Category: Running

I did great!

After mile 10 I just really ran out of juice. I ran fine, a little off of my goal pace. I had wanted to run 10 minute miles. That was a little unrealistic, but a goal none the less. I ended up with a final pace of 11:20 per mile. I guess I did not get the rest that I needed the few days before the race. We had been running around trying to get a move going. Paint, load boxes, drive across town a million times. All of that led to a severe deficit in the rest department. Though I never felt like I pushed myself in the cardiovascular or pulmonary areas of my physiology, I just hit a point where my body did not want to go any more. Like I had used up my batteries.

But, I was still happy with the result of finishing it. My final time was 2 hours 29 minutes exactly. So now I have a goal for my next half.

Only 2 injuries. I guess my feet did not like the shoes for that distance. Though I have only logged 200 miles on these shoes, they were pretty worn before I started running in them. One of my toes will probably lose its nail soon. I am not sure why, but it was like my foot was suddenly 2 inches longer and I was banging against the front of the shoe for quite a bit of the race. And, on the same foot, I have a spot where my shoe rubbed a bruise on my ankle. It took 4 days before I could put those shoes on again without serious pain.

Then the move. Wow, what an event. Not so bad if that is all you are doing. But training, race and move has just worn me out. I think now, one week later, I am finally catching up on my sleep. I have been getting several more hours of sleep this week than normal. I just cannot stay up too long at night, my body is crying for rest. Getting better now.

I have just read about a book called Coast to Coast. It is the story of a group of friends who try to break a 25 year old running record. A relay race of 2,730 miles from the Pacific Ocean near San Diego to Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis. They beat the previous record by almost 2 full days!

This run was done in November of 2004, but the book is just now coming out. It is published through Lulu, an on line, on demand publishing company.

The reason I am blogging about it is 2 fold. One, I have entered a drawing for a free copy of the book if I write about it. Secondly, I really would like to get my hands on a book printed by Lulu. I am very curious to see their quality.

I am coming to crunch time on my half marathon training. I needed to do a 10 mile run last week. For a new runner (less than 3 months), that is not something you do very fast. To help me slow down, I decided to run for 2 hours instead of for 10 miles. The 2 hour run put me at just under 11 miles. So I accomplished my goal and did not feel as though I needed to run fast.

This is the third really long run I have done. I did a 1 hour 20 minute run one week. The next week 1 hour 35 minutes and then the 2 hours this week. That goes against what the guidelines say. You should never add more than 10% to the time or distance from the week before. But, as a newbie, I feel compelled to break the rules a bit.

Half marathon distance is 13.1 miles. I will not actually be running a race. I will be running the same day as the Indy Mini is run, which is May 6.

Now the runs will taper to be shorter and I will have easier weeks giving my body the rest it needs to run the distance. Mentally I feel prepared since my goal is to run the half in 2 hours and 10 to 20 minutes. I ran almost that long this week and know that just a few more minutes longer is absolutely possible.

I met my former land lady Emilia at the phone company this week. We were both there having a nice wait in line. At least it was air conditioned inside since it was 97 degrees outside. She told me about a 5 Km race that was being run this weekend. I got the bug and had to give it a shot.

I saw Emilia at the registration tables before the start of the race. She and I chatted and actually started the race together. She has been running for 15 years, so I felt no need to beat her. But secretly, I really wanted to. We were not at all together for the first half of the race. I knew she was behind me, but I was not sure how far behind.

She caught me at the half way mark. We chatted a bit and she encouraged me through the rough part. She kept pushing me. When we got down to the last few blocks she was really trying to get me to move along. I was saving what little I had left for the final block and a half. I started to pull away then. I crossed the finish line just a few seconds before she did.

Looking back now, I believe she let me beat her. She has been doing this for 15 years and had nothing to prove. For me, this was only my second road race. Whether she let me win or not, I probably won’t ever know, but it made me feel great. Thanks Emilia!

I turned in a time of 30:42. I was 20th out of 25 in my category. But I was not last. I felt great all day.

My son just blurted that out today at lunch. Not sure where it came from or why. He is 8 years old. I just laughed and said that I was pretty good (pat myself on the back), but to be a champion, that implies that you have won something.

Then I said. The only thing I have won as a runner is a bit of confidence. Some self esteem. Stronger muscles. Physical endurance.

On second thought, son, you are right. I am a champion runner.