Rest Day Wonderings

I opted to invoke the "I'm starting my taper and am still trying to kick this cold so I don't want to overdo it" clause in my training plan today and not run. This morning it was 35 degrees and pouring rain. The treed area out back was a slushy slurry of rain and snow. It was windy. And let's face it, it was just not the type of day you go out the door saying "I am excited for my run!" I decided I'd rather take an extra rest day today than run the 3 miles I had on tap. I can make up a few of the miles this week and should still be able to hit my weekly mileage. I took a shower and had an extra cup of coffee instead. And I was OK with it.

But here's the thing. It's t-minus three weeks until the Gator Trail 50k. I've been feeling pretty good about things, but there is a squiggle of nerves beginning to surface. I've gotten in some good runs, yes, but certainly haven't been doing the training, oh, say, Ryan, has. Nor have I been racing like him. So am I ready to race? Today's post on the Running and Rambling blog got me to thinking. I certainly am not comparing myself to a true ultrarunner who has run many 50 and 100 milers. I'm just planning to make Gator Trail my first 50k, earning me the bottom ranks of ultrarunner status :-) But regardless, I cannot help thinking about his post, particularly this paragraph:

I had an inner strength that was virtually indomitable. It was built through hard miles in training and smaller races leading up to the main event. It was a confidence of knowing who I was, and what I was capable of enduring. Even when my physical abilities were depleted and my emotional condition was completely thrashed, there was an overwhelming determination that none of that pain was going to keep me from reaching my goal.


I hope I can delve down into myself to find that inner strength while I'm out running along the shores of Lake Waccamaw on March 26th. I may not have the most training miles on these legs or too many recent small races leading up to this 50k, but I hope I can delve back a little further, to reach back to Stonecat and how I just kept on chugging through the miles, despite a less-than-stellar summer of training due to a nagging hip/IT/calf issue. And to the now long-ago months of walking, day after day, over mountains and through forests, in rain and snow and the summer heat, on the AT, during what was an incredible experience but one that tested us almost daily. To lots of miles run alone, with only my thoughts to carry me forward. And even to Sam's birth - while I may not have a natural birthing experience, let me assure you that a c-section and its recovery was no cake walk, so I'll take my place next to any woman who says that after childbirth most other pains don't hurt as much! I guess we all have things to draw upon if we must, if we want to. And if nothing else, I'll just be stubborn out there. That I can do well :-)