My worst day of running EVER!

Okay - so I discovered today that not only am I NOT a morning runner, but I had better get my training in gear so that I can become one! My 10K is in 3 weeks - and it's in the morning!

I decided to do a 6 mile run first thing this morning, since I'll be racing 6 miles in just a few weeks...... It's a good thing I did! I would have been MISERABLE if I did as poorly on race day as I did today! This was my worst run EVER.

Normally, I run mid-afternoon or early evening, whichever my schedule will allow. I've been putting in some awesome weeks, and had peaked with an 18 mile week, 2 weeks ago. I've felt very strong, and my running has been becoming more "effortless". In addition, the last 6 mile run I did, I ran consistant 8 minute mile splits, and felt good when I was done.

Imagine my surprise, when this morning, my body completly shut down! My first mile, I had a 7.5 minute split. Then, all of the sudden - my muscles were HEAVY, I felt incredibly THIRSTY, and I just simply could not run! On my route there is about a 3/4 mile hill that I run up, before it plateaus out for another 2 miles or so...... well - today, I could NOT make it up the hill. I've run that hill many, many times - and felt good doing it.... but today - I had to WALK. The dreaded WALKING when you're supposed to be running! I'm telling you, I didn't even run/walk my routes when I was first starting my training! Today, after I've had weeks and weeks of solid training, and peaking at my longest distances..... I had to WALK.

As I was walking, and feeling completely defeated...... I started to analyze what was going wrong. A few things occured to me:
1) I'm not used to running first thing in the morning
2) I was probably dehydrated because normally, after my morning coffee, I am extremely good about getting in atleast 32 oz of water or more during the day to prepare for my afternoon run
3) I had not eaten! Oh, sure, I grabbed 1 banana when I got up - because I knew I needed something, but I didn't want to run with food in my stomach NOR had I eaten many carbs the night before. My evening meal was chicken and vegetables. I was beginning to understand the importance of "carbo-loading"

I did manage to complete the 6 miles - but I bet I walked nearly 2 of them total. When I reached the 3 mile mark, and had to turn around to come home, I didn't think I was going to make it. My mile splits were horrible, after that first "good one". They were between 9 and 10 minutes!

I came back - and reminded myself of what I read in my running book...... "Good runners look at their failures as learning experiences". I'm really glad that I learned this of myself, and my running NOW. I've got 3 weeks to do something about it!

I'm going to do some more research of how to plan for my eating and hydration for morning runs (I'm guessing it means that I have to get up EARLIER so that I have time for a light breakfast and to let it digest before going to run!), as well as considering some "carbo-loading" in my evening meals. Come to think of it - I do remember eating the giant plates of spaghetti before track meets! I'm also going to be shifting my running to the mornings. I need one more week of "peak training" before I taper off before the big day.

I sure hope I can get myself adjusted in time! And - I never want to have a day of running like I did this morning...... that was miserable!

Shauna