Erickson Family Website

The rainy season is upon us here in Minnesota. I dodged the rain yesterday for my six mile run. Today I wasn’t so lucky. The big difference was yesterday’s run was only 50 minutes and today’s was 3 hours.

In all the times that I have trained for a marathon there has been occasions of doubts about being able to complete the doggone thing. As I started yesterday's run my right leg seemed like it had a cast on it just below the knee. Oh great this is just what I need, I thought. Although it worked itself out, I could only think about the next day’s daunting scheduled 18 mile run. There was no way that I would be able to run that far. If I wouldn’t be able to do the long run my whole training program would be out of whack. With the program out of whack, no way am I going to be able to get it done.

Throughout the rest of yesterday afternoon and night I kept thinking and worrying about today’s run. My plan was to get up early and give it a try. Alarm went off at 6:30. I checked the weather outside and it was frightening and no Rudolph to guide my sleigh. Oops wrong story. It was raining, blowing and the temp was 39 degrees. I went back to bed. I figured I would run it when I got home later in the day. We left my father in laws place and headed for home. During the ride home I would stretch and turn my right leg as best as I could just to check if it was ok. A few twinges here and there. I was still unsure about being able to complete the run.

I started thinking well I could cut the run short and just add a little on to the weeks coming up. I kept thinking well I should be okay if I get at least 12 but I will shoot for 16. My thoughts did not sit very well with me and was doing little to calm the doubts.

Okay I got to do this run. My thought was if I can’t run the whole thing I’ll walk as far as I have to get in 18. I had it planned that I would run an 8.5 loop starting at the house. That would give me a chance to change shirts and replenish my Gatorade. The plan was set so off I go. Right away the right leg wasn’t quite right. I had to tell myself to run and see if we can get it to loosen up.

Sure enough the leg started feeling like normal and all was good. There was no rain just a slight breeze at least I thought I felt a breeze on my back. My plan was to drink on the run and I did just that at 2 mile intervals. For the most part the run went very well. The slight breeze was a little more than I thought. When I turned into it was a good breeze. It had not rained at all yet. However now that I am running into the wind it starts to rain. Not very hard but the wind is blowing it right into my face. Okay Mother Nature this is not funny and this goose crap on the trail is not funny either. Don’t get me wrong I like geese but not on my running trail please. I finished the loop and picked up two new bottles of Gatorade and passed on changing shirts. I did finish all 18 on the run and yes it was all good.

What doubts? I don’t recall having any doubts. Piece of cake. I keep hearing voices. I might have to have that checked out.

Training goes on.