And it was completely amazing. I have to say that I'm definitely twice the runner I was when I was training for the half. These legs are FINALLY starting to catch up with my head. :)
Ok, but for some really odd and strange reason, the thing that motivated me through my run was knowing I was going to take an ice bath when I got back. Ummm...I guess I thought it was going to feel...good? Refreshing? Wow. Yeah. Let's just say not so much. I kept my shorts on and put on a long sleeved t-shirt, held my breath, and pretty much jumped in. It knocked the wind out of me. First my heart rate jumped, then my legs started to involuntarily and randomly twitch...yeah...wow...it was cold. I spent all of like 6 minutes in there before I started thinking about how long it might take for me to catch hypothermia or lose all movement in my lower body and how much that would really really suck, and then I called it quits and jumped out. My legs felt awesome and fresh for about 20 minutes. They definitely don't feel like I just ran 10 miles, but they also don't feel like I haven't run any at all. It's not like I haven't ever done an ice bath before either...I guess I'm just delusional
So a while ago I blogged about how I love that when you run, you encounter what's like this little secret society of runners. As I'm getting to know more runners in the area, and running regularly the same routes, I'm starting to recognize some faces. Last weekend I bought some spikes for CC in the fall from Dick Ponds, a running shoe store in the area, and I guess you could say two guys kind of sold me my shoes. First this one guy got me a bunch of sizes, and then this other guy took over for him because this lady came in the store and had apparently ordered shoes earlier that week from him. I saw the first guy who sold me shoes while running today. We gave each other the nod and smiled and waved and went on our merry ways. I love knowing that the people who sold me running shoes actually run in their free time. Sometimes this is not the case. I also saw this girl who I always want to tell to pace herself because she does this thing where she'll go flying past me (even when I run at like an 8 minute pace on my 6 milers...even my tempo runs which are like 7:45ers during my tempo miles) at like a 6 minute pace I'd guess, and then about 10 minutes later, I'll pass her as she's walking or at a complete stand still. We play this game off and on sometimes if I run in the evenings (which I don't necessarily like to do). It's kind of funny. I've gotten to the point where it doesn't bug me that much when people pass me on my long runs. It definitely bugs me during races and tempos, but during long runs, I'm in my little happy place. I've come to realize that I think long runs are my favorite type, because I get to have an hour to two hours of time just being by myself, in nature, doing what I love.
SO YES...I'm adding two miles to each long run. Next week is my twelver. I'm excited. Next week, if I stick completely to my plan, I'll hit my first 40 mile week, possibly a 47 mile week. We will see though. I'm not completely sure. I'm thinking I may take three miles off my Friday run to be ready for Saturday's long run, and finish at 44, which is still amazing. That's like more than double the mileage I was averaging a month ago. I'm crazy. :)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment