On Saturday I went on a 9.5 mile run and I think it’s fair to say it was NOT a good run. I think it’s fair to say I experienced a serious bout of muscle fatigue. That, combined with the bitching, moaning and crying, just about did me in. I suspect it about did my running partner in too. (Sorry, Carl. Thanks for putting up with all my drama.)

I felt OK, contrary to what I would have expected, for about the first 4 miles. After that, my legs felt like they weighed approximately 1,000 lbs. each. Not cool. I have felt like this one other time – in the Chicago Rock-n-Roll 1/2 at about mile 9. At that point I thought I couldn’t go on. I did, but I went slowly, and my overall time suffered because of it. Same thing this past weekend. At about mile 6 or 7 I just felt like I could not go on. I want that feeling to never come again. I have been reading a little about my VO2 max and levels of lactic acid (threshold) in my muscles, but I know very little about it. From what I do understand, there’s a point at which the threshold has been crossed; something to do with oxygen, and there’s little that can be done. Just keep training. Keep running. Keep going.

Ok, but that just SUCKS.

I even said outloud at some point that I was really trying to just enjoy myself. I reminded myself to look up at the sky, the gorgeous surroundings of trees and bluffs and river, as opposed to my feet that were failing me. I reminded myself that I am running for better health, so that I may stick around as long as possible; that I am running because I can and that I am in the minority in this regard. I reminded myself that running is a serious mindfuck and that I am stronger than I think I am. Alas, my body said no and my mind followed. I get a “daily kick in the butt” email from Runner’s World. Today’s, fittingly, was “If you can train your mind for running, everything else will be easy.” Even more odd, that quote is by Amby Burfoot, who I didn’t know about until last night, when I picked up a book called “No Need For Speed.” In the acknowledgements, the author thanks Amby for his encouragement through the years. Maybe these kinds of little coincidences mean something. Maybe I need more oxygen.

At least I got in a long training run before the Waddell and Reed half marathon this coming Saturday in Kansas City. At this point, I am still just in these things to finish. And get the medal, of course.

On a lighter note, I was surprised on Sunday when I experienced not one ounce of soreness from the previous day’s torture. Seriously, not a bit. I was perfectly fine. To be honest, I was kind of counting on a little soreness, just to prove to myself I’d done something extreme the day before. I didn’t even need a nap Saturday afternoon. Hmmm…