Ran 3 miles with Rob today. Man, was it warm out there. Heat does such a number on me, always. Always!

Anyway, not much to report. My mind is kind of elsewhere right now, because my sister is in labor and I’m sitting here waiting for my mom to call from Ohio with news. Waiting is harder than running, that’s for sure.

Today I ran “with” the local 5K pub runners. I had planned to join them this fine, sunny Tuesday evening, but I got home just a little too late to make it over to the starting line at 7:00, so I started at my house and caught up with them at about 3/4 of a mile into it. I ran with them until about 2.5 miles, then split off on my own. Don’t worry, I made sure that none of them followed me. :)

The whole run was kinda bleh, but I’m okay with that. As Dianna said, “if running were easy, everyone would be doing it.” It’s my own fault that the run was sucky and slow. I didn’t drink enough water today and my calves and shins were cramped up the entire time – not as bad as they were a few weeks ago, but pretty uncomfortable all the same. I kept thinking that at any moment I’d loosen up down there, but it just never happened. I wasn’t in real pain, just annoying discomfort, and the stiffness started to spread into my piriformis and ITB because of my changed stride. At 3 miles I was sick of it and just called it a day. Still, I got my 3 in and that’s a good start to the week. I’m going to try to run either Khoury’s on Thursday with the SRR folks, or do their Friday night group run. In either case, I’m going to try to run on both Thursday and Friday, just on my own on one of the two days. I like to plan it all out, you know.

So now I’m sitting here, pile o’ stank going in the washing machine, drinking my diluted gatorade and thinking about how far I’ve come in one year. A couple of things that struck me:
- I no longer have to ice after every run.
- I don’t run outside with headphones anymore, and I am totally fine with that.
- My sweating has become more efficient in terms of cooling (it starts sooner).
- My orthotics have made a huge difference.
- I don’t have to think about my breathing too much, or count.
- That hill in my neighborhood, and one on the Longfellow Bridge don’t kick my ass.

Now if I can just manage the Khoury’s route hill…

Today was supposed to be my LSD run. You know, Long Slow Distance. I was aiming for 6 miles, as I said in the last entry. Well, after waking up to some pretty awful back pain, I was doubting that a run was in the cards at all.

I’m really not sure what I did to myself, but I’m guessing that all the lifting and cleaning yesterday, along with hauling the vacuum up and down the stairs, really did a number on my spine. Oh, and I didn’t stretch all that well after Friday’s run. Forgot about that.

Disappointed, I took some advil and put a heating pad on my back for a while, which really seemed to help. Most of the low back pain was gone, and I was left with just a bit of discomfort up near my shoulders. Hmmm. Not too bad.

So late in the afternoon, Rob and I went running. We really had to talk ourselves into it, as it was way easier (as we all know) to sit on the sofa and watch dumb TV under a blanket, but I knew that I’d feel awful if I blew off my run, and he would too.

Rob didn’t really want to run 6 miles. He didn’t even want to run 3, but that’s the number we decided on, and before we knew it we were out the door. It was nice out – 44, cool, and cloudy – perfect running weather. We started off easy, and ended up falling into what I felt was a pretty natural rhythm. Imagine my surprise when we hit mile 1 at 10:40. Woo! Miles 2 and 3 passed in a pretty easy manner, with both of us running well and me not even feeling tired until about the last quarter mile. Imagine my suprise when my watch started beeping and we had completed the 3 miles in 31:18, for a 10:26 pace – faster than my best 5K time last fall!!!

I was stoked. Right now, I have two running goals that don’t revolve around a specific race. The first is to get my long run up to about 8 miles before August 1st. I think that’s pretty reasonable, provided I stay clear of injury (my always-present caveat). My second goal is to get my mile time down to 10:00.

It’s funny to me that I am wicked excited about getting to the 10:00 mile mark, especially when I read books on running where 10:00 miles are the last row on the chart – the bare minimum speed to be considered running, but I don’t believe that just because I run an 11:15 mile on average, that I am any less of a runner, you know? I started at a 12:00+ mile, and couldn’t even run a half mile one year ago. This week, I logged 12.5 miles and dropped two of my runs into the 10:00+ range. That, my friends, is progress!

Anyway, I’m probably going to do a couple of miles and some weights at the gym tomorrow, then try to plan out the rest of the week. I still need to do that 6 mile run, which will definitely be in the 12:00 range. Count on it. :)

Last night I had a fantastic run that was everything I had hoped it would be. On Friday nights, the SRRs host a 4 mile fun run on the Charles, my regular weekday running spot. Given that I work only a few blocks from the starting point, it seemed silly not to go. So, my confidence bolstered by the fact that I’ve run 4 milers before, and that one of the other CoolRunning ladies was going to be there, I went.

