Workout Finished!!!

   At 7:08pm this evening, my Garmin forerunner played its little song and displayed the message "workout finished".  Little did it know how much weight those two words and cheesy little song carry at that moment.  It signifies the end of all my training since May 22nd (the day after the Bluenose Marathon) but it means much more.  It signifies 915k of running.  It signifies 630k of cycling.  It signifies over 77000 calories burnt.   It signifies running in rain so heavy that I had to share a track with ducks.  It signifies running in weather so hot and humid that I was visualizing dark spots in my vision.  It signifies the first time I had to quit a training run due to heat.  It signifies ice packs on sore knees, feet and hips.  It signifies bloody, raw, chafed nipples.  It signifies the days that I didn't want to go out and run, but I did anyway. It signifies a blue toenail that has never really healed all summer.  It signifies my moodiness during times when I was simply exhausted (my apologies to Stacey, family and friends).  It signifies carrying bottles of gatorade and water around with me.  It signifies my first sub 4 minute kilometer training run.  Most of all, it signifies the end. 

   This Sunday, I get my second chance at the Valley Harvest marathon.  As most of you already know, my first shot at the Valley Harvest last year was a lesson in failure and humiliation.  I felt good going into that race last year only to be spanked into tears by an IT band injury and an unexpected temperature of 26C.  I finished with a 5:22 time.  ouch.  I learned the hard way that you can't throw together 5 or 6 long runs in September with a few tempo runs thrown in and not pay the price for a lack of preparation.   I hired my coach the week after last years fiasco.

  Will this year be any different?  Well I know the weather will be cooler.  I didn't sign up until Monday, once I saw the long range forecast was looking good. Am I prepared for this one?   Definately.  Will my IT band hold up this year?  I hope so, I still have a suspicion that the crown in the road may have contributed to my injury last year.  That will be confirmed within the first 2 hours this year.

  I my coach and I have discussed a goal time for Sunday.  I know what I'll be happy with.  I want the first number to be a "3", not a "5".  But for now, I'm going to enjoy the next two days immensely and not concern myself with Sunday at all.  I'll be to busy humming a cheesy little Garmin Forerunner "workout finished" song in my head.

Onward and Upward