What Happens When You Don't Train

Joel and I at the end of the race! One of us got a new Half PR! Hint: not me

Yesterday, I ran the Palmetto Bluff Half Marathon. It was my 8th half marathon and my 3rd fastest. HOWEVER, I chose not to properly train for this run. Well, I think the lack of training was due to EXCUSES for not wanting to run. I haven't been keeping up with my weekly runs. I was keeping up with my cross training (crossfit), but my short runs during the week were suffering. Excuses included being out of town, being too cold, it was raining, I was sick...etc. I was very busy last month!

My long runs on the weekend ranged anywhere from 5 milers to 13 milers. I had no rhyme or reason to how many miles I did. I was winging it.

Leading up to this race I was also eating CRAP. The night before I had a few beers and little sleep. I also ran a hard 4 miles the day before. I also meant to switch out my current running shoes to a new pair (and break them in the week prior), but I was lazy and didn't want to re-lace my shoes (I use and LOVE Lace Locks). Eh...

So I decided last minute that this would be the race that will show me how well/poorly I can do when I have not properly trained. I would run it the best I could.

Well, the first half was great! I was hitting sub 9 minute miles. I think I did the first 10K in 56 minutes. Awesome! But once I got to 7 miles, I hit the wall. The straightaways, despite being beautiful, mossy tree canopies...were so BORING. Mind numbing. I didn't bring music, so I had nothing to distract me from my negative thoughts of wanting to stop, "why the hell did I sign up for this?", and watching people pass me. My gels were making me gag, my legs felt like lead. It was not looking so good for me. I slowed down and had to take a moment at the next water stop. The pack that I was following for the first 7 miles slowly faded away into the distance. Once I got going again, I latched onto a couple. I decided to try to pass them, and I did. However, after about a mile, they caught up and I wanted to stop again. Good thing, because I saw some friendly faces! This was at about mile 9.5 where I stopped over with Missy and Kim (my fellow MRTT mamas) who were awesome enough to come out and cheer us on. Missy gave me an Advocare gel that didn't make me gag and assured me it would keep me going to the finish! After a photo opp and some hugs, I went on my way again.

Beautiful faces cheering me on! <3 MRTT!

This was certainly the hardest part of the race, I just really wanted to finish. The soles of my feet were tingling and numb (I cursed myself for not switching out my shoes the week before!) but the desire to finish outweighed the pain in my feet. I really wanted to walk at some points, but I kept telling myself to MOVE! Because the quicker I go, the quicker this torture will be over!

The last mile was the longest. I kept thinking about what an actual marathon would be like... would the pain be even more intense? If I was utterly miserable at just 10-12 miles into a race, how would I be able to survive 26.2? I guess that will be something I will have to conquer when I get there. Hopefully I will be more physically and mentally prepared for it!

I crossed the line about a minute and a half slower than my finish time last year. 2:04:30. Not bad for not having properly trained. But it was still one of my worst half marathon experiences, from a mental standpoint. I KNOW why I hit the wall, but I have never actually experienced it until this race. Running alone did not help. It was pretty bad. Lesson learned!