My runs in the last two months have been… short and slow… when I was running…
Basically, I got the ulcer and Gerd pain and symptoms on July 24 (and I was at 113 miles for July) and then it all stopped abruptly. I didn’t run for weeks, and I when I run it was at 11 pace and for 2 miles. Slowly, VERY slowly, I started to get a little bit further though no clue where my speed was!
And I decided Hudson Mohawk wouldn’t happen… What’s the point of racing a fast marathon if I can’t go fast? So, onto New York City Marathon, and decided I had to get a couple of longish runs… Keep in mind, I hadn’t run anything over 13.1 (twice) since my Berlin marathon last year in September. Also, to note, I still can’t stomach a lot of things, so gels are an issue.
I decided to try new stuff and last week longish run was Vanilla Cliff, which tasted great but gave me insane stomach cramps. Today, I took a Stinger Vanilla and a Stinger gold, which also gave me cramps… So I guess I still have to figure that out. The gold one is just like honey, so I loved it.
I run out of energy fast. By Mile 8 my legs wanted nothing to do with running (also, I had just done 11.4 mile-long Upper Loops, which includes Harlem Hill), and I was FADING. Luckily, Juan had decided to torture himself and keep me company, or who knows what I would have done… At mile 15 I hit the wall, he says. I remember feeling like I couldn’t run anymore and was disoriented and tired and I wanted to sit down and cry and a couple offering me sugar out of their bags?!?
Somehow I finished it. I hadn’t run that much in such a long time I forgot what it feels like. Pain, you know? Slow and painful, but it’s in the books. Better than nothing. Screenshot or it didn’t happen!
That’s great that you were able to finish it! Hopefully you’ll be able to find some fuel that doesn’t hurt your stomach. Yes, we forget that running long HURTS!
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Take your time with this return to running. (Its really hard to be patient about it!)
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Really hard!!!!
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