Loving Your Twenties

I am in the throes of 20-Miler Madness! That is where, every weekend, you walk for 4 1/2 hours and discover the answer to the age-old question: "how many of my Lever 2000 parts can hurt at once?" Today, the answer was: my glutes; my hip abductors; my lower back; my mid back; my upper back; my neck; and my tummy (ooooog). My legs and hip flexors were blessedly normal, so it was definitely better than last week!

A few random thoughts as I am in the Madness.

1) Packing light. I have started bringing a few essentials with me - a wet-nap (usually stolen from a BBQ joint), two chewable Pepto, and two Tums. The wet-nap is because you might need it. Like, NEED it. Don't make me spell things out for you. The Pepto is for when the Dreadnought Nausea hits you, which it WILL, if you are going 20 miles. I took mine at mile 14 today which was way too early, because around mile 19 I was negotiating with the Lord so that I would not start dry-heaving. That's when you take the Tums, which have electrolytes (calcium) and tummy-settling powers, although not as much as the Pepto. How do I carry this crap around? I used to bring a fuel belt, but it's a bit rough on the back and I like to travel light. So now I put my little items into a plastic ziploc, then fold it up so that the corners do not stab me, then I stick it in the side of my bra under my armpit. It works. It works great. I don't even notice the plastic baggie at all, if it's properly folded. If you are not a lady, you can probably get away with stuffing such a thing into your hat or your shoelaces. The bag keeps sweat from getting all up in your Tums.

2) Decide how many 20-milers you want to do. I had originally planned on 2, then moving up to 22 for two weeks. Now I am going to do 20 miles four times. I want to really master this distance. Going farther will probably not be helpful for the race. I don't expect this race to be a PR, anyway. My new goal is to finish my final 20-miler with minimal limping, groaning, and holding my back like a pregnant woman.

3) You are at the point in your training where you can basically eat anything you want in the days surrounding your long workout. Go for it. Seriously. Indulge. Diets are great and all, but you cannot lose enough weight to make a difference in your performance at this point. You need the carbs and the salt. If you feel bloated, you know it's working.

4) In the weeks before a race, you must be vigilant about avoiding sickness. Especially if you are racing at a time of year where colds are rampant. Don't touch your face. Wash your hands frequently. Avoid sick people. Illness can cause you to skip a long workout, and you don't want it to screw up your race. You CAN work out with a head cold, but if you have a fever, chest cough, or a stomach bug, do NOT work out. Better to skip a long workout than to try and gut it out through a workout that takes a lot out of you on a GOOD day.