The only thing I was right about this weekend was my aches and pains forecast. Severe aches and pains lasted through Monday and have become localized on Tuesday. At the moment I find myself conflicted between several emotions and plans concerning my marathonning. The emotions are:
a) Depression (due to failing to achieve a coveted goal)
b) Embarassment (due to stupidity, specifically my lack of hydration planning)
c) Anger
d) Cold analytic (I'm an engineer after all, this is simply a technical problem with a root cause and a technical solution)
e) Uncertainty (due to lack of confidence in my capability to do this properly)
f) Fear (of ending up in the medical tent again)
The most negative emotions above are (a) and (f). Don't worry, they are not dominent in my psyche. The other four are the main players in my head at the moment.
So I am not sure at the moment whether I will:
1) Never run another marathon again. I've done it, what's the point? I can run shorter distances at will with great pleasure and no fear.
2) Run experimental marathons to evaluate early pacing and hydration strategies. Do a design of experiments. Schedule the next one before mid year.
3) Pass on my next marathon until 2008. Start from the bottom up again, run 1200 miles plus the rest of this year and build a base. Concentrate on flexibility (stretching), strength and hydration/nutrition training and strategies in 2007 which I did not do last year.
The choice is really between (2) and (3). I'm leaning toward (3). This is similar to what I did in 2006, but the focus was on higher mileage. I was pretty successful in building up much more mileage than in 2005 and improving my times at all distances. However I missed critical aspects as can be seen from my marathon result.
I don't know how much blogging or running I will do for the rest of January, I'll be travelling a lot. I plan to run as many of the HARRA spring series as I'm in town for. I have not missed a HARRA race since spring 2005, although I was not even a HARRA member until December 2005.
If you are not a HARRA member but are a commited Houston runner, join now or feel my wrath and scorn you infidel you. (That should prove I am recovering from Sunday quite acceptably).
5 comments:
Joe, here's my advice - decide not to decide yet. Seriously, other than if you had plans to do one in the next couple of months, then there's no hurry to decide what you think the future holds.
At the end of the day you have achieved an incredible feat of patience, endurance and months of training - something the vast majority of people never even attempt, let alone complete.
You are a warm, kind person that is a delight to be around. If I have to remember you as a marathoner who ran his fastest time in "x", or choose to remember you as the charming individual I see on occasion....I'll take the latter!
What a sweet comment by Barbara. Ditto, here.
Like you, I lean more towards finding a technical solution to every problem. Problem is, this is running. Too many variables. Does not compute. Hey, if you can come up with an equation for the whole running/hydration/nutrition/weather/biorythms thing and decide to write a book, let me know. I'd like to invest in that publishing company.
My name is Robert Key and I am a local runner in the Houston area. I recently ran the half-marathon in Houston with my son (his furthest race to date). I saw a post today of Vic's where he had used an article I had written on my web site about advice for the USA 10 Miler back in October. I read his marathon post for Houston from Sunday, was blown away by it, then started reading links to other bloggers in our area, which is how I came across yours. In 1984, I attempted my first marathon, had no idea how to train, fell crumpled on the ground at mile 21, DNF. In 1985, I finished in a respectable 3:48. Thinking I had it beat, in 1986 under extreme heat I finished in 4:03 or so, and swore to God, my wife and anyone else who would listen that I would NEVER do this again. 13 more finished marathons later, including 3 Bostons, I can tell you that you are a winner and you will find a way.
I would like you to do two things. First, go to my web site http://www.faithfulsoles.com and read "The Greatest Marathoner" under my "Meet Robert..." section. It will inspire you immeasurably. Second, I am in the process of developing a running blog search engine where people can find and read blogs that most closely fit their own ability and goals. I would be grateful if you would register a link to your running blog with my web site. From the home page, under "Free Features" in the lefthand column, just click on "Link your running blog". I promise you your experience will inspire others and help them know they are not alone. Thanks for the report that was obviously written from the heart.
Barbara, you are too kind. I'll take your advice wait through February.
Vic, I agree and disagree. One may not be able to remove the uncertainty of all variables due to the complexity of the problem. However, one can up the probability of success significantly by eliminating every variable that one can control.
Robert, thanks for sharing, I will take a good look at your site. I have purposely not allowed my blog to be linked to the HARRA website since I don't really want a lot of traffic. My blog is directed to me, my family out of town, and my running friends in town. I monitor my traffic and if it starts getting too high, I will put my blog in hibernation. But I will study your site and let you know.
Great post Joe! Thanks for sharing.
If I was to bet, I'll borrow the words of Arnold, "JOE WILL BE BACK!"
Post a Comment