It's been some time since I last posted but I wanted to post this blog I wrote on myspace about my training for Boston Marathon as last week was one of those weeks in training where you just feel...defeated.

I call this the mental and physical breakdown of training.

It was 4 weeks out from the Rock n Roll Arizona Marathon when I came down with a nasty 103 fever/flu. A flu that took me out of a long training run and forced me to take it easy the following week, bailing on my tempo paced run and track intervals.

It was a sign. Physically, the body needed a break.

I am now 3 and a half weeks out from the Boston Marathon and earlier this week I verbally admitted that I felt completely defeated.

Christine, meet burn out. Burn out, meet Christine.

In thinking about it, I haven't really stopped training since Wildflower Triathlon last year. There was always something on the horizon that I was training hard for: Wildflower Triathlon, Napa Half Marathon, Vineman Triathlon, numerous 10ks, Santa Barbara Half Marathon and the RocknRoll Arizona Marathon where after qualifying I found myself training for the Boston Marathon instead of hopping into Escape from Alcatraz training which is just 6 weeks after Boston. (how's that for a run on sentence?)

Don't get me wrong, I am SO thrilled to be doing Boston and honestly can't even believe I made it and am going. It's surreal since it seemed quite impossible, having the time to qualify for such a race.

But I will say this, getting up for workouts the last few weeks has seemed painful. Two marathons in 4 months is not recommended. My track workout last week was pretty decent pacewise, but my long runs haven't been so stellar and then came yesterday...

 I decided to go easy to let the brain attempt to enjoy the run and not force myself through tempo workout, despite that, the legs still felt heavy and unenergetic. This proven only by my foot not clearing an uprooted tree/piece of uneven pavement. Foot stayed, I went flying and rolled three times.  I sat in complete defeat, knee bleeding, sprained ankle. For the first time in a long time, I hated running. And that right there, made me sad and frustrated.

With another 1.5 miles to go, I got myself up and finished that run, came home and did what I had to do: ice the ankle all while admittedly feeling sorry for myself.  It took some good advice from my friends over at runango.com to really admit that I was overtrained and needing a break. At least for the sake of resting my ankle. Of course that break will be a whopping 2 days since I have my 22 miler on Saturday. (tho I will say I am looking forward to that run, let's hope the ankle comes along for the ride.) 

But wow. I haven't felt this burnt in awhile. I think part of this is knowing how much time I WON'T have to train for Escape From Alcatraz. After getting in the bay on Sunday for a short swim and out for a short bike ride thereafter, I realized how much work I have to do to be ready. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well at these races but I'd rather be prepared and feel good out there than feel completely miserable knowing that I could have put in more training. I know. Burn out is my own fault...

So goes the ins and outs of my training thus far. Training for Arizona was vastly different than how I am right now. Now Boston will be for the experience only. I won't be going for time. But still, I'd like to be prepared to get through it and have fun!

Please cross your fingers my 22 miler on Saturday goes as planned and the ankle is strong and up for the task. The group I am running includes a couple of teammates also going to Boston and apparently a few other highly amusing people so it should be a nice run, as challenging as the course will be. Wish me luck!

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A week later since that blog was written I am feeling much better and a little more rested. After icing and babying my ankle, I took two days off and ran that 22 miles with no problems. The group I ran with was great, 5 of which are also going to Boston.  22 miles up and down a few nasty hills and a nice ice bath in the San Francisco Bay afterwards. :) TAPER TIME! Since that time, I've backed off on the Aleve to see how the ankle felt and it was and is doing well. I'm icing it still and wrapping it here and there just to be on the safe side. Now it's time to keep healthy.

I'm also dropping one run a week and hopping on the bike for some much needed cross training and time on the bike. I missed it. :)

Beantown - April 16, 2007....it's countdown time!