Startin' Up Another Week

I typically try to completely recover after my long run. Last Saturday I was barely shy of 11 miles (Runner's World suggested 10 to 11).

I ran around Shelley Lake - this wooded loop in Raleigh outlining a reservoir. It's great on weekend mornings because it's a whole community you feel included in. You'll see running groups all equipped with their little waist-hugging water bottles, bikers - some competitive snug in their spandex attire and some leisure riders, fishermen and women, families with young children feeding the ducks off the wooden bridge, young and old couples walking their dogs, and then you'll find the people who are just enjoying their early morning walk. No matter who you pass, you're most likely to get a "hey" or a smile and a nod. It's reassuring to know that there are other people who get their kicks out of exercising, training or just embracing some fresh air.

Anyway, my 11ish mile run felt pretty good. Until I hit mile eight and a half, I could have gone forever, but no doubt I hit my brick wall. I hope I can keep pushing that wall back a little farther each time. Somewhere around mile nine and a half I stopped for 30 seconds or so to stretch a little. I don't really like to stop when I get going (not like nine miles is just getting going) but it's really tough for me to start back up again. I waited as long as I could. All in all, it was a good run. I've been in the process of building back up after being sick with a bacterial infection a week and a half ago, when I had to miss an entire week of running.

Yesterday I had planned on doing a light two to three mile run but I ended up going to the mall and the grocery store. By the time I got home I figured I walked a good enough amount and at least got my legs moving a bit. I was still feeling sore from my long run the day before so I thought it was best to hold off. Today, Runner's World advises trainees to do something for up to 60 minutes. I'm not quite sure what they mean here, I assume just anything active other than running. Work was hectic today and I got home late so I settled for a hard 30 minutes on the elliptical.

Tomorrow I'm all geared up for a "Quality" five to six miles. When Runner's World says "Quality" they mean something along the lines of a hill work out, winds sprints or a Kenyan run. A couple weeks ago I did a Kenyan run for the first time. If a storm wasn't brewing and I didn't run into some debris (literally a pinecone to my head) it might have been a good experience. Say you are running six miles, you would run the first three at a fairly comfortable pace and then the last three at a faster pace than you'd usually run. Basically it's a race against yourself; you want to beat your first three-mile time on your way back. When you're supposed to slow down your pace for your long run, this run and your "Tempo" run (on Thursdays for me) aims at boosting your speed.

I think tomorrow I'll do a hill work out. There's a great (yet not-so-fun) hill to run that I haven't tried that yet. I like switching it up so I don't get so bored with repeat workouts. Oh and I got my Garmin Forerunner 205 watch today, too! I'm eager to give it a try!

'Til next time! :-)
Mere

Big Adjustments

Pacing myself. Yup - that's been tough to get used to. Like I've said before, I've always been told to go fast and faster. Now, I have to mentally tell myself, It's okay I'm not making a certain time ... it's okay to get passed, in the beginning at least. Hey - I'm still competitive. You don't want to be the one challenging me near the end of a race. During my marathon training (and half-marathon too, I guess) I've begun my long runs at a painfully slow pace and then my body just naturally picks up a comfortable speed. Hopefully my recent investment, the Garmin Forerunner 205, will help me gauge a good speed for me. I'm still eagerly waiting for it to arrive, but I am thrilled to not have to map a run online first and then having to stick to that route. I'll have mileage, pace and calories burnt (among other features) right there on my wrist. If you do have to map a run, I recommend Map My Run. It's free and very simple to use.

And then there's my other biggest adjustment ... being an individual and not a part of a team. Maybe this is why pace has been such a hard part of competitive running for me to adapt to. I am running for me and I don't have others depending on me. When I played field hockey for IU, I ran so I wouldn't let down my teammates, so my team as a whole would get better. I hustled for a ball so that my team had a better chance in succeeding. I sprinted in recovery to help my defense against the opponent's attack. I was constantly communicating, organizing and motivating a group of girls that were in it together. Now it's all about me. I'm trying to get in my own head and play the mental game. Come on Mere, only a few more miles. You feel great. You can do it. Of course, the other guy gets in my head and cuts me off towards the end of those long runs, What the hell are you talking about?! Your legs are deader than a mouse in a snake cage! There is a brick wall in front of you! The hard part about that is - sometimes the other guy is a little more accurate in how I'm feeling. I've had to actively block it out and stick to my goals.

