Fatigue: it didn't get to me today

As noted in recent posts, I often seem to hit a wall at around 9 to 11 miles. Today I would try to break through that wall and go for 12 or so. More importantly, I wanted to get my pace down below ten minutes per mile for at least three consecutive miles so I can also call it a tempo run. As recently as two months ago, I was doing this fairly regularly on my 9.5-mile route around Conservation Park in Panama City Beach. Since then, my running performance hasn't been quite so great. But of course, we know that progress isn't always in a straight line. 

After five miles on Lester Rail Trail, I picked up the pace. I managed to get those three consecutive tempo-paced miles in (9:27, 9:17, 9:13)... and then I crashed. Up to that point, each mile had gotten faster. But now I was done. I got back to the car a little past mile ten. I still wanted to do 2 more, even though I was dead tired. So I went back out. That's when the deer flies attacked.

It was all I needed: an excuse that didn't have to use the words, tired, fatigued, bonked, etc. Nope, this time it was the deer flies that did me in.

(Of course, if I wasn't so tired, maybe I could've outrun them.)

As long as it gets. Today's run, turn by turn

303

Why can't I run 18 or more miles at a shot anymore? Because I can't even run 14. Recognizing once again that progress isn't on a straight line, and that my overall mileage has in fact improved over time, I nonetheless desperately want to be able to do these long runs once again. Thus today's goal is 12-14. Maybe next week I'll be able to extend that further, but one run at a time. I turn from my subdivision onto 303. To avoid traffic, I run as little as possible on this busy state route, but in this early Saturday morning gloom, it's not too bad. I'm as awake as I can be at this hour. I guess.

Substation

Now I'm headed South, into the light wind. The route will take me down several semi-rural roads like this one. It's been a while since I've tackled this 11-mile course. (I am aware that 11 is not 12 to 14, but I can add some on after I return home.) I like these byways a lot, so long as the traffic is light. Substation's speed limit is 45, and there is little room to get off to the side when a car does go by. I pick up the pace a little, but these few miles are mostly downhill. I reflect that I'm running alone on a Saturday, and how unusual that is. But all my peeps are off doing races this weekend. Oh, how I wish I could do that as well.

Hamilton

After the turn from Substation, I run downhill some more as I pass miles 4 and 5, and a few cars go by, mostly around the Marks intersection. I'm still doing okay, although I become a little concerned when I struggle a little much going up the hill to Abbeyville.

Abbeyville

Okay, this is getting real. I'm only a little past half-way, and I'm slowing to a crawl. I guess the trifecta of Thursday's oral surgery, the resulting penicillin, and yesterday's second Covid booster has gotten to me.

Muntz

This is just a short uphill stretch, but I'm practically walking. Nothing hurts, especially, but I am Soooo tired.

Sleepy Hollow

Now I'm heading East again, and it feels like I'm finally on my way home. Never mind that I've still got 4 miles to go, and that I'm barely moving. I just want to lay down on the side of the road and go to sleep. But that won't get me there, now will it? I should say that even though today's run is most assuradly not going as well as I wanted it to, I'm still enjoying it. A wild turkey runs across the road up ahead, and I'm enjoying all the other birds and mammals that I'm encountering as well.

Substation

At this point, I am not physically able to go any slower, so I speed up. But only a bit. With only two miles to go, I can smell home.

303 and back in the subdivision

Lots of traffic on 303, but that's to be expected; it's taken me 30-60 minutes longer than it should have to get back here, so it's practically mid-day (not really). I squash any thoughts of adding anything on to the 11 miles to get up to 12 or beyond; I am done. No, let me correct that. I am done done.

Progress not in a straight line

Progress: it's not in a straight line anymore. Okay, it never was.

Since I began running again late last year, my weekly mileage has increased and my pace has decreased. I'm not where I was 18 months ago, but the overall trend is hopeful and slightly encouraging. But there have also been a few minor setbacks along the way. Although setbacks should be expected (and possibly even planned for) each one takes a while from which to recover.

The most recent setback involves the 26-day cruise from Miami to Italy. I did run on the ship, but the quality just wasn't there. And then the trip itself along with Easter weekend slowed me down some more.

Now, it's time to build back better. Don't judge me; I'm workin' on it.

Cruisin'

Running fast has occasionally been referred to as cruising. Running fast is most assuredly not what this post is about. It's about a different type of cruising; the type you do when you get fat and don't exercise. And on the Oceania Marina sailing from Miami to Trieste, Italy, that's pretty much what I did. But I did run a little.

Okay, maybe you could say I ran a bit more than a little. Not that I didn't get fat and hardly exercise, mind you, but even so, run mile after mile, I did. It was all-around deck 15 at 10 laps per mile, once again. But that was only when they had it opened up. Most days, especially sea days, it was closed due to high winds. And believe me, you do not want to be caught up there when the winds are blowing. So the majority of my miles were on the mill. I made the best of the situation, such as it was.

Don't get me wrong. When you do run on deck, it can be awesome to watch the night sky give way to the rising sun. It's especially fantastical when we're also coming into port. I only wish I'd been allowed up there more.

I did finally get land-based runs in during our stops at Katakolon, Greece, and Corfu, Greece. These were just short runs when I had a little time. Katakolon was short and hilly, but it sure felt good.

And why didn't I run on dry land (any more than that) when we were in port? The short answer is that I didn't have the time. We were busy at every port, seeing and experiencing things. I may have had some time in a couple of the afternoons, but by then I was totally worn out.

For more on the cruise without the running content, click here.