I won't give the details of toe prep like last time, but lets just say my nails are ready to run! We've done 2 runs this week, I've done 2 workouts, and we will do a walk with the kids tonight, and then that's it. All that's left to do is eat well and sleep well for the next few days. That, and making sure to wear flats, don't trip over anything, no bike accident's for Brian.. We've had a lot of distractions this week, which has helped with nerves and not over analyzing every aspect of training and preparedness. It has been a bummer not having water since Sunday night, though. The knob to the shower broke, so if the water is on, the shower is running full blast. So, when we need water, need to flush, need to shower.....we go outside and turn it on, do our thing, go outside and turn it off. Sometime between 8 and 11 a.m. today it should be fixed. It requires emptying my newly organized closet so they can cut a section of the wall out to access it, but what are you gonna do???
Saturday after service we will head into the city to the race expo to get checked in, get our gear, and check out new products. Hope to hear Bary Yasso and Dean Karnazes speak, but we'll see what time we make it into the city. We have a sis coming over Saturday night to stay over with the kids as we will be heading into the city by 4 Sunday morning. I will post Expo pics Saturday.
Woo Hoo!! Getting excited. 15 weeks of hard work about to be put to the test!
Love it! Embrace the blue toenail! Have a great time. I love you both and am so proud of your accomplishments!
ReplyDeleteA runner’s triumph. Long distance running involves a brutal intensity not understood by many. It is nearly impossible to take in enough simple carbs to fuel such a monumental physical and mental effort. It is assured that at some point of the run each individual will experience the painful syndrome of becoming catabolic. This is when there is no more stored glycogen in the muscles to draw energy from. At this point most people will find it impossible to forge ahead. It is a test of will to continue putting one foot in front of the other. Virtually, there is nothing left as fuel to continue. But the runner does not stop running. Therefore, at this point the body’s need for energy is met by the liver kicking in to convert proteins to a unit of energy. What this means is the body is turning on itself to make glycogen. This process of leaching protein from the muscle fibers is extremely hard on the liver and at the same time it is interfering with the muscle twitch needed to continue running. This intensifies the pain associated with the run. It requires so much effort that the liver actually heats up creating a fever like affect running throughout the body. Simultaneously, all the enternal organs of the body, including the brain, begin to release their glycogen in an attempt to provide enough fuel to continue running. Literally, this causes pain in all the involved organs. Why, because without glycogen the internal organs begin to shut down. You hurt from the inner most core of your body. The brain starts to go away. It is a struggle just to process the thought of putting one foot in front of the other. Hydration is a whole different issue. There is a fine line between not enough and too much. Remember, at this point the brain is suffering from lack of glycogen. It is ill and in need of hydration as well. Take in too much and the brain will soak it up like a sponge flooding the brain cells and literally drowning the cells. When this occurs the runner experiences an overwhelming faintness, and shutting down of the brain. The runner loses the ability to focus mentally. It is at this point that runners will pick someone, or something from their past to mentally focus on. By this time the brain is so far gone the runner just sees that one thing they have chosen to focus on and it is so intense the runner will feel like they have temporarly left themselves. All these physiological factors result in such a monumental effort from the runner to keep on keeping on. Somehow they do. How so? I don’t know. However—these are my thoughts for this Sunday as someone I dearly love will be in the San Francisco marathon. For two of us, you are our heroin. We draw strength from your courage, your will, and your intestinal fortitude. We both will be with you and we both are so proud of you.
ReplyDeletePopeye
thank you!
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