Again, when I played FH I went to practice because I had to, I lifted when I was told to, I ran to fill the requirement. Of course I loved it. I worked hard, I held people accountable and I pushed my teammates. But now I do this because I WANT to. I run to color in a blank page in my life that most other things can't, at least not with as vibrant of colors. It's my ME time. What I find most engaging about the sport: you can quit it you want, no one else cares if you hit the road that day ... but you get out there because it's part of you. I like that. I'm addicted to that.

The Skinny on How I Got Here ...

I've always been an athlete, yet not always a runner. I've played many sports growing up, predominantly field hockey, where I was always told to run as fast and hard as I could. Sprints, intervals, changing directions. I carried my FH career into college where I started as center mid on Indiana University's team. Just like most anything else, it had its ups and downs; but I promise you the ups heavily outweighed any downs. The feeling of connecting as a team and representing something so much bigger than yourself is indescribable. Anyway, I'm not here to talk about my FH career. I brought it up because I wanted to give you a background of my running history. Make your time, hit the line, go faster, pick it up, hustle, hustle, hustle. Once my career was over, I needed something else. I needed more competition.

Why not running?

Initially I never ran more than 30 minutes. I must have had speed instilled in me. I was much like a Chevy Camaro SS ... zero to 60 in 4.7 seconds. Basically, I started off sprinting. I just didn't know any better. So I wouldn't say that 30 minutes was a goal of mine, it was more like I just couldn't run any longer. I was spent. Obviously I had to learn to slow it down, become more like my last car - my little red Volkswagen Jetta. It took her awhile to get going, to get used to the distance we were traveling. Bless her heart and God rest her soul.

My sisters had all run races, 5Ks, 10-milers, half-marathons and marathons so my competitive side wanted to do it too. (There are five girls and a boy in my family.)

My first 5K was the Wake Forest Turkey Trot (NC). This was right up my alley. I finished third in my age group running at a 7:12 pace (and won and medal - woohoo). I think there were 700 or so in my age group. I can't remember exactly.

My next race was the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom 10-miler. I got better a little in my training since those two races were a couple years apart. I had the opportunity to run with my sisters at times who all stressed the importance of pacing yourself. When I finally listened and used a little discipline I realized running longer than 30 minutes wasn't so hard after all. I finished that race in 1:17, running a 7:42 pace or so. Apparently the Expo and packet pick-up wasn't stellar according to my sisters (who had run it with me) but the course and was very flat and beautiful. This is definitely when I got bit by the race bug. I needed more! There was something about total strangers cheering me on and sincerely motivating me that had inspired me. I'm addicted.

Then, I ran the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 5K in Raleigh, NC with my colleagues. Most of them ran/walked the recreational race but I got up a little earlier to participate in the competitive one. I finished 10th out of thousands in my age group. Running at a 7:30 pace or so, I experienced another eye-opening race. This one for a different reason. To compete for a cause is like nothing else. It really puts things into perspective. I was happy and proud to be running for the millions who have died, defeated and are still battling breast cancer, especially my boss, who is going in for surgery next week.

Now here I am. I've signed up and am training for two races. The Baltimore half-marathon is Oct. 10 and the OBX full-marathon is Nov. 9. I'm following the Runner's World novice-marathon training guide and it just worked out that the week I will be running the half I'm supposed to run a 14-miler.

I'm early in training but I know I have a lot to look forward to ... the love/hate relationship I will develop, the cuts and scraps I will endure and the passion that will conquer.

Thanks for coming with me on my journey, where I hope to discover more inspiration to overcome any vulnerabilities that may arise.