My second week out of town and the week before my Quarter Marathon (6.56 miles) was one for the records. 18 total miles and a 9 mile long run that felt 7 miles plus a lifetime on the worst roads in Georgia. My first 2 runs of 5 and 4 miles respectfully were both fantastic. Had a bit of the calf issue, but hardly worth noting.
After 4 rock shows in 3 days, I was up for a 9 mile long run in Agusta, GA. My first thought was that I would run it in VFF KSO’s. Just get the Cardio in since I have a race next week, but after walking outside the Holiday Inn off of I-20 exit 194, I revised my decision and set out fully bare. It was 80, muggy, and overcast but I had my Fuel Belt, GU’s, Sunglasses, and a positive outlook.
The first mile was on some terrible Chip Seal right after I got off the property and although for mile 1, this was no problem, I knew coming back was going to be a rough road (pun intended). I got out to a main drag where I spent most of the next 4 miles running each foot a bit on the white line that flanks the road way. This provided a nice smooth surface, but for only part of the time.
I am also convinced this altered my form a bit which didn’t really hurt me, but I could feel some odd twinges by the end of the run. Mile 5 was off a small road where the pavement was much smoother. I wanted to just run around there a bit, but I was already past half way and needed to make my way back or I would be flagging down a Bulldogs fan for a ride. By mile 7, the Chip Seal had caught up to my feet and although I was still able to maintain form and cardio wasn’t an issue, my feet were slowly sending me painful messages at an increasing rate. The last .5 miles was back uphill on the worse part of the whole run and I almost fainted with pain on the bottom of my feet.
Funny thing, when I got back up the room, took a shower and washed my feet, the pain had mostly subsided and there weren’t any real “hot spots” to mention. No blisters, no glass or rocks, just a sensitive foot. Today, after a long drive home through the night from Raleigh, NC to Bethesda, MD, a nap and an acoustic show on a dock in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, I feel pretty good. Good that did my 9 miles and my feet feel on par with most days after a run.
It might have been ambitious of me to do the 9 miles on bad roads, or at least on roads I didn’t know anything about that turned out to be bad, but in the end I am happy to not have folded or reduced my form to cause blisters or something worse. I am excited to get back to my bread and butter routes this week in preparation for my race on Sunday and on to the next week’s 10 mile run on familiar terrain.
Cheers, Bruno
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