Post-20
It’s been a relatively good day, but I’m looking forward to going home and putting my feet up. Considering that I ran 20 miles yesterday, I don’t feel bad–just ready for a rest. Yesterday we got a ride home from an acquaintance, who was still hanging around the finish because her leg at cramped up at mile 7 in the half–mile 14 for her, and she had ice saran-wrapped to her leg. I hope that she’s doing well, but I don’t have her e-mail to check in with her.
I’m looking forward to the marathon, but I have to admit that I’m also looking forward to having it over with. I want the time to be able to focus on other projects. Of course, I’ve semi-commited to running the local 5M Turkey Trot a mere 18 days post-marathon, so it’s not like I’ve got a steady break in my mind.
I was amazed yesterday at how thirsty I was and I drank a lot (for me). However, my pee was incredibly dark when I got home and that was the first time in seven hours that I had relieved my bladder. I’ll try to drink more, but I can’t imagine it. Fortunately, the marathon will have a fluid station every mile.
And sleep…I want to sleep. I will sleep early tonight and it will be WONDERFUL!
October 15, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Hey!! This is take two for me because my last message to you got deleted and I couldn’t bring myself to retype it all. ANYWAY, first off, you amaze me so much!!! SO MUCH. I finally ran my first and last marathon and did the Chicago. I have to thank you because all those years of reading your blog were such a huge help since I somewhat knew what to expect with the getting up early, getting there early, and all the pre-marathon stuff. Thank-you so much
I read that earlier you were writing about the water/gatorade shortage at Chicago and I must say that I had no problems whatsoever with getting enough water/gatorade. I’m the sort of person who was taught in XC never to drink while running, and obviously that doesn’t work in a marathon, but for the first half I didn’t even stop at all the water stations — I think the were every three miles up until 10 miles or so — then I’m pretty sure they were every mile. As for me, my time and everything sucked. I was shooting for 3:30:00 and was on target up until mile 14 or so when my knee started to bother me. Around mile 21.5 I had to stop running because the knee problem was too painful to continue running (and scraping isn’t good). I wound up getting 4:25:something, but I finished by walking the last miles up to the 400m mark. My gosh is it painful to walk!!! I would have been better off had I been able to run. Even so, I was thinking of you!! I have NO idea how you are able to run so many of these!! You are a huge inspiration though!! I’m set on switching to biking now because my knee is (let’s face it) pretty shot. I don’t know much about biking, but I figure if I can go really fast maybe I can race someday 
I know you do biking too, so I’m going to have to try my best to keep up with reading your blog!! I was having computer difficulties for a while now so my internet use was fairly minimal, but now I’ll have to catch up. Take care, good luck on your up-coming marathon, and thank-you so much for being an inspiration!! Sorry I haven’t been reading often as I should/would like!!
October 15, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Maybe you started a little dehydrated somehow??
October 16, 2007 at 9:05 am
I am not much of a water drinker, but I try to envision my body dried up trying to run, the thought a lone seems so painful that I am drinking water more often. The body just functions so much better when it is well watered. 7 hours without peeing is not good.