There is so much irony in today, that somehow this has to be funny. It will be, someday. But not today.
I'm allowed to cry today. Just today. Then I'm done.
That whole weather/heat thing I was worried about? And I tried really hard to ignore it but checked a few more times and watched the low and high temperatures creep up, up, and up some more?
It did me in.
The thing that just kills me, and Robyn sort of hit this on the head, is that I did SO many things right this training cycle. I ate clean, got up so early and nailed EVERY. SINGLE. RUN. that I did. I am leaner and without a doubt, much stronger than I was in October. I knew I had this. I just knew it.
I told my friends about 11 days before the race (aka the night before the first time I could check the weather report) that "I am ready for anything that might throw at me--except heat, of course! LOL"
LOL. LOL, indeed.
In the past 4 months, I have not done one run outside in a temperature warmer than 36 degrees.
Not one.
I did two treadmill runs of 14 miles when the ice and wind chills were so bad. They sucked, but I did them. All of my morning runs were inside. Every single one.
Today, the low was 61 and the high was 81 in Athens. It was, quite literally, the warmest day of 2014. And probably the warmest of the past 6 months. 35+ degrees warmer than any outside run I have done since September.
And I really wanted to believe it wouldn't be that bad, because how could it? I have nailed every single run I have done this session and then some. My buddies have been surprised at me, because I'm not usually the one setting the pace--I'm usually the one frantically trying to keep up.
I did everything right.
It didn't matter.
See, I have this thing that I don't like to admit or talk about, but it's this irregular heart thing involving extra beats. And I've been aware of it for over 20 years, and it almost never ever causes me problems. The only time I EVER notice is when it's hot. Temperatures that to many don't seem too warm can really mess me up, big time: crazy high heart rates that defy all logic.
I realized at mile 9 today that I felt like it was mile 22. And mile 9 is entirely too early to feel like it's mile 22.
I kept going, but I knew that it was only going to get hotter, and my heart was doing that racing in the heat thing again, and it was just too early for that.
So I did what was really, really difficult: I decided I was done at 13.1. I decided I was going to stop and try again at Cleveland, even though Cleveland is usually too hot for me to succeed.
It was hard. I said the F word and cried a lot. I wanted to keep going.
But it wasn't going to work, and I knew it. So I cried some more, and I'm crying a bit here while I type and then I'm done because I have to go to work tomorrow and I can't be sniffling while teaching World History and doing practice DBQs.
To quote the great Forrest Gump, that's about all I have to say about that.
What kind of kills me the most is that I know I can do this. That, and Tuesday is supposed to be 36 degrees and snowing both in Athens and Cleveland.
You're soooo FUNNY, Mother Nature! $(#)%&!
So much irony in the ONE SINGLE DAY I would have loved it to be 40 degrees and cloudy, it was in the mid 70s and not a cloud was in the sky. So much irony in that I am in the best shape of my life and I have to stop--no, I made the decision to stop, which I think is even harder--trying to reach a goal that I know that I absolutely can achieve.
Got home, and got this shirt in the mail finally that I was hoping would come before the race so I could wear it. It's from this shop, and I kind of love it:
Elle est forte. She is strong. Proverbs 31:25
"She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future" --Proverbs 31:25
It was just a bit too late--in fact, I missed it by probably just a few minutes as we left yesterday afternoon. Just missed it.
But she is strong. She will try again.
She will also cry for about another hour though.
3 comments:
I stumbled across your blog earlier today, and though I don't know you at all, I am crying, too. From the posts that I've read, I know that you are a strong lady - fierce and fearless. Kudos to you for listening to your body and making the brave (but correct) choice today. I'll be following you and virtually cheering you on in Cleveland. Big hugs!!
I am so sorry! And yes, you are allowed to cry! I feel like crying after reading this entry. I've had two A-races where the weather simply bitch-slapped me :-) And it doesn't matter if it was the weather, it was still *our* race and I know you put so much into this race. At the very least, know that many women are jealous over the fact you're "leaner" and we're all wondering "How'd she do that?" That's the real question. (I always like to try and make people laugh in their time of sorrow.) Again, I'm so sorry! And sending good vibes to you (and the weather gods) for Cleveland!
Found your blog through Salty Running and THAT post made ME, lifelong plodder, slowpoke, striver, cry. And yes, you're allowed to cry anytime you want to, but you're also allowed to pick yourself up and carry on and do your best and not worry about the things you can't control. All the best for Cleveland!!
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