I just ran my final long run of my training schedule. I still have three weeks before the LA Marathon, but I’ll be tapering down my mileage and my long runs will be much shorter (<10 miles).

I ran today’s 20.75 miles with the Hamilton HS Students Run LA group plus some adult ringers. [Sidenote: I can’t stress how great it’s been to tag along with SRLA groups. I doubt I’d feel so positive after a long run if I wasn’t running the SRLAers and had snacks/water/Gatorade from the parents at the aid stations.]

The exact number of miles for today’s run is less important than the way I felt while running them. I ran 21 miles on a tougher course last week. I knew I could complete today’s run, but I didn’t think I’d feel so great. I expected a rather crappy run given where I am in my cycle. Menstrual cramps suck more while running.

Nevertheless, I felt awesome today. I had flashbacks to the Long Beach half marathon last fall, probably because I was doing oceanside running for a portion of the run. I remember feeling strong, fast and thankful that I could run. I reflected on how far I’d come in my fitness. It was more than enough to make a chillona like myself a little emotional as I neared the finish line and achieved my goals.

This morning, I felt happy, fast, strong and thankful once again. I felt comfortable at a sub-10 pace for most of the 20ish miles. I loved the course which began with the last 10.2 miles of the marathon (Wilshire -> Santa Monica -> Sawtelle -> Ohio -> Federal (for the marathon, we’d go through the Veteran’s Center, but we went around) -> San Vicente -> Ocean). I loved running down San Vicente, which I just learned is a perfect street for running (slight decline, shady, nice sidewalks, bike lane, wide grassy medium for those who want a softer surface, plenty of runners and bikers, especially today as folks training for the marathon got in their last long run before the taper). I enjoyed the beautiful view as I ran down Ocean Blvd, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Pier. I wanted to stop and send a photo to my sister saying “wish you were here” but kept going. And I was thankful for my abilities and a sunny yet cool morning. [The photo above is from August ’09. If I took it today, the skies and beach would be clear.]

The run back from the beach wasn’t as scenic. I kept getting caught at stop lights, which was annoying because I’d have to stop mid-stride. On a bad run, I hope for red lights, but not today. I wore a light jacket, and got a little too warm in it as I expected, but I’d rather be a little warm than too cold at 7 am when we started.

Now I get to recover from my run for a few days. I’ll enjoy the taper and try to patiently wait for the marathon. But it’ll be tough. I can’t wait wait to run through my city.

Stats:

Today’s total: 21.4 miles (20.75 long run, .65 warm-up)
Time: 3:27:10 (9:59 pace), no walking!
Fuel: banana & peanut butter toast for breakfast; GU packs (gross!) at miles 4.5, mile 9, mile 17; orange slices (mile 4.5), homemade shortbread with chocolate (mile 14), some Cheez-Its (mile 16) all from the parent volunteers on the course; and plenty of water

In the last ten days, I’ve had a couple of bad runs. I know they come with the territory, but two in a short period messes with my confidence. The first came a mere 36 hours after giving blood. In my running log, I wrote, “worst. run. ever.” I try to avoid unnecessary periods and hyperbolic claims, but after that 6-miler, I couldn’t help it. I know my problem that day could be attributed to giving blood. Six days later, I struggled through another 6-miler, which I attributed to menstrual cramps. When I tweeted my frustration, Marlene, the Students Run LA coach at my local high school, suggested nerves might be a problem. I didn’t think so. My nerves were fine and I was actually excited about my next long run, the SRLA 18-mile Friendship Run at Hansen Dam.

Yes, I was excited for 18 miles. And, I won’t lie, a little nervous.

Early Sunday morning, I got ready, grabbed my pre-packed bag and headed off with Sean to the Valley. I checked in, picked up my bib and timing chip, warmed up and stretched. I gave Sean my light jacket — totally unnecessary as it was already sunny and warming up, highs were in the upper 70s — before lining up with the crowd.

Shortly after 8, the race started without much fanfare. I waved goodbye to Sean and left the park surrounded by SRLA kids in white, their coaches in yellow and others training for the LA Marathon.

The course is a 9-mile loop starting at the Hansen Dam Park out to the roads in a boring business/industrial and suburban area. We do an out-and-back to the aptly named Shadow Hills, which were tough on the second loop but provided some much-needed shade. Around mile 7, the course veers up a short steep hill onto the bike path across the Hansen Dam. To the left, we look down at Sunday morning golfers and to the right is the park. For 2 miles up ahead, all you see is a steady stream of runners.

I ran the first 9-mile loop faster than expected (about 1:25) and without my GU Chomps. Sean couldn’t get to our meeting point in time due to road blocks and parking restrictions. The hills were tough, but I felt fine. After I realized I’d likely have to go the first loop without Chomps, I hoped the banana and half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich would be good enough. I drank water at every station. At the end of the dam/halfway point, I was grateful for the parents and other supporters offering pretzels, orange slices and Red Vine. I’ve never had a more delicious orange.

I needed those calories for the second loop. It was tough and showed in my slower splits and grimaces on my face. Everything was more difficult. It was hotter and sunnier. The hills seemed longer and higher. I compensated with short breaks to drink water or Gatorade at each mile marker. The final stretch on the dam without shade nor water was more difficult than the hills. I had to take short walking breaks at that point. On the bright side, I didn’t miss Sean and got my Chomps around 12 and 16 miles.

At the end of the dam, I downed some water and tried to finish the last quarter mile strong. With the finish line in sight, I ran a little harder in an effort to finish under 3 hours as planned. I was 6 seconds over. I’m fine with that considering how many short breaks I took in the last 5 miles.

