Wednesdays suck

Wednesdays are speedwork day and therefore suck. Yesterday I was supposed to run a total of seven miles with three 1600 meter spurts of 8:42 each. I gotta say, 8:42 is a pretty fast mile for me when it's in the middle of a seven miler. I couldn't hold out at that pace, but my miles were all around 9:00 miles. I think the first one was actually about 8:45.

Anyway, I got it done, with the help of Bill who came along despite having three beers at happy hour (at Old Chicago) right before the run. I was impressed. I could never have a beer and go running.

My hardest days are undoubtedly Wednesday (speedwork) and Saturday (long run). Other than that, this marathon training thing ain't so hard. On Mondays and Thursdays I have runs of about 6-10 miles at an easy pace, and I don't mind those at all. I get the days before and after my long run off as rest days, and I also get the day before the speedwork as a rest day. If it weren't for the hard days (Wednesday and Saturday), this would be easy.

Tonight I've got a seven mile run. I plan to leave at about 7 pm. I'm not really dreading it or looking forward to it. It's on my schedule and I'll get it done. I have decided I really do prefer evening runs to morning runs. I used to think it was always best to get your run out of the way in the morning so that nothing could get in the way. I don't subscribe to that mentality anymore. It's nice to run and not have to think about what I have to do the rest of the day.

I've read some stuff recently on what people call a "runner's high." The concept is somewhat controversial. Some say it is induced by endorphins, whereas others don't think that's possible for various neurological reasons I don't fully understand. Here is my experience....Sometimes I feel great even when I shouldn't--like I could run further and everything is effortless. However, I certainly have not had a runner's high carry me through a long (over 14 mile) run. I can get that feeling running a half marathon, but anything more than that--it's about gutting it out and surviving.

I ran 16 miles a couple of Saturdays ago. I finished thinking I felt surprisingly good, all things (including a heat index over 100 degrees) considered. I was tired and ready to be done. I was proud that I did 16 miles. I can't say a runner's high carried me through that long run. There was nothing magical, mystical, or spiritual about it. It was a long run and I just kept going, even when it sucked. Sometimes that's what running is about. It's not always about the joy of running. Sometimes it's about putting one foot in front of the other when that joy is gone for the day.

I do know, however, that I feel better after running than I do after sitting on the couch watching TV. And I got nothing against watching TV. I do my fair share of that as well.

A note on my training plan: My plan gives me a choice of how hard I want to train. I can pick 1) easy, 2) moderate, 3) hard, or 4) very hard. I picked "very hard." This is why I have speedwork and why it is at such a challenging pace for me. It is also why my plan has me running a 20 miler more than two months before the race. I've talked to many others who have done marathons and only completed one 20 miler before the race. My plan has me doing at least three 20 milers. Again, this is because I chose "very hard."

I don't regret creating that training plan, but when I did chose "very hard" back in May I wasn't thinking about how I would be doing my big time training in July and August--in over 100 degree heat index weather. Back to the lesson about the heat I learned Saturday---DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF HOT WEATHER!