I forgot to add this to the other post. I have informally joined a running group, composed of my old supervisor and two of her friends. They are training for a half marathon to be run in December. I don't think I will be doing that, but I knew I needed to do more so I could increase my distance. So I've decided during the week I will work on speed, and when I run with them on the weekends it will be about distance.
Saturday, their plan was to run 8 miles (they have been working themselves up to this by adding a mile each week). Janelle told me that since I've been up to about 4 miles, I could run maybe 5 and then turn around and walk, and they'd catch up with me. When it got to the point where I could have turned around, I was feeling really good. I said, "I'll keep going." Janelle, a.k.a. Coach, asked me if I was sure. She knew I had the cardio strength to do it, but wanted to make sure my legs would be ok. Now generally, it's the opposite for me - my legs are usually fine, and I struggle with my breathing.
In the end,I did the entire 8 miles! We stopped after 4 and walked for a quick break (for water and Gu), then started jogging back to our start point. With 2 miles to go, I was really over it and ready to be done. It was a cloudy day, it was sprinkling on us off and on. We met up with another runner on the trail and took a quick break to talk to him, then set out to finish. I was so happy to see the marker for 1 mile, I didn't know what to do. The paved portion of the greenway has markers at every 1/4 mile - but because we went pretty far, we ran on the unpaved portion and that's about a mile with no markers. I was glad to see the pavement again.
Someone apparently knocked down the sign for 1/2 mile. I didn't know that, and after the 3/4 mile sign, I felt like I had been running forever and a day and figured I must be really tired. Then I saw it - the 1/4 mile marker. At that point I was so over it, I just took off and kicked it in. I was truly on auto pilot - I didn't think I had it in me to run that fast after 7 3/4 miles. Which goes back to Cheryl's saying that it's always a mental thing.
I felt good when that run was over, except for a slight twinge in my right hip (which I've gotten before when I ran on the treadmill) and the bottom edge of my right foot was sore. Things tend to happen to me on my right side, because I over-pronate that foot the most. It was nothing major, though. I made sure to stretch and then I went home and henna'd my hair and went to sleep! :lol:
The next day, we ran our 3 mile "recovery" run. I think we ran it faster than we usually go. That might have been my fault - again, was ready to be done. Why? Because after the 3 mile recovery run, we go to Cracker Barrel! I know. But I deserved Cracker Barrel after running 8 miles the day before.
This weekend, Cheryl and Janelle are running a 15K race. I haven't signed up for it. I don't know if I'm ready to add another mile and 3/4 to that 8 miles I just conquered. I think I have a couple more days before I have to decide. If I don't run the race with them, I will do some type of distance run on Saturday. I just have to decide what I'll do.
Today I'm due for a 4 or 5 mile run. It will probably be closer to 4, but I'll work on my speed and hills. Wish me luck!
2 comments:
WOW - I've never been a runner, but this post made me want to go running. I guess I'll hit the treadmill tonight.
8 miles - WOW!!!
Hey Tazzee! I was never a distance runner in high school/college - I was a sprinter and a jumper. I think the longest the spritners were made to run in high school was a 5K. MAYBE 4 miles if we ran to the park and back.
This is a new adventure for me. I like pushing myself to improve time and/or distance. And it's BEAUTIFUL outside with the leaves changing. When it gets colder I guess I will stick with my treadmill.
Just make sure to up your distance gradually, and stretch well, so you don't end up with tendonitis like me. :(
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