Post-race, I got my medal, t-shirt, food, juice, water and paper towel. I took a seat on a curb and devoured some snacks and water. A few minutes later, I met up with Sean at out our meeting point under a shady tree. I stretched, ate and drank some more, and tried to wipe off the salt from my arms and face. We checked my official time and placing before leaving the festivities in park where lots of schools/families were grilling for their runners. We returned to West LA and picked up some burritos (protein and carbs!). Afterward, I sat in an ice bath for 15 minutes before getting ready to go to my mom’s to watch the Super Bowl. I made it through half time before taking a nap. In the evening, Lori gave me a massage to help in my recovery.

I’m sore today, but not as bad as I expected. The ice bath and massage definitely helped.

***

Last week, Marlene told her team, “I always tell my students that if you can do the 18-miler, you can do the marathon. It’s a tough course mentally,” she added. She wasn’t kidding. I doubted myself at the end and wondered what the hell I was doing training for a marathon. Still, I made it and was 6 seconds shy of my goal.

The marathon is six weeks away. I’m ready for more — hopefully cool and shady — long runs.

For the past ten weeks, I’ve been training for the LA Marathon.

Gracias a Dios, my fears about training have not been realized. I still love running and don’t see it as a chore. More importantly, I’ve managed to stay healthy with the exception of some minor foot pain in December and chafing from my sport bras (ouch!). I expect those aches and pains.

My training plan from ActiveTrainer looks like this:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Track workout or easy run
Wednesday: Easy run
Thursday: Easy run on a hilly course or tempo run (speed work)
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Long run
Sunday: Cross training or easy run

Weekday runs and cross training are always less than an hour. I’m too lazy to get to the gym, so I just do a short run on cross training days. Sometimes I skip a short run or substitute a road run for a track workout. I never skip weekend long runs, which increase gradually from 6 miles to 20-22 miles. For the most part, I like my training plan, but adjusting to it was a small challenge. I prefer running after work. In the spring and summer, that’s fine, but with the end of Daylight Saving Time and the change of seasons, I knew I had to do more runs in the morning. I’m not a morning person, but becoming one became more important after I was nearly run over at a busy intersection by a distracted driver. That shook me up. Luckily some of these schedule issues subsided during my vacation from work school.

Thanks to LA’s mild winters, I haven’t had too much of an issue adjusting to colder weather. I did do some runs in 30 and 40 degree weather in NY and rain in LA, but for the most part, it’s perfect running weather.

Yesterday morning’s long run was 16 miles. It was the first long run I did with a group, sort of. A college friend invited me to run with her students training with Students Run LA. Since the high school is around the corner and I’d been getting bored running on my own, I decided to join them. I ended up running most of the course through the Westside on my own. I didn’t see any SRLA runners after mile 6. Still, this long run felt better. I ran earlier than usual so it was cooler and a little less sunny. The route the coaches mapped out was less hilly and I had to stop more often for red lights on major streets. Additionally, there were parents on the course meeting the runners at miles 6, 12 and 14 with water and fuel. I bypassed them since I had my fuel belt with water and GU Chomps. I was the third (or fourth?) person back to the school. My friend said her students were impressed with my pace. That was a nice ego boost. I’m looking forward to more runs with the SRLA kids in the next two months including the 18-mile Friendship Run in two weeks.

I’m halfway done with training, eight weeks to go. Aver que pasa.

Immediately following the Long Beach half marathon in October, I was fired up for more races. I researched marathon training plans for individuals as well as group training programs. I sought advice from friends, including one who has trained others. I was full of doubts and questions.

Do I have the time to train? Do I really want to give up sleeping in on the weekends? Do I want to risk injury? Will training and running the marathon make me hate/fear/dread running? The last was my greatest fear. I could deal with an injury, but my self-doubt and motivation was another issue.

Instead, I signed up for shorter races with Lori. I scaled back my running goals for November and concentrated on getting faster. And then I went to New York.

According to the NY Marathon iPhone app, our friends, multi-colored dots on a Google Map, were still in Brooklyn. Despite that, we rushed downstairs with our hot chocolate and breakfast burritos to wait half a block away at 5th and 127th. According to the coverage of the marathon on television, the elite runners were currently on the Madison Avenue bridge. In a few minutes, they’d be passing through Harlem.

We finished our burritos and waited on the shady side of the street, cameras in hand for the leaders to approach. We barely had time to snap pictures as the elite men and eventual winners ran by clocking 5-minute miles. They made it look easy.

We took a break from our post and walked to Rite-Aid to buy poster board and markers. Sean knew several people running the marathon and I knew a couple. I made signs and for the next few hours we cheered both friends and strangers. When it got too cold, we went back to his warm apartment.

While I had fun cheering, I also was jealous. I wanted badly to jump in and run the last six or so miles of the course, but I was in jeans and had just eaten a big breakfast.

I ran the route the next day, albeit backwards. Bundled up and with an iPod Shuffle full of podcasts and music, I ran my usual route to and through Central Park. Halfway through the outer loop of the park, I passed the marathon finish line. I dodged workers busy dismantling spectator stands and temporary fencing. A few tourists and runners (easily identifiable with their marathon bags) posed for photos under the sign. I smiled and kept going.

Early the next morning, I returned to LA. I went back to work and signed up for the LA Marathon.

While I’d had my finger on the trigger since running Long Beach, my weekend in NY definitely made me squeeze it.