I'm just running in the rain, running in the rain

1 hour and 42 minutes in the pouring rain and wind + friends from running club = a great long run. There are very few times I finish a long run with a smile and today was one of those days. It wasn’t expected to be a nice run, 10 miles in the cold and rain, ugh. When we started I had second thoughts, but it didn’t take long for those thoughts to fade away. It was so nice to have other people running along with us, everyone talking, laughing, joking. I forgot for a while about the crummy weather or what I was putting my body through. I need to hold onto the feelings I have from today’s run and remember this after the next run I have when I’m feeling low about my performance. Too easy I will beat myself up for going to slow or not far enough but don’t give myself credit for days like today where I had a good time while still running fast enough and far enough

Days till Chicago: 210

Miles trained today: 10

I'm not very sure about this

So I’m getting ready to write this about my morning run and am realizing that I don’t really remember it. There was a moment of panic at the end of my yoga class when I thought I was going to have to run, but quickly realized it’s done! It’s a recovery week, YAY, so runs are shorter, slower and more enjoyable. We hit the road at 5:30, I remember meeting Erin on the corner. There was some chit chat and a few laughs. No watch, no worries about the next repeat, no checking the pace. I remember being pleased when we finished, thankful that it was done. Good run, bad run, doesn’t matter. The miles have been logged and I can head to bed!

Days till Chicago: 212

Miles trained today: 4ish

Old Friend

Hello Old Friend,

How have you been? It’s been a while, several months if not longer. I have to admit I wasn’t looking forward to meeting up with you but after a few moments I remembered how well we used to get along. We started down Hope towards Angel, that turn hasn’t softened over time, but all was forgotten with the downhill on Angel. Starting downhill always makes things more bearable. It wasn’t long till we hit Elmgrove, looking good there old chap. I didn’t notice many potholes, although has someone called the street cleaners on your behalf? Heading past Rochambeau I took pride on running on my favorite patch of sidewalk, love it for no particular reason. I see that you have been busy with the Blvd, there were plenty of other runners out there. You haven’t been cheating on me have you? Then the worst part, all the damn up-hills. Please, I’ve asked you to fix that before and yet you ignore me. But cresting the hill at Doyle is so sweet, a quarter mile to the finish and it’s all downhill. I’ve missed you, we go back a long way you and I. You’ve helped me reach many a mileage goal, and I think my record is 4 times around before calling it a night. Not sure when I’ll be back, I’ve been trying out other routes, although none feel quite as nice as you. Glad to see you are doing well.

Miles trained today: 4

Days till Chicago: 214

finally starting to make sense

It’s funny when you finally start to realize that you had been looking at something the wrong way. I have always hated tempo runs, finding them to be very stressful and difficult to manage. Over the last 3 weeks I had found success and I wasn’t until today that I figured out what I was finally doing right. Rather than heading out of a particular day deciding that it would be a tempo, I’ve been relaxed. When I review my week, there always seems to be a run that meets the qualifications. This week I had convinced myself that it wasn’t going to happen. I’ve been running slower and hadn’t been able to muster up the energy to give it my all yet this week. Our track work earlier in the week was pretty brutal and had taken a while to recover from. Today was just supposed to be miles, nothing special about them. We started out and I knew we were at a pretty good pace but expected to fall back and did when we hit the hill on Onley. It took over a mile to get beyond all the up-hill and by then I felt like I was dragging. I peaked at my watch and was surprised to see that I was going at a 9:41 pace. Didn’t give it too much thought and just kept going. I don’t think I checked my p ace again during the run, just focused on getting it done. Chatted a little bit, and spent more time just enjoying the sun on my face. Finishing up at the Edge only to find that today was going to count as my tempo, 10min pace (I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself but if this training continues I will surpass my 4:40 goal). Up hills and the wind weren’t enough and even my poor attitude didn’t phase me. Going forward I can’t schedule the tempo, my body knows what to do and all I have to do it get out of my own way!

Miles trained today: 6

Days till Chicago: 217

I'm trying to listen

Listen to your body, listen to you body, listen to your body. If I have been told this once since I started running, I’ve heard it too many times to count. If you ask me it’s a useless phrase. If I listened to my body I would stop running immediately and curl up on the sofa with my pup. Today was just one of those days, I was striving for 6 miles and after a few steps thought about forgetting about the whole thing. Now we all know I can get a little obsessive with my planning, and I knew that skipping all 6 would ruin my chances of coming anywhere near my goal for the week. I hung on until about 3.5 and started to falter again, I was just tired. There was no focus; I couldn’t get out of my head, the whole run felt clumsy. If I can make it to 5 I’ll be in good shape. Well you know once I hit 5 there was an inkling to hang on for 1 more mile, but I didn’t. I listened and stopped. Not sure if this is what that phrase is meant to address but I didn’t force myself to finish the entire 6, that’s not mentioning the fact that the 5 miles I did run were completely forced and unpleasant. It’s hard as the weekly mileage grows I’m learning to run on legs that aren’t fully rested, trying to train them to recover quicker. It’s a difficult balance between listening and pushing yourself to the next level and closer to the goal.

Miles trained today: 5

Days till Chicago: 218

Double Time

I’m at the point now with my training that if I want 2 days off a week I’m running 7 miles a few times a week and given how pokey I can be, this is a difficult distance for the before work hours. Also keeping in mind that if things keep progressing I’ll be at higher weekly mileages in the future, I figured that this was a fine day to start running twice a day. I’ve done it a few times and don’t really mind it, although my partner in crime can’t stand it. So I haven’t built it into my training in the past. 3 miles this morning and 4 this afternoon and I have to say I’m feeling pretty good. Neither distance was overwhelming; I wasn’t stressed during either run. I kept the pace easy, no sense in killing myself knowing what’s coming down the pipeline. I’d like to do this 1-2 days a week; it’s just a nice way to shake things up a little. Running in the morning tends to get me moving, my co-workers can tell if I’ve run before work or not. Running after work is a nice was to distress and let go of everything. Today I did both!

Miles trained today: 7

Days till Chicago: 219

left or right

Ever wonder what happens when you take a left rather than a right? I wondered that this morning after my workout. This morning I dragged my ass out of bed before 5 and killed myself for over an hour getting an interval workout done. We did this workout just Joe and I, no coaches there to keep time or club mates there to cheer us on. Just my sweat and me; it was hard, very hard. Quicker pace with shorter rest and more intervals, more than what we had been doing. Had I never joined this club what would be different? So much would be different it amazes me. Never mind the running, but my friends would be different, vacations would be different, my free time would be spent differently. I wouldn’t have completed that workout. I wouldn’t have had the courage to try to finish it. Here I am, glad to have found such a great group and grateful for how different things are.

Miles trained today: 6

Days till Chicago: 221