14 Tough Miles - Really? A Marathon?

Today was a tough 14 mile run. I was fine for most of it. The last few miles though were tough. What made it tougher was a slip and almost fall a mile from home.

I ran from home to the lakefront path. Yes, I joined the thousands of folks out there training for Chicago today. It was a sunny and a bit foggy, but still a pleasant along Lake Michigan. I headed off and felt good as I ran along the path. I felt pretty strong and I weaved through various runners and cyclers.

I was happy to see folks I know out there. Makes it pleasant when you can wave and say hi to someone you know.

I met Mark after the halfway point. He had my replacement bottle of NUUN. I needed it as the humidity was making my a bit parched.

On the return trip I started to feel sluggish about the 9 mile mark. I slowed down, but did my best to keep the 8/1 interval. I went to a 6/1 interval at mile 11.

During this sluggish period, I did what many runners training for a marathon ask themselves....can I really do this marathon thing? I sure felt like it would have taken me forever. The last mile did take forever. I entered the campus of Loyola University Chicago, and as I was stepping up on the sidewalk, I tripped. I kind of tweaked the right hip. I almost fell, so my hip did some weird thing. I decided not to push things too hard. So I began to walk a little and run a little. I would run a block, walk a block. So my time is not sterling.

I am glad to have this run out of the way. I worry about the 16, 18, and 20 mile runs coming up though.

Charlie