I was out on a 5mi run one lovely morning. The temps were not scorching, humidity was not choking and the sun was not quite that high in the sky. I felt fantastic! I felt like I was flying, barely touching the ground with each stride. I remember thinking to myself, "My gosh I'm going so fast!" At that same moment, I was passed by two people. I couldn't believe it! Really? If I'm flying, they must be launching into orbit! And then...I looked at my watch and it revealed to me the Turtle pace I was actually going. But the Turtle beats the Hare, right?
A slow pace just feels good. It feels like I can go on forever. And when I'm done? I have a high that carries me all day long. All is right with the world! But, there is one small problem.
I don't like to be passed, and I don't like to lose. So, how do I reconcile this feel-good feeling with the nice and easy pace with this competitiveness I seemed to have developed? What if I am a one-paced wonder? Can I be okay with that?
In all honesty, I have not done any kind of speed work and I've made all my runs this month easy runs just to recover and get the mileage in before last week's 10K. So can I get faster? It's possible. People say that intervals work wonders. Kelly has me starting speed work on Monday, so we'll see if the legend is true. For now...i'm off for an easy 5m. It's precipitating today, so it looks like I am treadmill bound today. Yes, I could brave the elements...but I'm a weenie baby when it comes to wet stuff falling from the sky.
TTFN!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Run for Green 2011 - Race Recap
Saturday, September 17, marked a busy day in Davidson, North Carolina. Not only was it Green Day, where the Davidson Lands Conservancy brings together vendors and booths that highlight sustainable practices on the Town Green AND featured a release of a red shouldered hawk from the Carolina Raptor Center; it was also the Run for Green - 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Over 650 runners on a beautiful morning in the Piedmont. What a great way to start the day!
Yours truly ran the 10K. 6.2 miles. This was my first attempt at that distance and my first race since my stress fracture. It was odd. I wasn't really all that nervous. I ran the route the previous week, so I knew I could make the distance. I think that was a huge confidence booster right there. It was a little chilly, around 52F, and I was questioning the no-sleeve shirt I had on. I stuck with it though, just kept my jacket on until the last possible moment!
You could feel the electricity in the air. Everyone was chomping at the bit....ready to get on with it! You see, we were all chasing something; a place in the top 3, winning an age group, chasing a PR, running down a nemesis or as one of my friend's boyfriend enlightened ...sometimes girls in skirts makes boys run faster ;-) Regardless...it was time to go! On your mark, set........BANG (or whistle in this case)
So, my running pal, Ellen, and I ran. Fast at first, with everyone else down the quick hill to the 1st greenway, and then we steadied the pace a bit. Faster pace for me, slower for her ;-) The first two miles went by like a blink of an eye. Easy, fun...golly I felt great! Some slight inclines here and there, but nothing dramatic. We then got a nice big downhill to catch our breath...unfortunately, that nice big downhill will end up being the uphill from hell around the 4.5mile mark. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
We started the 2nd greenway, and I think we both were feeling pretty good. Every once in awhile I'd catch a peak at our pace. Sometimes I saw 9:30, sometimes 8:30...there may or may not have been a 7:15 in there for a split second, but that didn't last long! Passing mile 4, I began thinking that I should slow down or I wasn't going to make it to the end. Around 4.5 or so, we met Patrick Johnston Lane (aka: uphill from hell) head on. Or for me, it was head down and truck my big 'ol butt up it like the Little Engine That Could. And I did! Maybe I could have walked it faster, but I wanted to RUN the whole distance. It was my own personal goal!
Now, from here on in, it seems there is nothing but inclines until the finish line. And I'm not really making this stuff up. Good news? I only had one "omigosh-I'm-gonna-die" moment and that was with only like .75 to go. At around .5-.25, I can't help but speed up. I mean...that's what I do. My legs just go faster. I don't tell them too. I think they just want to be done, so they go as fast as they can go. So they did. I even passed someone going UP hill.
So a public apology:
Here are some pictures coming in for the finish, which came to be 1:02:11 at a 10:01mile pace. Not fast compared to the rest of the field, but a PR for me, and better than my last 5K pace of 10:35. I'd like to take this moment to direct you to check out my leg muscles. I now have some! Awesome.
All in all? A fantastic day! Probably one of my best runs. Ever. And what makes it even better?
You guessed it....free beer. Cheers!
Yours truly ran the 10K. 6.2 miles. This was my first attempt at that distance and my first race since my stress fracture. It was odd. I wasn't really all that nervous. I ran the route the previous week, so I knew I could make the distance. I think that was a huge confidence booster right there. It was a little chilly, around 52F, and I was questioning the no-sleeve shirt I had on. I stuck with it though, just kept my jacket on until the last possible moment!
You could feel the electricity in the air. Everyone was chomping at the bit....ready to get on with it! You see, we were all chasing something; a place in the top 3, winning an age group, chasing a PR, running down a nemesis or as one of my friend's boyfriend enlightened ...sometimes girls in skirts makes boys run faster ;-) Regardless...it was time to go! On your mark, set........BANG (or whistle in this case)
So, my running pal, Ellen, and I ran. Fast at first, with everyone else down the quick hill to the 1st greenway, and then we steadied the pace a bit. Faster pace for me, slower for her ;-) The first two miles went by like a blink of an eye. Easy, fun...golly I felt great! Some slight inclines here and there, but nothing dramatic. We then got a nice big downhill to catch our breath...unfortunately, that nice big downhill will end up being the uphill from hell around the 4.5mile mark. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
We started the 2nd greenway, and I think we both were feeling pretty good. Every once in awhile I'd catch a peak at our pace. Sometimes I saw 9:30, sometimes 8:30...there may or may not have been a 7:15 in there for a split second, but that didn't last long! Passing mile 4, I began thinking that I should slow down or I wasn't going to make it to the end. Around 4.5 or so, we met Patrick Johnston Lane (aka: uphill from hell) head on. Or for me, it was head down and truck my big 'ol butt up it like the Little Engine That Could. And I did! Maybe I could have walked it faster, but I wanted to RUN the whole distance. It was my own personal goal!
Now, from here on in, it seems there is nothing but inclines until the finish line. And I'm not really making this stuff up. Good news? I only had one "omigosh-I'm-gonna-die" moment and that was with only like .75 to go. At around .5-.25, I can't help but speed up. I mean...that's what I do. My legs just go faster. I don't tell them too. I think they just want to be done, so they go as fast as they can go. So they did. I even passed someone going UP hill.
So a public apology:
I'm sorry gentleman in black, I don't know what happened, I just started going fast. It was a little rude of me, especially since I was behind you for pretty much the whole race. But, I guess it is a race, and you were between me, the finish line and free beer. Thanks for understanding. -H
All in all? A fantastic day! Probably one of my best runs. Ever. And what makes it even better?
You guessed it....free beer. Cheers!
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