I was, by far, the slowest runner, completing the course in 42:58, which is a 10:45 pace, and what’s more, it was totally manageable. What this says is that a) I should run with a group or a partner to help improve my pace, and b) I’m not pushing myself enough and I’m often giving up too easy. Was I ready to die at the end of the 4 miles? No. Did I have a lot left in the tank? Hmmm, not really, but I probably could have stuck it out for another half mile or so. Did I mind coming in last? Not at all. I thought that it would bother me a lot, but it didn’t. All of the runners wait at the finish line and cheer for you. And Pale ran with me the whole time, even though she is so much faster than me. THANK YOU, Pale!!!!

Tomorrow I am going to run long, and try for 6, slow miles. If I can run 4 at 10:45, then I can run 6 at 12:00, right? My backup goal is to run for an hour. Sixty minutes shouldn’t be that hard if I take it slow and steady. I say that now, sitting on the sofa in my pajamas, of course, but I think I can do it.

I am a runner. I rock!

Seriously, yesterday was one of the greatest days I’ve had as a runner. I felt that same sense of accomplishment that I had on Wednesday – listening to my body, pushing or not pushing depending on my goals. It’s a real sense of being in control and working in different ways to get to where you want to be. I am slowly learning about the types of running that I am capable of. That said, I don’t think that a half is too much of a stretch goal for fall, provided I can stay clear of injury.

It’s all about the attitude. That’s all I’m saying.

So I planned my 3. I ran my 3. Woo.

Today I just took it really slow and easy, because I just didn’t feel like thinking about running too much. I also wanted to see what would happen if I just slowed down a little at the beginning of the run, and how that would affect my mile 2 and 3 times.

Well, it had a big impact, believe it or not. My first mile includes a decent climb over the Longfellow Bridge, 2 sets of stairs and, 9 times out of 10, a substantial wind, and I generally run it in 12:00 or so. Today I ran it in 13:00, just trotting along slowly and not thinking about anything other than the scenery. By 15:00 into the run, however, I was cruising along pretty well, clocking that second mile in 10:34 without much effort. The third mile took 11:04, and I only stopped at 3 because I had to carpool home with George, who was waiting for me at the office. Otherwise, I could have easily managed one more mile, and maybe even 2. I guess it’s all about a nice, easy warm-up for me.

Perhaps this means that I am cut out for longer distances after all. I mean, in a 5K, I’m finished before I even hit my groove, generally speaking. I’ve never raced a 5 miler, 10K, or half, so I’m thinking that maybe those will be more enjoyable distances for me, once I’ve built up my mileage to where I’m comfortable completing those distances as part of my training runs.

I guess that I’m really shocked that I’m running at all, even a year after starting this whole crazy thing. Running is a habit now. It’s part of who I am, in a way that nothing has ever been. I can’t imagine not running even when it’s hard and it sucks, or when it’s raining, or hot, or windy. These are just extraneous circumstances. Yet, I’m still suprised when I catch a glimpse of myself running, or when I push the clutch in while driving and see my quad pop out. Even my shadow freaks me out sometimes, as does my reflection. I’m not a fast runner, nor a skinny runner. Hell, I’m not even an experienced runner, but I try to run anyway, and I always feel like I’ve suceeded at running when I get out there and just go until I can’t go anymore. Even if it’s only a couple of miles, I’ve succeeded at running. I log my miles and the number increases. That’s success.

It’s sunny and 54º right now. I’m very excited to be running today. But that’s how it always is, right? I’m excited, then nervous, then dreading it. And then I go run. I just go and make myself do it. It’s usually fine, and sometimes it isn’t, but still, I go.

What was it my friend Lisa said? “I don’t ever regret going for a run. It’s not going that I wish I could take back.” It was something like that, anyway. I think that’s a big issue for a lot of people, just getting out there, making it such a regular habit that it’s more painful to not run than it is to run. I feel like that’s generally where my head is at right now, but some days are tougher than others. Sure, it would be so easy to take another day off and rest up, but it just messes with the rest of my training schedule, such as it is, that it’s not worth it. And what’s going to happen when May rolls around and I’m still on my dinky 3 milers all the time? No progress, that’s what, and getting dusted at the first SRR event I attend. Well, that will happen anyway because I am super slow, but still.

So today is a running day. I am not sure how far I will go or which route I will take. George drove today, so I have to be sure to be back by 6:00 in order to have time to stretch and cool myself off before the commute home, so that’s a consideration. What I really like, however, is the ability to run several routes from my office – all slightly similar (they are all on the Charles), but varying in their lengths and access points. I do know that if I’m going over the Longfellow Bridge, I’m definitely doing it at the beginning of my run instead of at the end, because it’s a bit of a climb, and there are stairs at the end, which throws everything off for me entirely.

