My mental stability regarding my runs tends to be hillier than the runs themselves...I've had my ups and my downs, but fortunately for me, I have had more positive training sessions lately.
On Thursday, I ran with a friend of mine who is built like a member of the Tarahumara tribe. He's a great athlete and built 6'5" tall and incredibly lean. We had a 7 mile run planned and we hit the gates a little fast for what I normally do. He normally runs at a 7 minute pace which is a far cry from what I'm used to. He slowed down to a 9'30" pace, which for me was a drastic increase in speed from my 11 minute pace. I hate to make excuses for why this run was so difficult for me, but it was terrible. Mentally, I just wasn't there. I started off strong but burnt out fast. I survived the run, however barely. My confidence plunged and I needed another run day to bring my confidence back up.
I stopped by the Salt Lake Running Company again and purchased a few more items. I bought the GRID Foam Roller which has been awesome. I roll on it before and after my runs and it helps stretch my IT band and any other sore muscle. If you love that "it hurts so good!" feeling, then you gotta get the foam roller. It almost brings me to tears in pain, but that tells me that I need some good stretching. Once I start rolling, I just can't stop!
I also purchased a hydration belt, because I normally don't drink enough water through out the day. In the last two runs (a 5 miler and 11 miler), I have experimented with hydrating every mile. I'm not sure if the success of my runs can be attributed to me sipping on water every mile, but I'm sure it isn't hurting. The belt is really comfortable and doesn't wiggle around at all. It's also easily customizable, which I like a lot. I'm definitely a fan.
The final item I purchased was Gu. I bought several different packs from Gu, Powerbar and Hammer. Today, I ate a pack of "Tri-berry" at mile 3 and another pack of "Mandarin" at mile 6. Again, I'm not sure what exactly I can attribute the success of the run to, but with the combination of hydration and the Gu packs, the run was surprisingly easier than I had expected. I'm already excited for my next long run to try some other flavors from other companies. The texture and flavor was definitely a little odd at first, but if I just focus on the fact that it gives me more energy, it's worth downing it.
My knee is still giving me a little aggravation, however I'm hesitant to see a doctor just yet because I KNOW he/she will tell me I need to rest. Well, unfortunately, I don't have time to rest just yet, but I have made a vow to myself that I will get checked out with the conclusion of my half-marathon. For now, I just have to survive the next month and the 13.1 miles.
Keep on rollin'!
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