail at 9.75 and run up to the tracks above to hit and even 10 (There are live RR tracks to the left and the right of the trail, it makes it very interesting!) So down the trail I go and I am feeling good! I just go with it cause it is feeling right. I am going downhill, I have my stride and I look at my Garmin and I am hitting like a 7:40 mile. This would be sign #2 of brain damage.....I am aiming for a goal of 10 min/mile.

I slow a little and continue on. In the back of my brain I am thinking PR for my 20 for the training and doing some calcs. I think I am near a 3 hour pace for 20, that would be a 30 min PR....NICE!

About mile 15 the shit hits the fan. I am starting to feel tired and getting that feeling in my legs that hurts when I have to push off to start running after my walks. At 16 that was when the mental game took over and it was all brain power from there on.

Each mile was worse and worse and my pace was dragging! I am pretty sure I was down to a 12 min/mile. I finally get to the park and am noticing I have an extra .25 to go....remember the end of the trail.....what a mental buster. I am pretty sure the people in the park thought I HAD brain damage as I went round and round the fountain with this grimace look on my face. But what the hell do they know especially that guy with the poodle. 

I finally finished and got water at the park. My god. The cramping in my legs was horrific, I remember that pain, same pain from mile 19 in my first marathon. At least I know how to avoid that in 2 weeks.

All in all, I did PR 3:24:29 and 5:30 improvement from my first 20 6 weeks ago. You can see the stats here if you want.

So remember kids, don't be stupid like Uncle Sparky and always carry water with you on you runs!

I'm a dumb ass.