18 miles...and my knees are killing me

Today was the dreaded 18 miler. This was the distance I have feared when hearing others talk about "hitting the wall." It took me 4 hours because I kept a steady slow pace (12 min/mile), and I did 3/1 run/walk intervals throughout the entire run.

I have been reviewing some of the content in Jeff Galloway's Marathon book lately to remind me of his tips for the longer distances. Some advice that came in handy today was to visualize images of positivity. This involves the creative right brain and deflects negative thoughts and doubts from the left brain. My left brain is dominant as it is, and this chapter helped explain why I always rationalize not pushing myself too hard--I believe the warnings in my head that I can't go on, that it's just too hard, that I could injure myself, etc. Today, I imagined a "fortress of discipline," deflecting pain, doubt, negative voices, the people around me, cars that were driving too fast and too close to me, etc. I imagined nice things inside with me: Tarrus, my pets, my friends and family, waterfalls (it was hot out), a lake I saw on the golf course, and a mosquito net to keep out the bugs! This "fortress of discipline" not only helped pace me around a 12 minute mile while I was running, but also helped get rid of the negative thoughts I kept having.

The last 4 miles were especially tough today. I forgot to bring my knee brace today, though my (right) knee has been hurting lately on long runs, even while wearing it. I was feeling the knee today, starting around 9 miles. It got really bad for the last 3. My hip (right also) was also acting up. Every time I go to the chiropractor, they have to adjust my right hip. After using The Stick on my right IT band trigger points, it was like magic how fast my hip problems cleared up. But apparently, they are back! Can't wait to go back to the chiro on Monday!

The cold bath was colder today than for my 16 miler, and I wore an ice pack on my knee for about 30 minutes after eating. I am anxious to know how I'm going to feel in the morning. As for now, I am exhausted and can't imagine how I will be running 1-2 more hours during the race....starting to really question how I will get through this now...can't imagine how my knees and hips are going to hold out. I may have to do 2/1 run/walk intervals for my 20 miler in 2 weeks and see how that goes.