A first for me yesterday. At Mile 13.5, about halfway through the first of what was suppose to be three climbs up #12 and through the keyhole, I had a complete and total meltdown. My legs were absolute toast, and I sat down on the side of the trail and started blubbering like a baby. Unbelievable. After a few minutes, I tried to pull myself together and start climbing again, but I realized it just wasn't going to happen. So much for 22 miles. All the lifting and moving of office furniture, equipment, and boxes of files last week, on top of keeping up with my running and x-training, finally caught up with me.

I got about .10 back down #12 when I see Karen and Charlie running toward me, and I almost lost it again. God bless, Karen! She gave me a hug and said, "Let's just walk." We went a little bit further before I finally said enough's enough, and she and Charlie escorted me out to the trail head where I got another hug from Karen before she headed off her merry way and I dragged my sorry ass to the car. I managed 16, but they were brutal.

Emailed Coach Bill and he sent me a reply of DO NOT RUN TOMORROW! YOU'RE BODY IS TELLING YOU IT NEEDS A REST! Yes, my friend, it is. Even today, I feel worse than I did after SOB. Just utterly and completely exhausted. Guess if you're gonna fall apart, it's better to do it now rather than right before Big Sur in three weeks.

Cross Training and Moving - One In the Same?

One of my bosses is retiring and the other is moving to another office 'cause the building we're in - and which they own - has been rented out in whole. I've spent the last month+ prepping for this move, and beginning yesterday we've started moving all this crap. So my question is: Does lifting full storage boxes, filing cabinets, over 1,000 pounds of law books, going up and down a flight of 17 stairs, and jumping in and out of the back of a pickup truck constitute cross training? I sincerely hope so.

Bonk-A-Bomb, Bomb, Bomb

Today - my longest run since SOB - 20 miles. I did every stupid thing you could do. Bad nutrition management, too many miles in brand new shoes, no Body Glide for under the arms (ouch), not enough fluid intake toward the first part of the run, kept going when I knew I should've stopped - - too many miles in brand new shoes. Stupidity in its grandest form. But hey, we all do it at one time or another, right?

On the upside, we ran Headlands for the first time in a long time. And funny, the first time up the switchbacks, it felt tough, but Karen and I agreed that the second time up seemed easier. I told her it was the delirium.

So next up, Big Sur Trail Marathon, September 26. It doesn't look to bad with regard to elevation, so I'm hoping I do well. Keeping fingers crossed.