Day 29: Sparse writing, but regular running
It has been awhile since I've written and caught up with my DS friends! Things have been busy as usual, but I've been keeping up with the running.
I did my 4 mile run last last Saturday, and I did more flipflopping over the week. I believe I took a break on Sunday, ran 3 Monday, ran 3 again on Tuesday, then a 6 miler on Wednesday which was absolutely gorgeous. Then I did a tempo run on Thursday which just about wiped me out (I know, two "hard" workouts is no bueno.) But it still felt pretty good when I was running fast. It was a 35 minute run and I extended it a bit longer because I was walking to get back home. I kept up a spurt of 7 minutes of almost-sprinting... I want to say 75% even. And then I went to jogging, then another 5 minutes of 75% again. It was so tough.
Friday, I was on a leisurely 3 mile run. Saturday and Sunday I didn't run because I was having a lovely Valentine's weekend with my boyfriend who lives across the state. And today, I was on the treadmill for my test "5K" because it was raining outside. There were good things and bad things about it. The good thing: I ran the first mile at an 8:34 min/mile pace. So at least I know I can run one whole mile at my goal race pace. But I was so tired... the 2nd mile I was back at a 10min/mile pace. The third I did half of it at an 8:34, but the rest at a 9:17. I know I'm only halfway through my training, but I wish I had more confidence that I could do this.
It reminds me of this DS article posted recently by Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross, about the difference between pleasure and gratification. I know that it would definitely have been more pleasurable to stay home all day and eat bonbons. But it's much more gratifying, in the bigger scheme of things, to have trained for and accomplished this goal. In fact, I feel that this kind of gratification is not only different from pleasure, but can only be attained through *pain*!! Which is what I feel when I am doing tempo runs and speed workouts.
To be honest, I think I am much happier running long, slow, leisurely runs and soaking up scenery than checking my stopwatch or pressuring myself for time. But then again, sometimes I feel like I just need to get over this big hump to train my body for a faster pace. Then I just need to maintain it, and running at a faster speed will become normal for me because I put in that hard work.
I suppose I'll see. Either way, as long as running is in my life, I think I will be happy. Even if I am a slow runner, I am still a runner.
PS: ultratodd and smilelisa, i am totally kicking your butts in races... in my dreams! haha. you fast runners are really inspirational. and thank you so much inmemoryofhattie and daisykfy79 for your support and also your inspirational goals and journals.
I did my 4 mile run last last Saturday, and I did more flipflopping over the week. I believe I took a break on Sunday, ran 3 Monday, ran 3 again on Tuesday, then a 6 miler on Wednesday which was absolutely gorgeous. Then I did a tempo run on Thursday which just about wiped me out (I know, two "hard" workouts is no bueno.) But it still felt pretty good when I was running fast. It was a 35 minute run and I extended it a bit longer because I was walking to get back home. I kept up a spurt of 7 minutes of almost-sprinting... I want to say 75% even. And then I went to jogging, then another 5 minutes of 75% again. It was so tough.
Friday, I was on a leisurely 3 mile run. Saturday and Sunday I didn't run because I was having a lovely Valentine's weekend with my boyfriend who lives across the state. And today, I was on the treadmill for my test "5K" because it was raining outside. There were good things and bad things about it. The good thing: I ran the first mile at an 8:34 min/mile pace. So at least I know I can run one whole mile at my goal race pace. But I was so tired... the 2nd mile I was back at a 10min/mile pace. The third I did half of it at an 8:34, but the rest at a 9:17. I know I'm only halfway through my training, but I wish I had more confidence that I could do this.
It reminds me of this DS article posted recently by Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross, about the difference between pleasure and gratification. I know that it would definitely have been more pleasurable to stay home all day and eat bonbons. But it's much more gratifying, in the bigger scheme of things, to have trained for and accomplished this goal. In fact, I feel that this kind of gratification is not only different from pleasure, but can only be attained through *pain*!! Which is what I feel when I am doing tempo runs and speed workouts.
To be honest, I think I am much happier running long, slow, leisurely runs and soaking up scenery than checking my stopwatch or pressuring myself for time. But then again, sometimes I feel like I just need to get over this big hump to train my body for a faster pace. Then I just need to maintain it, and running at a faster speed will become normal for me because I put in that hard work.
I suppose I'll see. Either way, as long as running is in my life, I think I will be happy. Even if I am a slow runner, I am still a runner.
PS: ultratodd and smilelisa, i am totally kicking your butts in races... in my dreams! haha. you fast runners are really inspirational. and thank you so much inmemoryofhattie and daisykfy79 for your support and also your inspirational goals and journals.
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