Monthly Archives: February 2008
Fantastic February
What’s in a month? For me, the second month of the year this year was all about getting back on track … and then some. When January ended, I was really doubting myself and how I could get ready for next month’s race. Twenty-nine days later, I say: Bring it on.
I finished the month with 86.5 miles, about 9 miles more than February 2007, brining my yearly total to 128.8 miles. If all goes as planned this weekend, I will pass the 100-mile mark in a 31-day span. Not a bad way to kick off March. Now that I’ve gotten away from my lousy January, I realize now how important it was for my body to get some rest and recover from last year. I’m ending this month feeling the best I’ve felt in a long time.
If I knew then ….
My friends over at the Runner’s Lounge often post some interesting subjects. They also have an awesome Web site connecting runners with runners, but time just isn’t on my side to get involved as I would like. That all being said, this week’s “Take-It-and-Run Thursday” topic is very interesting, and like many things with running, it is very challenging. So here’s my take on “If I knew then what I know now.”
What have you stubbornly resisted learning or trying? Speed work. I’ve always been scared to push my body to its limits. I always impressed myself with races, but never did interval training at all until I ran with a group. I definitely suggest doing it with a group first, then your confidence will come around to trying it by yourself.
What has led to breakthroughs in your running? Lots of little things. Finishing my first race made me realize that I can do anything I set my mind to.
What lesson about running has taken you too long to figure out? Injuries. I wouldn’t say it’s taken too long to figure out … it’s just frustrating to figure out.
What 1 or 2 factors have made your running most successful and enjoyable? Finishing my first race … and four years later finishing my first marathon.
What training or racing blunders have set you back? In training for my first “long” race - a 10 miler - I increased my mileage too quick and suffered from knee problems. I know now to stop when something hurts.
What 1 or 2 pieces advice would you pass along to a beginning runner? It gets easier each day … then it gets hard all over again. I also suggest to push yourself a little farther every day. Start at a mile … then 1.25 miles, then 1.5 miles, then 1.75 miles. A little bit goes a long way.
What advice would you pass along to a veteran runner who is stuck in a rut? Try a different route. I know too many people who have the same route, or same neighborhood. You need different scenery at least once a week.
What has kept you from achieving your running goals? Injuries, but I’ve been lucky to only have two and neither have been major. But they’re frustrating.
What is one mistake that has made a significant difference in your running that would you like to reverse? Instead of using the work mistake, I like to say lessons learned. And, I think the biggest lesson learned came 10 years ago when I stopped running. I missed out on a lot by stopping and gaining weight.
Things just keep getting better
In the past few weeks I’ve had a lot happen to put my mind at ease when it comes to running — a good race, a good mile time by myself, hitting double digits, etc. But I can’t just be content with what I’ve done. Running is a never-ending process, and don’t ask me why it’s taken me five years to really realize that.
Today was one of those days that I could have easily turned my alarm clock off and slept until noon. But I got up on the first alarm and didn’t sleep an extra 9 minutes like I usually do. I got up … and went running. As usual, I didn’t have much of a plan, but I knew I wanted to do some sort of speed work. So after a little more than a mile, I did some intervals — two quarter miles and two half miles, with a quarter mile break in between everything. My first quarter mile was 2:06, and it felt like I was dragging through mud. The second quarter mile was 1:57. Better, but I wasn’t fully satisfied. I still felt tired, but no worn out. It was just an odd feeling really. The first half mile went better with a time of 3:46; my last half mile was a bit slower at 3:55.
When I ran about a mile to cool down, I was thinking about what I just did. A year ago I didn’t have enough confidence to attempt speed work by myself. It had to be with a group. And a year ago I would’ve never attempted this in a neighborhood — I would’ve wanted complete flatness on a track. I was also very happy at keeping my pace under 8-minute miles while feeling like I could run even harder.
I keep getting mad at myself for a few pounds I can’t seem to lose, but I am feeling great heading into the last two weeks of getting ready for the Shamrock Half Marathon. I have to keep reminding myself, too, that it’s still February and most people are still in “off season” not thinking about running hard. And I’m doing much of this own my own. Yes, I’m running with a group on Saturdays, but it doesn’t focus on speed or longer distances that I’m at now. I’ve been lacking some confidence for a while, and it’s nice to be back.
A Return to Double Digits
For the first time since the marathon, and for the first time since late October as a training run, I hit double digits today with 10.1 miles. For the most part, everything felt good. It was a bit cold at first, but by mid-way any feeling of cold went away. I hit 25.5 miles for the week - my third straight week of 20-plus miles.
Today also brought me to only two miles away from passing last year’s February total with five days remaining, but my January miles were much less. Even though I’ve ran fewer miles so far this year than I had last year at this time, I’ve been more consistent with creeping my mileage up leading up to the next race. This 10-mile run also surpasses my longest run from last year leading up to the same race. I’m pretty much on track with some training plans I’ve seen for a half marathon, although I’d like to be running a little bit more. Right now, I’m just happy to be running as much as I am.
Challenging Myself
A day after writing about perhaps running in the evening again, I made the switch for at least one day. It was colder than usual this morning and I was short on time, so a run was out of the question in the a.m. I usually take Thursday off anyway, but tomorrow’s forecast is for snow and ice in the morning, so I had to adjust things. So I took a 36-hour break and ran after I got off work today.
About a mile into the run, I thought that I needed to do something different. The run was just boring and it was quickly getting dark. So, I thought since I hadn’t done much speed work besides this past weekend’s race that I’d see how fast I could run a mile. Since running in the evening is unlike me, why not throw my body for an even bigger loop? So after 2 miles, I hit the lap button on my Garmin and took off. And I felt like I was going nowhere! I managed a 7:40 mile, which I’m very pleased with — it was nearly 12 hours later than I’m used to, it was after a busy day at work and I had Mexican for lunch. So yes, 7:40 is great. It just felt like I could’ve done better, and that’s a great feeling to have.
With a little more than three weeks to go to the Shamrock Half Marathon, things really seem to be falling into place. I just have a few pounds I’d like to shed and I think I’m well on my way with that.
Craving Daylight
Running in the winter isn’t necessarily a battle against the cold or the wind or the up and down temperatures Virginia gets. It’s the daylight hours, or really, the lack of. I have trouble waking up when it’s dark out. I manage, somehow, but it’s not the same as the summer. Right now, I can really tell that the days are getting a bit longer. It’s nice that it’s not pitch black at 7 a.m. But thanks to our federal government, we’ll be springing forward soon, and it’ll be a good month or so before it’s daylight when I would prefer it to be daylight.
However, there is the end of the day. I used to be an evening runner, but changed a year ago. Perhaps I’ll have to reconsider soon. I’m flexible to some extent. I just had more “problems” at the end of the day when I ran.
Anyway, I really have no point. I guess it’s those winter blues. I’m craving consistent temperatures in which I can run in shorts and short sleeves. Meanwhile, it’s been a pretty good week so far. I’m a mile ahead of last week so far. I’m debating on hitting double digits for the long run this week. That’s a decision that’ll come that morning probably.
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