Been really busy at work. With our new computerized documentation system along with increasing demands from insurance companies the paperwork side of my job it's taking a lot more time and effort than before. This has been leading to a lot of going back into work to get paperwork done after I have picked Braeden up from school. Braeden does well when I have to do this. Quietly does his homework and reading beside me but it's not something I can do long term. It's not fair as it pulls my attentions from him and leads to Cade often coming home to an empty house. Not to mention, Braeden is very susceptible to picking up on my stress levels no matter how much I try to hide it. So, fingers crossed, my boss has said she will look into the ability for me to access doing my documentation from home. That would take such a load off :)
Speaking of Braeden being able to pick up on how I'm feeling, he did it again on Saturday after my pear blossom race. His soft comforting eyes and gentle squeezes brought me to tears after a disappointing performance. I was my best trained, best rested, and fueled the way I always did, but it all fell apart and I came in at my worse time ever. I had trained to be able to finish in 90-91.5 mins, but instead came in at a 96 mins 50 secs.
The day started well. Travelled to the race with friends Kate and Danielle. Met up with Danielle's friend Kelly. A few race day nerves but got rid of those quickly with the help of some good laughs with other runners. Not to mention we found an inside bathroom without a line. That's gold on race day!! :)
We headed to the start placing ourselves not too far back in the pack to reduce how much weaving we would have to do at the beginning. The gun fired and we were off. The first few miles felt great. Legs felt good, energy abound, conditions excellent. Sun was out. I was running at my planned pace on 8:50. At one point had notice 8:11 on my watch but it was too soon for that so I pulled back a little. After mile 3 it's ok to pull out a faster pace.
As I was approaching mile 4 it all suddenly fell apart. Legs began to feel like concrete. Grabbed some water, maybe just getting thirsty. No change :( mile 4.5 took in some jelly beans as I headed up the hill. I actually like some incline. My technique seems to improve usually but not today. Legs like concrete. Mile 5 half way there "you can do this" I told myself. I've been running 10 most Sundays. This isn't any different. But still I could not shake the heavy legs feeling. By this time I had lost my mental anchor of Danielle, who was running the pace I had prepared to do. The last 5 miles is a blur. Don't remember hearing a single song on my playlist. Fought between walking it out, and picking up the pace again but my legs never got better. Ran under a hose provided. Boy that was a mistake. Felt myself take those fast short inhales you do when you have been crying a lot. 2 miles to go, surely I could do that. Nope!! More walking. Finally finished, crossing the finish line shaking, shivering, disorientated. Danielle and Kelly, they finished at 89 mins, were great. Grabbed a banana, Gatorade and water, and encouraging me to take some in. But only tiny bites and sips were possible. What went wrong????? This should've been an easy race for me. although not happy with my time, that's not what's upsetting. An average 9:41 pace over 10 miles ( especially when I walked a lot) is not too terrible. Reality is it's only 40 secs per mile slower than what I had planned. It was feeling so terrible that upsets me. But after all the analysis, I just have to reconcile it just wasn't my day. My body must be missing some nutrient or vitamin to have broken down that badly on what is not such a long distance.
Here I am held up by Danielle on the left, Kate on the right.
A close up showing a glimpse of an "out of it" Lucy.
So Sunday morning I got up for what I now call my reconciliation run. Scott and the dogs took me out to remind me how much I love to run and we did 4.25 in 35:57 mins. And it felt great. Then this morning we headed out for a moonlit 5k finishing in 25:30. So I am reassured that I haven't lost it, just got to have my first real experience of "runners bonk" this last weekend :)
Braedens flag football team coached by Scott did win this weekend though. 20-0. And both boys have been doing state testing in school and scored in the exceeds category so that's great. Life's not too bad at all now is it??
Right, I'm done for now.
Will be back soon I hope
Love to all
Lucy xxxx
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
No comments:
Post a Comment