My First 18 Mile Run

Sunday, August 19, 2007:
I had every intention of getting an early start to beat the heat. As usual though, I spent my Sunday morning reading the Sunday NYT and I also made the mistake of answering work emails, which pulled me into a vortex of timelessness. And so it was that I did not get on the running path until approximately 1:00 p.m. It was 89 degrees when I started my run. I began at the Monon Center, which is located between 111th Street and 116th Street, in Hamilton County, Indiana. I intended to run 17 miles on the Monon Trail, which is an old railroad path paved over, as heaven would have it.
I loaded up my fuel belt with 36 ounces of water, flavored by Crystal Light Hydration (a sugar-free alternative to Gatorade). I added my iPod, headphones, cell phone, money, car key, tissues, and 1 Power Gel. I also carried a 33 oz. bottle of water to hide in the bushes along the way. I popped 2 tylenol and 1 800 mg Ibuprofen tablet. I need these because my right foot is experiencing severe swelling and pain because I lacked proper arch support until 2 weeks ago. My left knee was also bothering me from a strenuous 45-mile bike ride yesterday (my "off" day for running).
I walked the first 1/2 mile after a good stretch, but not before starting my heart rate monitor, because my SmartCoach training guide instructed me to run an 11:39 minute mile pace today.
At the 1/2 mile marker, I began running, only to feel my limbs go numb, which happens to me at the start of every run. It is like I have no circulation at all until after mile 2. That sensation makes me feel like I have MS or some other disease which takes away my ability to command my body at will. Because I am familiar with this, I continued on until the blood began flowing throughout my entire body. I ran at a 10 minute per mile pace for the next 3 miles, when I then walked for another 1/2 mile while I hydrated. It is now 91 degrees but the Monon is graced with good shade in most places. I ran the next 3.5 miles at a 10 minute mile pace.
Running the Monon on a beautiful Sunday has it disadvantages. There is Monon riff-raff, which is what I call the weekend warriors who come out with their Schwinns and twins and strollers and dogs. While crossing Main Street in Carmel, Indiana, I was rear-ended by what appeared to be a 6-year old girl on her little pink bike with large white tires. She was adorned with matching pink sunglasses and a pink helmet, and her father was not an experienced rider as well, because when she hit me he gave me a look to kill. His sunglasses were not pink, though they should have been.
Today my run was shared by thoughts of God and whether God is forgiving enough to know my heart...I mean really know my heart. I also thought about how nice it would be to bring my rosary for my next long run. And as my thoughts come in pairs these days, I cannot blog my other thoughts of the day.
I ran back to the Monon Center for 7.5 miles total, and refueled at my car trunk. I then ran a 2-mile lap around Central Park at a 9.5 minute per mile pace and then south on the Monon to the 3 mile marker in Marion County (no more bicycle patrol police after crossing 96th Street). Before crossing 96th St., I filled up my water bottles at the fountain. I filled up again when returning back over 96th Street.
This is the moment when I experienced my first ever BONK. After filling up my bottles and knowing I had only 1.5 miles to go, I entered back onto the Monon facing north. I got very disoriented and had difficulty comprehending why I was standing at that location at that particular moment. I kept reminding myself that I was training for the Chicago Marathon and that I had only 1.5 miles to go. Everything was very light. I began to run but my body said "no". It was 92 degrees.
My clothes were soaking wet and there was no dry place on my body. I had no towel to wipe my hands, and so my fingers were like little raisins. I walked another 1/4 mile and then ran 1/2 mile and then gave up and walked the distance to the Monon Center, where I had a banana smoothie with protein powder.
On the drive home I phoned my sister-in-law, a 2-time Boston Marathoner, and told her about my BONK. She and I discussed the affects of Gatorade on my digestive system and she reminded me for the 100th time not to run in the heat.
All in all... it was a great run.