Veterans Marathon Training: Week 5

"So what do you think about while you're out there running for hours?" Mark will ask me.

I look at him. And I look at him. I think. And I think some more. Then I look at him again.

"Uh, stuff," I reply in an obviously concise manner.

To tell you the truth, though, I don't think much on long runs. I don't usually listen to music. I don't talk ... because I'm by myself and that would be weird. And creepy.

This week, for entertainment purposes, I tried to hit Ctrl + S on my thoughts as I completed the first part of my long run (Mark + crew joined me for last 3 miles).

Slow then slower. I'm focusing on taking long runs easy, annoyingly so, to build the aerobic base I'll need to avoid bonking (ha!) in the marathon.

Slow and steady. Usually the first thought leads to this sort of mantra but it takes a mother runner twist. There's an episode of Elmo's World where the tale of the tortoise and the hare is re-created with Elmo as the tortoise and the hare. I can't help but have the scene replay in my head, with Elmo's annoying voice chanting, "Slow and steady."

Hold back. This one is not related to pace. It's more closely related to the urge I had to poop about 3 miles in as I ran over a foot bridge. Taking a crap on the side of the bridge didn't sound like a good plan or legal so I tried to hold back. Miracle of miracles, it went away.

Cock suckers. There was a giant spray-painted rendition of male genitalia on the path under a different bridge than the one where I nearly pooped. I thought about how inappropriate it was for a good quarter-mile.

Mathlete. OK, I've ran 5 miles and it took me this many minutes so my pace is probably around this. Wait, this. No. Crap. Who cares? I'm finishing with Mark, and he's going to make me run the last 3 miles as close to race pace as possible. It will change.

Yum. I love salted caramel Gu. I wonder if I should just buy a case. Oh, I wish they sold a mixed case of Chocolate Outrage + Salted Caramel. Wait. Better. Espresso Love + Salted Caramel. It would be like a caramel latte. I wonder if I can trick Mark into taking me to Starbucks this morning. I love Starbucks. 

The week, in training:

Monday: 1-hour spin class

Tuesday: Piloxing (taught) + Bodypump (taught)

Wednesday: 5 miles, hillish + 4 miles

Thursday: 3 miles + Rip (taught)

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 6 miles at pace + Bodypump (rehearse, in basement)

Sunday: 9 miles