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I did it!! I ran two marathons in two days and I did not die! Fifty miler, here I come!

Today’s marathon was First Call to Run put on by the amazing Marathon Maniac, Dr. Adrian Call. Ran on the Sammamish River Trail.

I woke up this morning feeling REALLY good. My legs were sore from yesterday, but I just decided to treat this like any other marathon. I’ve run marathons with sore legs before, and half marathons the day after marathons, so I just didn’t let my mind go to “What in the name of all that is good and holy on this earth am I doing??” I just got up, got ready, packed my gear, and headed to the race! Started out feeling REALLY stiff, but not too bad. Calf was definitely talking to me on the right, and a little achilles stiffness on the left. Feet felt good, though. I had a big split in my big toe after yesterday’s run, so I was concerned if that would bother me. I also had a big bruise on my hip from my pack. That was all yesterday brought me, so I was feeling pretty okay about today.

Ran with Marie and Paige and started right off in 5:1 intervals. I requested that because I knew that my legs weren’t going to like a straight run, and I’d rather pay in installments, than walk the last 6 miles, if you know what I mean.

The weather was perfect for the first 4 hours. It rained off and on the last hour or so, and the wind picked up nasty at a few points. Overcast, but actually quite warm. The trail is a paved rail trail that runs along the Sammamish River, so it’s full of birdlife. We saw:

-MANY Canadian geese, including tons of flocks taking off

-6 Great Blue Heron

-Lots of mallard ducks

-1 Northern Pintail duck

-4 Common Merganser ducks

-Lots of starlings

-TWO bald eagles! One was in a tree eyeballing us, and another was hunting, flying over the river…just breathtaking!

Marie and talked and talked and then talked some more. Paige was feeing great, so left us in her dust. We also talked with some other runners (Matt, Robert, and a few others). Lots of new years greetings were exchanged. When the half marathoners started, I got to see my girls: Megan, Becky, Lisa, Michele, and Lisa’s Sister, Diana. That was awesome! A much needed pick me up!

So how does it feel to run two marathons in two days? Well, it hurts. But it doesn’t hurt so bad that you want to stop. You look forward to stopping, but I didn’t want to throw in the towel. I would say the biggest challenge was fuel and water. I drank like a camel the last two days, and I still think I was a little dehydrated. I definitely hit some tough spots where I was feeling dizzy and just completely out of gas. I am SO glad I brought gels with caffeine in them! I took more Gu than normal, but I needed it. Twice I had the feeling I might actually fall, and once was slurring my words…but both times took some Gu and within minutes felt completely normal. I also let Marie know, just in case, so she was watching out for me like the mother hen that she is. “Are you doing okay? Did you eat something? Do you need water?” I was happy to let her mother, but I was planning on drawing the line if she spit on a tissue and tried to clean my face. At mile 22 or so the water stop (with two incredibly awesome and wonderful volunteers…thank you thank you thank you) had bagels and banana, so I had a quarter bagel and 1/3 banana and I so SO needed it! That made a HUGE difference, and I actually felt fabu the rest of the run.

Post run…legs are sore and stiff, but not as bad as yesterday. I am very weary, but it’s a good kind of tired if you know what I mean. I am starving. I had a pancake, fudge, and a piece of cornbread after the race…then went to Panera and had a half salad and small serving of mac and cheese, and now I am once again starving. No blisters. The split in my toe is actually a little better, already healing. No pain on the bottom of my feet. Calves are tight as is IT band, but just post-race tight, not injury tight.

Plan a light run tomorrow to work the kinks out, and take Wiley out. Poor guy has watched me get into my running gear two days in a row and NOT take him with me. In fact when I got home today I went into my office and took my coat off. He took one look at me, started “rooing” and dancing around in circles, then grabbed my hand and led me to the front door. How do you say “Sorry sweetie, mommy has already had her run?” in basenji?

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 01/01/2010
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 5:11:01.00
• Average Heart rate: 130
• Max Heart rate: 159
• Calories: 2340
• Distance: 26.67 miles
• Average Pace: 11:39.03/mile