Zenaida Arroyo

I cannot believe that two weeks from today I will be done with my second ultramarathon. I can’t remember why I signed up for something “crazy” like this.  When I signed up for this race I wasn’t sure how I would train for it because I was focusing on my quest to run a half marathon in each state. Luckily I had a coach come up with a training plan.   Fast forward weeks later and here we are.  My coach’s plan has me running 5 times a week in various speed modes (tempo, easy, steady, long, and recovery ) for a total of 415.3 miles from January 27-April 5.

As you know the weather in Chicago has been ridiculous.  Also, I hate running in the cold weather. Yes, I do like running on the treadmill and have done most of my training on it. Coach did advice me to do my long run outside.  No can do.  My excuses were always “It is too cold” and “There is snow and ice and I don’t want to slip”.  I did manage to do a few of them outside when the weather was bearable for me.  I think what makes it more difficult for me is that I run alone.  I sure could use a running partner.

Now back to the plan.  To date I’ve ran 245.7 miles but should have been 315.3.  Believe me.  I did my best to do all of my runs but there were times that I was just so tired that the last thing I wanted to do was run.  So instead I would go home to rest.  My longest run was supposed to be 26 miles.  I only ran 20.  When I began running that morning I was determined to do the whole 26 plus .2 miles to equal a marathon.  Guess the joke was on me.  My legs were hurting so much and I was almost in tears.  I honestly thought that I was injured and thought about quitting and not running the race anymore.  Well, that feeling only lasted a few hours and then I felt better once I ate and showered.

Am I injured?  I don’t know.  For as long as I can remember I’ve had problems with my hips.  My right hip gives me the most trouble.  I HATE foam rolling but I do it because Coach told me to.  I get a massage two times a month, use “The Stick” and do several hip flexor stretches (thanks to Pinterest).

The stretches kind of hurt but also feel good.  Weird combination.  In the last couple of weeks I’ve felt (more) pain in my right leg.

I have two weeks till my race.  I was supposed to be in GA this weekend but decided not to go.  I am still running 13.1 miles tomorrow but at a much slower pace.  I have an 8k next weekend that I really, really want to do but will wait and see how I feel.

I am nervous and excited about the 50K.  I am even more excited because Michelle from This Momma Runs is also running that race and has agreed to run with me.  However, that girl is so much faster than me and I think she will get bored with me.  😀 The race starts at 8:30am at Foster Avenue Beach House.  If you happen to be in the area, come run a few miles with us.  Let’s do this!