Wow, it has been awhile since I have blogged. Life has been busy and unfortunately my blog has fallen by the wayside — time to focus on it. 🙂 Due to traveling (one weekend in Gatlinburg and one in Nashville) along with all the rain we have had in the last week, my running has also fallen by the wayside — I need to get on this one.
I decided today was the day I was going to run another long and get back on track as I have 49 days left before the DC Marine Corp Marathon. I was eating my breakfast prior to the run and turned on the TV to find the 9/11 Memorial going on. I was automatically hooked and had to watch the rest of the program documenting 9/11 10 years later. It brought moments of tears from all our country experienced ten years previous, but it also brought pride for our country! Â There were so many heroes that day. I am proud to be an American!!
I ended up watching the entire memorial, and then headed out for my run. It was already after 11 before I even started running — that was a bad idea!! It was warm and the the sun was shining brightly, much too warm for a long run, but off I went. I knew from my previous long run that I needed to take more water, so I opted to take my hiking pack that would carry two bottles of water  — bad idea number two of the day. While I did have more water with me, it sloshed and moved the entire time — pure misery!
I absolutely love my Mountainsmith tour pack for hiking, but it does not double as a running pack! Between the heat and the pack, I had my worst run ever. The run was so bad, I am calling it a wog (walking/jogging). I think I walked for over half the run. The first two miles I was fidgeting with the pack trying to get it as tight to my body as possible so that there was the least amount of movement as possible. Miles 2 through 6 were okay (okay is probably being generous), but that is the only miles that were okay. Around mile 6 I realized the sidewalk ended on the road I was running on; it was too busy a road to continue running. I did find a commercial subdivision and managed to get another two miles in there. Sadly though I also managed to roll my ankle on a branch in the road — great just adding to this lovely run. I was able to walk off the rolled ankle and continue — good thing as I was at least 6 miles away from my apartment.
The run only continued to get worse… around mil 9 my legs started cramping (I believe that I was dehydrated even though I was drinking water, but just not enough). By mile 12 I just wanted to be home, and had no other thoughts in my head other than home. I am pretty sure I walked the entire last 3-4 miles. The last mile it was everything I could do to even walk. I was in so much pain and contemplated just sitting down on the sidewalk. I managed to push through and hobble home. My wog ended up being only 13.7 miles (shy of the 16 miles I was headed out to do) and my slowest run to date!!
Lessons I learned today — I have to run in the early mornings from now on, and I have to find a better way to take water with me. I also am coming to realize my only true goal for the marathon, is to cross the finish line after 26.2 miles standing up — time will be irrelevant!!
Post my run, I did make a smoothie and took a loooong hot bath! I am fairly new to smoothies, but managed to make a pretty decent one today. I was pretty out of it, so there are no pictures. I used milk, vanilla flavored whey protein, a banana and some frozen blueberries — a definite repeat!
How do you take water with you on a long run?Â
Learning with Liz 
