We are moving into the final phases of our training for the Savannah Rock N Roll Marathon. It happens to be the same day as the NYC ING marathon so we are racing more than just the 23,000 people registered for Savannah.
I know I have complained about the weather through much of this, but I have to say, the weather has really been the one factor in training that we really couldn't prepare for. I mean for crying out loud hot is hot and humid in Savannah is just two points from raining. Which, I will lovingly explain later. For now I have to get on the soap box of deadly drivers and segway into the rain.
Our first 20 miler came and went without much fanfare and nothing to blog about. I felt like it was over, I did it, check it off, next week is an easy 12, get over it. Everyone else training for a marathon this season is going through the sane thing, suck it up and do something worth mentioning. So after a couple of iibuprofen we headed off to the park for Jazz Fest to listen to some music, enjoy some spirits, and wind down to a nice evening where laying flat was the best idea since, well you get the point. Halfway through the music the storms started and we were soaked in less time than it takes running the first mile. And I LOVED IT.
So back to the drivers, I have a theory that goes like this. The IQ and capability of Savannah drivers is directly correlated with the barometric pressure. The possiblity of an accident increase 1000 fold in the first ten minutes of a rain event. Ok so not very scientific but empirical, i think.
A mile and a half into our middle distance run of a 13 miler, between our twenty milers, we were crossing the intersection of a gas station. A woman in a white Toyota Camry was making a left hand turn into the parking lot. I was in front setting the pace and locked onto the car immediately. I was thinking that this wasn't the typical right hand turn, not looking scenario so I would be in her line of sight and be safe keeping my stride and not breaking pace to let her go by. I know- NIAVE. When she gunned the gas pedal the Camry sped at me and I saw the driver looking way down the road in the opposite direction. I knew she didn't even look and I had the instinct to stop and pivot. By the time she saw me I had already read tomorrow's headlines, estimated the damage to the hood and glass, noticed she just came from the car wash, and was thinking about how red the white would be in a few seconds.
When she finally registered what was going on she panicked. She meant to hit the brake and smashed the gas pedal so hard the front of the car lifted up. I was at the Toyota emblem when I jumped and watched the water drops from the car wash on the plastic headlight cover pass under my shoe as I jumped over the hood of the car. I really didn't do anything except react, I still think to this day she believes she hit me. All she saw was a body jumping over the hood of her car. And they try to blame Toyota for a sticky pedal? Only in America could a bunch a pathetic drivers who should have their licenses revoked sue a car manufacturer for a operator error.
So I cannot wait for the police escorts (who I thank at every race and every intersection) and road blocks. The cranky Savannahians who all of the sudden have somewhere to be that day be damned- you will give us our day!
K- got that off my chest. So we are lucky- well i am anyway- the rest of you still have to deal with me. It has finally cooled out and we have the chance to run in 75-80 F weather. On our second 20 miler Saturday we were blasted with a beautiful drizzle at mile 10 and the temperature dropped for the duration of the run. It really is nice to not be completely soaked in your own sweat for three and a half hours.
I have found that I am combining Cytomax with apple juice to keep my blood sugar even. I have been getting tunnel vision at mile 17 and I couldn't remember if green was stop or go (kinda got confused there for a second)- hell it doesn't matter here anyway, you still have to look both ways even on a one way street. i also tried the GU Chomps for the first time along with sports beans. Not bad but I can't get used to the texture.
We are going to be dialing back the miles in the next weeks and I know I'll like having some time to work on my projects. We have our 20 miles down to 3 hours and 20 minutes so I think we are close to ready.
Pasta dreams - peace!
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