A Runner’s Balancing Act

Another week has gone by and while I have lots of blog-worthy things to tell, I have no time to tell them. Between the craziness of trying to get ready for Christmas and training for a marathon, my life has been pretty much non-stop over the last week. It’s this time of year that I really get jealous of my friends who work in education. I could sure use a two week “winter break” about now. But alas, I work in the real business world where the bottom line is more important than holidays. We will get a few days after Christmas off, but that doesn’t help me much with finding time to buy gifts and put up a Christmas tree.

This past Saturday my running buddies S and L and I completed our first 20 mile training run for the PF Chang’s Rock N Roll Arizona Marathon. We plan to do another 20 -22 in two weeks. It was a good run. Tough in the last 5 miles, as 20 milers often are. S pushed me through and we ran some of our fastest splits on the last two miles. I set my Garmin to auto pause when we stopped at lights or to take our gels. S left hers running through our stops. My time was 3:03, and her’s was 3:17. Not bad. Looks like we are right on track for a 4 hour marathon.

My quads were on fire pretty much from mile 17 until I got home so I decided to attempt the dreaded ice bath. I started with cold water and then added the ice after I was in the water. Just getting in the cold water sent spikes of pain through my legs. You should have seen me trying to get into the water. It seriously took me over 15 minutes to sit down. I kept easing myself in, little by little. I wear my bathing suit and a sweatshirt to stay warm. Once I was in though, the cold water felt really good.

After the ice bath Saturday I attempted to shop the web for Christmas gifts so I didn’t have to brave the stores. The older I get the more I find I really do not like going out shopping any more. Maybe its just that I don’t have the time I once did, or maybe I just dislike parking lots, cranky drivers and the picked over crappy selection in the typical retail store. Once in awhile its fun but most of the time it’s just a lot of work and a lot of wasted time. I used to love a shopping day when I was a teen. Funny how things change.

So there I was sitting at my computer trying to figure out what to get for the people on my list when I was hit with a wave of fatigue that was crippling. I moved from the computer to the couch where I promptly fell fast asleep. I slept hard from 3 pm to 7 pm. Well there went my entire Saturday! Joe and I ended up going out to eat since we had no food in the house. It was a nice evening but I was frustrated that I had so much to do still and only one day left to do it.

Sunday was non stop domestic duties and Christmas preparation. I didn’t even make it to church. I won’t bore you with the details but it was a lot of work and I didn’t even leave the house. Sunday night after dinner was made, eaten and the dishes done, I collapsed on the couch wondering what happened to my weekend. The last thing I had wanted to do was pick up a Christmas tree, but I just ran out of time.

Sunday night depression sucks. I need to get better at making an effort have a positive attitude. Terri at Middle of the Pack girl has been blogging about the book “power of positive thinking” and I KNOW I need to read that myself. To be cliché, it just seems like there are never enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done AND have some free time for myself.

This week we found out everyone in my office is taking a 20% pay cut since the crappy economy has really hurt the business. That was a big blow until I found out that my boss, being the good guy that he is, decided that to make up for the pay cut we will be working four day work weeks starting January 1st. He says it may only be for a short time, since there is a good possibility business will pick up after the first of the year. That’s supposed to be good news.

I think I’d rather have the pay cut and the four day work week! Not the smartest financial decision, but mentally, spiritually, emotionally, it would be wonderful. As soon as I found out I’d be getting Mondays off my mind has been going wild with ideas of things I’d like to do on my “me” day. My running buddy and I can run after the sun has come up! I can become a regular at the yoga class up at my gym! (which is only offered in the middle of the day). I can organize all my closets! I can do my wedding photo album! (yeah, I’ve been married for 3 and a half years and still haven’t done it), I can learn to sell stuff on ebay! Start a Bible study! Read books! Learn Flash Actionscript! Make dinner from scratch!

Can I just be a stay at home wife?

Ok, I couldn’t do that because then I’d have to hate myself.

It just got me thinking, what if we all just made less money and worked a four day work week. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we could live with less of the stuff that money buys and had more time to enjoy life. My husband is an economics guy so he would probably frown on this. I’m sure there’s a good reason it would be bad for a society, but right now I can’t see it. It just seems like the 40+ hour work week plus commute time is unhealthy for both body and mind.

Just the crazy thoughts rolling around in my brain today. More tomorrow because I didn’t even get to tell you about my memorable run this morning!

First, the stats:

Distance: exactly 20 mi (according to Sheila’s Garmin). We had to run in circles at the end for about 1/4th of a mile because we came up a little short.

