I set out today with one main goal, and that was to experiment with a run/walk strategy. After discussions on a forum, I decided to walk for three minutes after every three miles. Not having run/walked in any of my marathons, I know that this is going to take some practice to teach myself to get used to beginning to run again after a short walk. The first few times wasn't too bad, and it was nice to be able to fuel and hydrate while walking instead of running. And it gave me a good opportunity to rotate my right shoulder without almost losing my balance, which I try to do every three miles on my run. And I have to say, my shoulder feels pretty good tonight.
After the 18th mile as I started up again after my walk, I noticed what felt like a blister, or a hot spot under a callus on my right big toe. I know there's a callus there, and it felt like there was a blister forming under it or a lump in my sock or a rock stuck on the bottom of my shoe, or something. After running for a few yards, the pain of it went away, but it was still something that at this point in my race, would worry me, as I wouldn't even be halfway done with the race yet and I can be pretty sure it would just get worse. After walking the final time, the pain was worse, and so this is something I have to keep an eye on. It's possible that I may need to change shoes or socks halfway through the race. That may create different pressure points on my feet. When I took my sock off and looked at it tonight when I got home, I couldn't see anything, so if there is a blister it's under the callus. So I need to pumice away those calluses as quickly as possible now during my showers. I know blisters tend to form under calluses and it is good to keep them worn down. Previously I haven't had to worry about it, but with my runs getting longer and longer, now I'm going to have to be proactive about it.
My last walk break was actually 21-1/2 miles into the run, not 21. I hit the 21 mile mark just before the beginning of a long shallow descent, so I waited another half mile until the descent became an ascent and took my walk break then.
I have to say, I think I held up pretty well considering this is my longest training run to date (for any event I've done). In the last mile, I may have tried to push a little bit more than I should have. I now have some pain in my right glute. I haven't had pain here before. I was expecting pain in my groin and hip/flexor area, because that's where it normally hurts the most after a long run. There was some, and part of me was hoping there wouldn't be any using this run/walk strategy. But its not too bad, and actually my glute pain is the worst pain right now, two hours later. Hopefully I didn't pull something and it'll go away. I might need a good massage tonight to work out the soreness. ;)
My fueling plan was to consume a more calories, especially on a run this long. I was going to fuel every six miles. Good opportunity while walking. At my six-mile walk break I took a Hammer Gel. At my 12-mile walk break I took half a Clif bar. I couldn't eat the whole thing in three minutes and while I could have finished it while running, I chose not to. Well my stomach was rumbling a mile or two later and I decided to finish my Clif bar at my next walk break, after mile 15. So I did, I couldn't finish it in three minutes, so I finished it while running. My stomach was still feeling empty and rumbling a little bit so I decided to continue on my planned fueling strategy and consume more calories three miles later at mile 18. I had a Lava gel. The gels go down quicker than chewing a bar. I may have to consider buying some more. I don't feel like I hit a wall or anything, so my fueling worked. I did feel a little cramping in my belly towards the end of the run, but that could have been a hydration issue. I drank every three miles, and sometimes in between. When it's cold I don't feel thirsty, but I should plan on drinking more as it warms up. I also had puffy fingers, which again could be contributed to hydration, and also some head pressure when I sniffed. All can be attributed to hydration. I may need to drink more. I know I'll need to drink more during the race, and as it warms up and I sweat more.
All in all, this was a successful experiment for run/walking. I am going to continue to run/walk the remainder of my long runs, as I believe it will lead to quicker recovery. One thing I noticed was that my walking only added about a minute to my average mile pace. Not bad at all. And once I get on the trails, and my running pace is slower, I think it will add even less to my average. That's a good sign. For the recovery benefits it will give me, I'll take a minute slower.
Okay, well, I'm showered and re-fuelled and now it's time get the kids in bed and get my glute massaged and get to bed myself. I have five miles tomorrow. (By the way, I ran a hilly 5K race yesterday, so if it did affect this run I couldn't tell. If I hadn't run that race today may have gone even better.)
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