3, 2, 1…blast off!
Ok, no, I did not go on a rocket ship today. I did run the last 10 miles of the marathon course today (Saturday), but a title like “The Final 10” or “The Last 10” just seemed so much less exciting.
So, yes, I ran the last 10 of the marathon course with a bunch of lovely ladies. I even went all #gowiththeflow-Meggie and didn’t wear a Garmin or watch.
At approximately where the finish line will be!
My prescribed run from the RC (who is now a married woman – congrats RC!) was 12 miles with the last 3 at marathon pace.
I ended up running much quicker than, umm, anticipated and I think we ran all 10 at or under marathon pace (or so the Garmin wearers told me). One of the Garmin wearers said like 8:05 avg. I was a little behind her so we’ll say like 8:10 or 8:15 or maybe 8:12 and call it a day. Pick your favorite number around there and we will call that my “average pace.”
Did it feel good? No. I felt off today. Like one of those days you wake up and no matter how far or how fast you are running, it just feels really hard.
Ashley and I finishing at the soon to be finish line. As Miley so eloquently stated, “So I put my hands up, they’re playing my song…”
Maybe I woke up at the wrong part of my sleep cycle. Maybe my yin is not balanced with my yang. Maybe my chi is malaligned or blocked. Whatever it is, I have felt sort of off all week — sleeping 8-9 hours a night but not sleeping restfully, feeling sort of like I’m fighting a cold, wanting to buy some Frye boots. Oh wait, that last one happens all of the time.
To be honest, I’m not that freaked out (and that freaks me out – ha!). In tennis, I had bad days a lot – ones where you felt like you couldn’t hit the side of a barn. Matches have streaks in them, too – one set you’re on fire, another set you’re missing everything. It never lasts forever though. We used to say the first matches were for getting all the “bad shots” out. So, this run was like getting some of those “bad shots” out. Plus, I got to practice suffering where I actually will be suffering next week.
I took a hard core nap this afternoon and felt much better. I also ate a lot more than I usually do after 10 miles (and also felt a lot better).
The plan is to sleep a lot this week and chill.
Maybe eat less sugar (for inflammatory purposes) and less caffeine, but I don’t know if I can’t make that kind of sacrifice. I mean I’ve already stopped the diet coke!
Anyways, that’s what’s up.
TELL ME: BELIEVE IN BAD DRESS REHEARSAL, GOOD OPENING NIGHT? READY FOR FRANKENSTORM?
Until next time…
The Thinks I Can Think 
The running stuff is interesting but I especially like the comment about wanting to buy some Frye boots!
gotta save up for those!
I’ve been having a lot of those runs lately that feel hard no matter what. At least you had friends around supporting you the whole way! 🙂 I’m sure you’re right about this being one of those runs that gets the bad out of your system. Plus it was good mental exercise because, like you said, you got to practice suffering on the race course.
I hope the rest of your taper goes well!
Thank you! It looks like there will be a lot of forced resting due to the hurricane!
as long as you still want to buy boots, you’re fine 🙂 maybe some post-marathon retail therapy is in order for a week from tomorrow… 🙂
yep, we’d know I was really ill if I didn’t want to shop!
Yes, I do believe in a bad dress rehearsal. That’s why we rehearse. The only day that matters is the day of. Don’t sweat the rest. You’re going to rock it!
Thanks! My college roommate told me the same thing after my last MCAT practice test wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. That turned out ok, too. 🙂
I love how everyone thought we were going too fast but no one wanted to say anything to each other. TYPICAL.
well, at least its a confidence booster!
yep, all same thoughts, yet no body shares them = MP 10 mile run.
Can’t wait to see you finish for real in a week! I try not to read in to how I feel before races because it never indicates how the race will go. We are all kinds of ready for Frankenstorm down here in Va. Already got through one high tide this morning, but tomorrow will be at least a foot higher.
I’ll be sending you joyful Believe I Am vibes this week. Happy carb loading Meggie!
Thanks! I can’t wait to see you here. Let me know where you will be cheering!
I can’t wait for a picture of you crossing the real finish line with your big & beautiful smile! Have a great week, relax, and have some fun. You are going to rock the streets of NYC next weekend. Woohoo!
I hope so!
My best gymnastics performances came in meets where I either a) had a fever or b) crashed in warmups. B happened frequently 🙂 you are gonna rock the marathon!!!!
Thanks…I hope so!
you stopped diet coke?! you are much better person than me!
the week before the NJM i had a god awful 10-mile run and it made me so nervous. like all my training was a big, fat lie. i ended up with a nice PR from that race so the 10-miler today and crappy feeling mean nothing! you will do great next sunday!!!
I know. I was craving a diet coke today. Staying strong. That’s what I want right after the marathon – a huge diet coke.
I like that you’re not too worried about it! Like you said, the weather was a little gnarly and that really helps exacerbate the “off” feeling sometimes. Plus feeling off in taper is totally normal, right? 🙂 I like your plan for this week. Also, coffee has antioxidants –> anti-inflammatory (just saying).
I mean wasn’t there that study that said coffee drinkers live longer?! More coffee, please.
Found your blog through Ali on the Run, it caught my attention because of your name… Is your given name Meggie? If so you will be the first person I’ve “met” with the same name as me 🙂 ~Meggie in MI
Hi! I am actually a Meghan, but I’ve gone by Meggie my entire life (as was the plan by my parents — they got the name from this movie called “The Thornbirds”). You’re also the first Meggie I’ve met! Even though my given name is Meghan, I sometimes won’t respond to it when people call me that as I forget it is my name! 🙂
Ditto on the Thornbirds reference, I’ve always meant to read the book or see the movie…
you quit diet coke?! I’m in AWE! damn those are some fast miles for a taper run – no wonder you were feeling off. How about a nuun a day for the last few days (and maybe some frye boots…)
Got some tangerine lime nuun all day flowing right now.
Yep, I believe in bad dress rehearsal. I also believe in feeling horrible during a race and still running well. Both happened to me. Also, not sure if you read Jeannette Faber’s blog about her WIN at Twin Cities marathon http://www.jeannettefaber.com/blog/ but she said she felt “cold, tired, and discouraged” the first 5 miles and went on to feel strong and WIN the race! That was great to read (for me) because it’s easy to think if the run starts bad it’s only going to get worse, but not always true.
You are going to have fun. You are going to do great!
okay, for someone having an off day u look WAY too stinking awesome and cute. 😉 and PS- i’m always and will forever be a Miley fan!!
great job in running the last 10 of the race course, doing a pre-race course preview is SO smart and if u’re able to do it something that’s a must. GOOD luck on race day and i hope u’re putting ur hands up and cheering when u finish then too! 🙂