Long Run - Hendry's Beach to Bike Path near More Mesa

Time: 7:0am, 1 hour, 45 minute run, 2:15 workout total

• Stretch
• Warm-up (bike to meeting spot - 15 minutes)
• Stretch
• Run (1 hour, 45 minutes)
• Cool-down (bike home - 15 minutes)
• Stretch
  

Meal: ProVantage Protein Shake (1 scoop blended in 8oz. of rice milk) @ 6:30am, EAS "Catapult" Pre-Race Energy Fuel @ 7am, Vanilla Hammergel @ :50, Chocolate Hammergel @ 1:20
Distance: Approx. 11 miles

I did it! I completed the entire 1:45 with even some umph left in me to go a little further if I had wanted to. Granted, not quite enough umph to go on for 3 more hours (as it will likely be during the marathon), but leaps and bounds past last week.

I practiced a mantra, which was suggested to me by Lucas (one of the coaches) a couple of weeks ago. A mantra is similar to a meditation, it's a repeated phrase to help keep you focused and motivated towards your goal. I tried Lucas' mantra "this is my run forever pace". When I noticed my mind drifting and my stride getting sloppy I focused on this phrase, pointing my eyes directly forward and repeating the phrase, often times out loud. After about 45 minutes, a landed stride shot up a mild, but ever-so familiar pain from my foot. The tendons were getting tight and beginning to spasm again - my worst fear for the morning coming back to reality. When I felt the slight tinge of pain, I added a phrase to my mantra, "no pain". Over and over, I repeated to myself:

This is my run forever pace...no pain, no pain
This is my run forever pace...no pain, no pain

During the moments where the pain began to increase, I simply added a few more "no pains" to the mantra. To my own skeptical amazement, I found this to actually reduce the pain and keep it tolerable.

Back at the parking lot with the team, I experienced the same after-work out pain that I have the past couple of weekends, and I couldn't walk without limping. However, stretching seemed to help far more than it had in the past and the pain wasn't anywhere near as intense. So, as I mentioned in a previous post, I didn't expect it not to hurt, and I am thrilled at the apparent healing that is taking place.

I'm still limping around a little bit but I keep stretching and icing. Hopefully by tonight I'll be back on my feet again.