I think about this stuff way too much.

I did make it to the trail on Sunday, but damn, it was warm, and my body has a hard time going from 50 degrees to 70 degrees in the span of 2 runs. I didn’t have any water that I could carry, or any gum, so after the first 2 miles I was just hot and sans-saliva. Ick. There is nothing worse than that dry-mouth thing, which makes me feel as if I am on the verge of falling over from heat stroke, or… well… puking.

That said, the 4.5 miles I had planned rapidly dwindled into a 4 mile run. I’m okay with this, and it means that I logged the same mileage last week as the week before, which is not bad for avoiding injury. I do think, however, that a Fuel Belt is in my future. Say what you will about not needing to take water out for runs longer than an hour. You are not me, and I need something to drink after about 40 minutes.

Yesterday I had planned to take the day off, but no, I’m stupid and watched the Boston Marathon, causing me to leap up at around 6pm and say “what’s a 2 mile run. I should just try.”

It was 87 degrees yesterday.
Eighty. Seven. And sunny. What the fuck was I thinking?

See, from the shade of my living room, laying on the cool, leather sofa, 2 miles in the heat didn’t seem that bad, especially not after watching the marathoners after Heartbreak Hill. But what do I know? I am a moron.

I ran about 10 minutes before I was sweating profusely and had to walk. Lame. Then ran another 10, walked, then ran again until 30 minutes passed in total, where I promptly when home to nurse my sore, sore legs, which were more of a stopping factor than the heat, honestly. I was just tired and it was a bad idea to be out there.

Today is a rest day. I’ll do my yoga and specific ITB stretches, and then be ready to run again tomorrow. Sometimes it’s hard to rest, and I have to force myself to do it. I just wonder when all the forcing is going to stop. I am forcing myself to run, then to keep running (longer, faster, more days), then to rest. It just feels mentally draining sometimes. Does it ever get easier?

I am dying to run today, and for several reasons.

First, it’s amazing and beautiful outside. Yesterday was in the mid-70s, but today is supposed to be in the upper 60s, sunny, and nice. I cannot wait to hit the rail trail, which I plan on doing in a few hours. Second, I made a Thanksgiving-style dinner yesterday, and I am bloated from all that starch. Ugh. It was awesome to get up early, make the stuffing and get it into the turkey. I also made mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes w/brown sugar, rolls, and cranberries. George and Jen came over at around 2:00, and brought green bean casserole and a homemade apple pie, to add to the feast. The entire house smelled like turkey, and for the first time this year, I had the windows open all day. Later, we went to Kimball Farms and played mini-golf… and had ice cream. Ugh.

I’m back on track today though, thinking about my 4.5 mile run and getting excited about it, and considering my options for a veggie-filled day. Seriously, when I start craving salad, I know that I’ve had too much starch the day before. It’s just something that my body knows, and this is just another example of what running has done for me. I’m much more self-aware that way now.

So anyway, today’s plan:
- Finish coffee, eat something, drink a lot of water
- Go to AutoZone and buy a quart of oil (my car is leaking oil. In all likelyhood, it is because the techs at the dealership didn’t tighten everything up correctly. Grrr)
- Hit the rail trail. Likely pee in the woods, again. *sigh*
- After that? Maybe drive down to Rob’s and spend a few hours, depending on the oil situation.

Better get busy…

My boss just gave us all the day off for Patriot’s Day which, for the uninitiated, means Boston Marathon Day. I’m so excited!!! Now, I just need to figure out if I’m going to try to watch the marathon in person, or if I’m going to just stay up in Lowell, watch it on TV, and use the time spent not commuting to go for my own run. Hmmm. Big decision…

I can honestly say that yesterday’s run was unremarkable in every way. 3 mile loop on the Charles from my office, over the Longfellow Bridge to the Boston side of the river, down to the Mass Ave bridge, and back.

The sun was out and it was around 50-something. I did my run, struggled in the usual spots because I am not mentally tough sometimes, and finished in the usual 33:45 or so. It was okay. I did surprise myself a bit when the Mass Ave bridge came into view. That stretch on the Esplanade used to seem so long last year, when I was a very new runner. It’s just over a mile from one bridge to the other, yet it seemed monumental to run that far without stopping at the time. Now I restrict my walking to the stairs coming off the Longfellow and around to the path – not because I’m tired, but because I’m uncoordinated. :)

So yes, another 3 miles in the bank. Hopefully the 4.5 this weekend will go smoothly. It should be fine though. I’m not really worried about it.