On my scheduled 20 miler today, I tried telling myself this over and over. I knew that it was going to be cold out. The weather channel said 25 degrees with winds ranging from 7-9mph. They said it "felt like" 15 degrees. I bundled up in my fleece lined Athleta tights, my running skirt, longsleeve brooks shirt I bought at RnR New Orleans, and my lululemon jacket. Gloves on my hands, and my face contraption Kevin had bought me during the power outage that doubles as a hat and neck/face warmer and is made of cozy fleece. I was chilly when I started, but figured I would warm up as I got going.
My knee was feeling good, even as I hit the hills. I went through my killer hills at Forest Park, with a little walking and stretching, but felt pretty good. It was windy and cold the whole way. The sun wasn't warming things up. My face mask was fogging my glasses, so I had to keep it around my mouth and my nose was freezing. Around mile 11ish, I stopped at the gas station to buy more water, and the heat inside felt amazing. I left, and headed out for the last 9, more miserable than before.
Taking away the wind and cold, the run was going well, my knee felt a million times better than the last long one. Around mile 12 I was getting a little weepy. I was just so cold, my hands were beginning to get numb, and I could barely feel my face. Around mile 14, I started getting some chest pains. After stopping to rest and walk, I realized they were just a side-stich type pain, and I tried to keep going. From mile 15-15.5, I cried. I was having trouble breathing, my hands and face were numb, I was shaking I was so cold. I pulled over into a parking lot and sat down on the curb sobbing and shaking. I called Kevin, and finally got him on the third try. He could barely understand me, but finally got where I was, and was on his way.
I wanted to keep moving to stay warm, so I started walking. Kevin caught me about a half mile down the road with the heat blasting. It has never felt more amazing to get in that car. I was a sobbing, shaking, mess. My hands were red and numb under the gloves, and it felt like heaven to hold them up to the heating vents. Kevin stopped at Panera on the way home to pick me up a Cranberry Walnut Bagel. After a scorching hot shower, & layering myself with warm clothes, I made the most amazing breakfast sandwich, and crashed on the couch.
I hate that I quit, but honestly I thought it was becoming a potentially dangerous situation, and I was more miserable than I have ever been. I asked myself, "If this were a race, would you quit?" My answer was yes. If I would quit during a race like that, then theres no sense in potentially hurting myself on a training run. I'll finish the last 4 miles tomorrow.
Weekly recap to come tomorrow
Winner of the Gone for a RUN giveaway is Sarah without a blog, so I sent you an email, congrats!
And my last pre-holiday giveaway is my Inperspire Towel giveaway, which ends Wednesday, so check it out HERE!
11 comments:
Im really enjoying your blog! Very proud you went out and ran!!! Oh...tears...its ok. Tomorrow is a new day! Erica
I never thought of looking at it from a race perspective but I will now. You know you can do 4 miles.....you will get them done but its probably best you stopped. As miserable as you were, your mind wasnt on your running and thats when things get dangerous. Good call!
I think you made the smart call. I'm amazed you made it so far in such cold weather and think it is great you are headed out for the last few miles tomorrow. Way to go!
So scary! I am glad you listened to your body and stopped!! You have to take care of yourself!! You can finish that 20 on a warmer day!
Glad you listened to your body. You got your long run in. 4 miles won't make a difference. THanks for sharing...we all need to hear the good, the bad and the ugly.
I am cold just reading that! Can't blame you at all for stopping. Here's to a warmer week of running!
Always a good idea to play it safe and be smart!!!!! You're WAY too close to the race to screw things up at this point by pushing unnecessarily! Wise decision! You're going to be great - I know it!
OMG Steph, You poor girl. It's hard to do runs with someone in the cold let alone by yourself. I was suppose to do 12 miler on sat but my running partner was sick. I only did 5 miles. THose long run are hard enough with out all the weather element involved. You did the right thing. You are going to do just fine at Disney. You have the fundlemental down all ready. You know how to finish a marathon. You just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you will get to that finish line girl. YOU SO GOT THIS MARATHON. I'm so proud of you. Your one tough girl.
Omg!!! You poor thing, thank god you were able to get a rude home!
I am really enjoying your blog, so real & very motivating for a new runner like myself
I think 16 miles is incredible under those conditions. I can vouch for you. It was freezing and the wind must have made your run even more torturous. I think you absolutely did the right thing. I hope you are feeling better.
You didn't quit, you just put the run on hold - and wisely so! You really could've hurt yourself if you kept going, and you don't need that. Hope you get to finish the run off sometime this week!
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