She canna do it, Cap’n! She just dunna have the power!
That picture pretty accurately describes how my last several runs have gone. Indoors or outdoors, trail or track… it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I’m hitting the wall but hard each and every run. Yesterday’s run felt good for about two miles, then it all fell apart.
What got my attention after that run wasn’t the heavy arms or the dry mouth. When I sat down to take in some water, I nearly fell dead asleep right there on the bench. Closing my eyes after that run meant fighting to stay alert, even as I walked a short cooldown. I don’t know what falling instantly asleep after a rough run means, but I don’t figure it is a good thing.
Bonking and I are old enemies, so that sensation isn’t itself particularly scary. What does have me concerned, however, is that it is happening every time I go out. At this point, I’m even feeling some weariness in my shoulders and hips throughout the day (but that could be purely psychosomatic).
To that end, I’m adding a Clif Bar (or the equivalent, such as a Picky Bar) to my diet every day for at least the next several days. I’m also taking today off instead of tomorrow, and trying to do a LSD run tomorrow where I actually keep my heart rate in Zone 2 or 3 (gasp! Pacing myself!).
I know I can do better, I just need to figure out how to correct for this present problem.
