Free-wheeling? (wt 15)

I read a couple of articles today about Kara Goucher, one from earlier in the year in the NY Times Well blog in which she gives advice and relates to us lay runner in an interview, and one in the Wall Street Journal about her training in preparation for the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin.  I enjoyed reading the first one, because it gives the reader better insight into her mind set while she runs (she’s amazing AND has two wits about her, unlike – well, I won’t say), but I found the second one more interesting.

I am hesitant to admit that I prefer a Wall Street Journal article over a NYT one, but what I appreciated from the former was the explanation of Kara’s training in light of the history of American long distance training.  They explain that she doesn’t focus necessarily on mileage training, but running to push herself to get faster:

During marathon training, Ms. Goucher runs twice a day, but says she hardly ever considers specific times and distances. She focuses on running hard and fast for as long as it seems right.

David Biderman, the author of the article also relates what an agent for several Kenyan runners thinks – that Africans run longer distances because they “enjoy the battle,” while western runners “race with anxiety.”  I can appreciate what both Kara and the agent say, the latter especially because I run with such anxiety on race day, as I know many of my running friends do.  But the former also speaks to me, because I’ve always been stressed out by my mileage amounts (notice the weekly tally of miles).  I mean, moving forward with this next marathon I wonder if I can keep less structure, focus less on total mileage (while still doing 50-70 a week) and run based on how I’m feeling.  Maybe this amount of free-wheeling could clear my preconceived notions of what to expect from each run I do from here on out.

Today I went out wanting to do a recover 6, but was stupid and lazy and didn’t get out until 1 pm when it was 85 degrees and sunny enough to leave a spandex tan line on my thighs.  Whoever thinks this area is cloudy and gray all year long need only come during the summer.  It was hot and my ankle didn’t seem particularly happy.  In an effort to stay injury-free and not pass out from the heat, I stopped at 4 and walked home, craving gummi bears (which we didn’t have) and orange juice (which we did).  I’m hoping that the ankle just needed a little rest (maybe the downhills are tearing me up more than those dreaded ups) and that tomorrow it will be fine.  I’m thinking of doing 8 miles strong – or rather running for about an hour – but I really, really want to get out on the roads by 9 or so to keep the heat off my back.

I’m also coming to realize that I need to be conscious of what I eat again.  Today’s run left me feeling spent and hungry, which was the second time that has happened in the past 5 days or so.  I’ve realized my carb intake is oddly low (seems to default there, and we don’t really have a rice or pasta stock in the apartment yet) and with a boost in my time on the roads that just doesn’t seem right to me.  I’m also concerned that I’ve lost some muscular strength this summer which would make me more susceptible to injury, which is scary!