Training for a race is an exercise in discipline. In January 1, 2014
I set my sights on running the 2014 Falmouth Road Race. I
established a training schedule of strength training, workouts, and
running. January, February, March........I trained 2x/week with free
weights, DVDs, stationery bike. And I ran. I ran with discipline,
logged 10-15 miles per week at first. By July I was running 20-25
miles weekly. I ran outside in all kinds of temps & trained on hills in
my neighborhood. Hills. Every street is on a hill in my
neighborhood. I managed to run up all but the highest hill. That one
hill, the one I call "Killer-manjaro", continues to get the best of me,
and I'm forced to do a walk-run to the top.
When the weather got hot and humid, I turned up the AC and
ran on my treadmill. I bought an interactive app for my iPad and
"ran" the Falmouth RR on my treadmill. All systems were go.
ONE WEEK before the race, I got sick with an infection. Doc
put me on heavy duty antibiotics and pain killers. As I sobbed in the
exam room that I had been training for Falmouth, he told me "no,
won't be able to run Falmouth." I was heartbroken. However, he
left the room, the nurse disagreed. "Of course you'll be able to run
it!" I'd be on the meds for a week, no problem.
FRR August 2014: Without a doubt the worst run of my life. My legs were weak, I had no speed at all, no stamina, diarrhea, and exhaustion. But I finished that damn race. I haven't run since.
