I wish I could say that this morning’s step-back 12-miler was the exhilarating slab of cake I was anticipating.  But it wasn’t, and I have only myself to blame due to a series of fatal errors made by none other than yours truly.  My epic failure began with breakfast.  Growing exhausted of eating the same pre long run breakfast for weeks on end (a whole wheat english muffin with one fried egg and 1/4 of an avocado), I decided to mix things up by having a peanut butter sandwich with my cup of coffee.  This was the beginning of the end.  When it came time to pack up my running fuel, I grabbed the Skratch but bypassed my usual peanut butter GU.  I’d just eaten peanut butter and the thought of having more of this flavor (which I love) made my stomach turn.  So I reached for some fruit punch Sport Beans instead.  (I’ve used these a lot in the past and have tolerated them well, but they have not been a part of my training repertoire this time around.)

All was still going according to plan at 7:30am when I met up with two of my running pals.  KKD and I intended to log the entire distance together while our friend, GH, would  accompany us for 6ish miles.  We set out strong and engaged in conversation, catching up on one another’s lives.  I’m not sure what made me look down at my Garmin but when I did found that we were running at an 8:30 pace, too fast (for me) to sustain for a 12 mile training run.  I quickly pointed this out and we all slowed down a bit, weaving our way back the way we came.  Once KKD and I parted ways with GH, we filled our waters and set off to complete the remaining 6 miles.  The conversation continued to flow and I suppose I simply forgot to take in any fuel.  It was not until mile 9, when it hit me.  Dizziness, and the fact that I hadn’t taken in any calories other than those from Skratch.  I tried to ignore my lightheadedness, as I wolfed down some Sport Beans and chased them with my dwindling water supply.  It was really hot, I rationalized.  I continued to plod along but finally had to succumb to reality and walk.  KKD was very supportive and understanding, but I was pissed.  This run, a fraction of the 19 miles I logged last weekend, was supposed to be easy.  This run was supposed to skyrocket my self-confidence.  This run was supposed to be fun.  Alas, it was none of these things. It was hard and very uncomfortable.  But I pulled up my big-girl shorts and finished the run, running, and cursing my desire to regard food as something with which to get creative, not merely as fuel.

“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of maintaining consistency in your training.”  Hal Higdon

No truer words have ever been spoken.