Moving Time: 3:08 (9:24 ave pace) that does not count the time spent stopped at water stations. At this pace I would finish a marathon at approx 4:06

Total Time: 3:28 (10:24 ave pace) including all water and stop light stops. At this pace I would finish a marathon at approx 4:32

Weather: 80 degrees at start (5:45 am), 89 degrees at finish (9:13 am), 25% humidity, not a cloud in the sky. HOT

Course: Central Phoenix, along the Arizona canal. Starting at Granada Park (20th St & Maryland), north west to Central (3 mi), turn around, then south east to 64th St (10 mi), turn around back to Granada Park (7 mi).

Click here to see the gmap!

I am not a huge fan of this route. I’ve done it once before when I was training for PF Changs with Team in Training.  Mentally, its tough to go one direction for awhile, turn around, run right by your car knowing you still have another 14 miles to go. Those middle 10 miles are facing directly into the early morning sun, and there is very little shade (a hat or visor is a must). On top of that, much of the trail is gravel road. I know some people think the gravel is softer on your joints, but in my experience the rockier parts are more taxing on my feet and hips. And I am always kicking up pebbles into my socks that I have to stop and them dig out because of they irritate my feet.

Also, the 6 miles that are west of the park go into semi-sketchy areas of Phoenix. Last year I saw quite a few homeless people sleeping along the path and in the tunnels. We didn’t see them this time, probably because the tunnels are more popular when its cold outside.  Conveniently, we get to run this part during the hour before the sun comes, when its semi dark. Not my favorite.

Another downside to this route, I discovered, is that it is much hotter in central Phoenix than out on the outskirts where we normally run (Mesa and Gilbert). I think that is called the urban heat island effect. When I left my home in Fountain Hills at 4:30 that morning (outskirts of Phoenix) my thermometer read 70.1 degrees. Yet the radio station I was listening to in the car was reporting it was 81 degrees at the airport in central Phoenix. The difference between 70 and 80 is HUGE when you are running. Huge!

So it was much hotter than my 18 mile run. I was worried as we started out. It was dark and I was already hot. I’ve done many runs over the summer in the heat, but they weren’t 20 milers. 20 milers are difficult in cool conditions. All season long I have been banking on the fact that it would be cooler by the time I had do do 20.

All in all, even though it was warmer than I had hoped, I did great. I think the lower humidity was a huge help. Sheila and I stayed together the entire way. At around 14 miles I felt like my legs had settled into a nice comfortable pace and so I asked Sheila what our pace was since she had the Garmin. I was expecting something around 9:35.  It felt kind of slow. To shock we were doing around 9:11!  That was a nice surprise.

I always think back to my very first 20 miler when I was training for my first marathon. I did it all by myself because I didn’t have anyone to train with. I thought I was going to die the last four miles. It was bad. Very bad. The toughest run of my entire life. I’ve done 3 other 20 mile runs and 2 marathons since then and none have ever been as bad.

I’ve come a long way from that first 20 miler.

After we finished I did everything I knew to keep from getting sore. TNT had two sports docs there at the finish line all set up with their tables to stretch us out. That was awesome. After being stretched, I went to my car and got the chocolate recovery drink I had stashed in an insulated bag with my favorite ice pack. I downed the recovery drink and iced my legs with the ice pack as Sheila and I waited for Liz to come in.

I think that Sheila and I were the first of the 20 milers to get back. Liz was not far behind us. We took some pictures, congratulated each other and then I headed home. I’m a bad mentor for leaving but I really wanted to get some ice on my legs fast. I could feel the lactic acid starting to paralyze them.

Me Sheila and Liz after 20 miles in the heat. All three of us happen to be wearing the exact same Champion C9 Tank from Target.

Team in Training setup at Granada Park. Not many people were back yet.

When I got home I took a lukewarm shower because there is no such thing as cold tap water this time of year in Arizona. Then I did the dreaded ice bath. It really ended up being a cold water bath because the ice melted so quickly in the warm water. After the bath, I took a vitamin E and made lunch. Then I went back to bed and slept for 4 hours. Heaven!

Amazingly, I have not been nearly as stiff and sore as I was after the 18 miler. Between the stretching, ice and the recovery shake, something actually did its job! Yay!

After this weekend’s run, I’m setting my goal for the marathon at 4:10-4:20.

Of course there is always the personal record goal which would be sub 4:08. It’s probably unrealistic since I set that on a very flat course and San Francisco is very hilly. I’m definitely, without a doubt, going to break 4:08 at PF Changs in January 09. San Fran, I just want to have fun!