HIt the wall

Last weekend was a monstrous weekend of training.  Without a doubt it was my biggest so far with about 10 hours and will pretty much be the scenario for the next couple more weekends.  I swam for just over an hour Saturday morning and then ran 15 miles that afternoon.  The next day I started early by officiating my daughters swim meet, then doing a brick of 90 miles on the bike with a 4 mile run. I was definitely tired.  On Monday I had another hour and a half of running.  I got about 35 minutes in and could just go no further.  I walked back home.  I was just out of gas and wondering what the hell I have myself into.  I chatted with my coach a little later that night and he understood.  He said I had hit that point that nearly all do.  That point in the last few weeks when the workouts are brutal and long.  But I had to find the strength to get through them as they will be the difference in a successful race and just finishing.  I want a good race.  I am there to compete not complete.  He assured me this was natural and to keep perspective.  Focus and finish the long workouts for sure and do the rest as you can.  They are good but every minute is not crucial.  I was rejuvenated a bit by our conversation.
I am still wary and weary though.  I figured I had run about 50 miles in the last 8 days.  I will be running a half marathon every weekend for 4 weekends straight.
Fast forwarding a bit.  I had to travel this week for business.  A long car ride was at hand.  I got my workouts done before I left.  I have to say the 5 hour drive felt good.  It was nice to do nothing for that amount of time.  I awoke yesterday in that locale to a brisk cool morning.  An hour run was planned.  I did it and it felt really good.  The best I have felt running for a while.  I had a good day of work, drove home, and even got in a group bike ride at home.  It was an intense ride with hard effort.  I again felt good and the long ride home seemed to rejuvenate me even more, as crazy as that sounds.  I am due a swim this evening and then my recovery day.  The next couple of weeks will be straight out crazy.  I have many personal commitments, more monstrous training weekends, and a family vacation out west.  I will know more once I get through another weekend to see if I can get through that wall or just run straight into it again.