Running With Jay: Week 8

JAY!  Dat gurl is runnin!

This week marks Jay’s last days before the big race on Sunday.  The big 13.1er!

Miss Runnin’ Thang checked in with me about what it felt like to run 12 last week and her plans for this week:

The 12-miler I did was definitely a confidence-booster! I am SO ready for this race. But around mile 11, for the first time in my life, I had to laugh because I started fantasizing about an ice bath (Patti Note: Ice baths work miracles). My limbs were really feeling it. And then that night, I couldn’t sleep because my whole lower half was throbbing (Patti Note: THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!) . I guess I didn’t realize how much of a toll the mileage will take on you.

My plan for this week is to take it easy. My bossy personal trainer told me that it would be best not to run at all (Patti Note: Um, that’s not exactly what I said, but I know you were in the throes of throbbing and all…), but the emerging runner in me can’t stop. So I will probably run a couple times this week, topping out at three or four miles.

I’ll try this carb-loading thing, but in general I’m kind of skeptical. I mean, if I ran 12 miles and didn’t need to carb-load why would I need to do it for 13? (Patti Note: Carb-loading is fueling, simple as that.  You should do it, especially since you ran the long run.  Your body needs the stored energy.) One of my Aggies told me just to have an extra helping of carbs every day for three days or so before the race. He’s bossy and I ALWAYS do what my personal trainers tell me to do (Patti Note: LIES!).

I’m nervous about a couple things for next weekend’s race day. What if it’s hot and I am zapped by mile 6? (Patti Note: I checked your weather forecast for race day.  High will be 70°, but when you race it will be in the 50s.  No worries.) What if I have to GO in the middle of the race (Patti Note: why would you GO in the middle of the race?!  Porta-potties abound.  GO in one of those!)? What if I have to run by myself and I lose all motivation and quit in the middle (Patti Note: You are a badass runner now.  You CAN run by yourself.  Dig deep, grasshopper.)? What if I can’t sleep the night before (Patti Note: This is common.  Welcome to the sleepless running club.  I promise your adrenalin will carry the race.)? What if I wear my zippy shorts and my thighs rub together and bleed (Patti Note: Make a trip to Academy and pick up some Glide.  I rarely run without it.  No rubby rubby — that’s what she…..)?

So, not all of my fears are rational.  Stop laughing. (Patti Note: I am NOT laughing.  I am rooting you on.)

Even though it hurts like the dickens, training for this race has made me appreciate running so much. I’ve lost about 10 pounds over the past two months. I have a ton of energy. I haven’t suffered any stomach flu while I’ve been training, basically a miracle for a girl that usually gets the crud several times each winter. I’ve deepened friendships with running buddies and I have an “in” with so many more people in general who share my enthusiasm. I get a deep sense of satisfaction from being able to accomplish my running goals in a life where a lot of times my biggest sense of accomplishment is getting a grass stain out of the school pants.

Eric Liddell’s character from Chariots of Fire said “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.” I wouldn’t go that far… but I will say that running has made me a better person in general because it forces me to be disciplined: about training, about eating, about mental preparedness, and about the mind game that running is when you want to quit more than anything and you force yourself to keep going anyway.

Instead of the fakey movie quote from Eric Liddell, here’s a REAL one from a real runner that I take with me to race day:

“In the dust of defeat as well as the laurels of victory there is a glory to be found if one has done his best.”  Eric Liddell

Jay, you are ready.  You are ready to face the 13.1 in front of you, even if that means running it alone.

My last piece of advice to you (as if you’d listen) is to restate what I told you this morning: Don’t do anything stupid.  (bwhahahaha) Oh, I see you and your need to run, to run like the wind this week.  Don’t do it.  Hold back that energy.  You’re gonna need it on race day.

Other than that, go eat some cake, or some donuts, or whatever naughty carb you’d like.  You’ve earned it.

See you next week in the sweet sweet afterglow (that’s what….)