Taking time off is hard. Very hard. I rested all last week. My cold is gone and my energy is returning. And, as usual, after taking a week off from training, depression and insomnia rears its ugly head. I get stir-crazy, and I know it's time to get back out there.
Yesterday, I did the club's final track workout of the season. It was a mile time trial. I had no idea what to expect. I can't remember the last time I timed myself for a mile. I just decided to go out and do it and have fun with it. We had a nice, long warm-up, stretched, and warmed up some more. Then, we all went out for our 4 loops around the track. Everyone took off. I just hung out in the back, trying not to feel defeated. First lap: 2:00 even. Hey, that's not so bad. Second lap: 4:00. At least I'm consistent. I felt strong and steady and slightly uncomfortable but knew I could sustain the pace. I started to get waves of adrenaline on the 3rd lap, which I hate because it was too early. Then, I had to hold myself in check, and quell the impulse to just sprint. I felt almost naseous. But I picked up my pace slightly until I was a little more "uncomfortable." My breathing rate increased but was still deep and even. Fourth lap, time to get the lead out. I steadily picked up the pace, building momentum on the first turn. I started passing people who had passed me on the first straightaway, which only incited me to go faster. I kept increasing and increasing all the way to the finish. 7:45. I felt great.
I'm happy with this time. My mile PR is 7:20. I haven't been doing any speedwork so I had pretty low expectations. I was hoping for an 8:30 or maybe an 8:00. So I'm pretty happy to be in the 7's. My goal is to get down to 7:00 one day. I think it may actually be possible.
We went out to pizza afterwards. Forgot my wallet. Luckily, the joint was 1/2 mile away from our apartment. I still had my running shoes on so I ran out the door and all the way to the apartment, grabbed my wallet, and hoofed it back to pay for dinner. Great post-dinner run to burn off the pizza!
Jason reminded me yesterday of how hard it was for us when we first started running about six years ago. First off, I am amazed at well he knows me. Then I realize we've been together almost 10 years (Feb.) so no wonder. Still, it's nice to be with someone who knows you inside and out. When I get in a bad mood and say self-defeating things, he's the one to say, "That's not like you. I know you, and I know you don't want that." Then I realize he's right. No argument there. But I digress...
We first started running in St. Louis from our apartment to the History Museum, which was about 2 miles. It took us 30 minutes to do it, and it was tough. I remember the first time we made it all the way to Skinker (where the main campus of Wash. U. is). That was about 4 miles. We felt like it was such an accomplishment. We had to work our way up to our first 5K. It seemed so daunting at the time. I remember when I ran all the way around Forest Park for the first time. Halfway around the loop, the point of no return. It was scary. Can I do this? I made it back and felt invigorated. 6 miles, baby. It was great. It's nice to reflect on how far we've come b/c I tend to beat myself up about stupid things that don't matter when in fact, I'm improving and getting fitter all the time.
12 comments:
It's amazing how crappy you feel after not working out for a few days, it's almost like you're going through withdrawals. Kind of have that feeling right now with the rain and such we've had around here lately.
The whole beating yourself up...I'm the same way, I either beat myself up about how "badly" I did even though I did twice as good as the year before or I can't move on from what I did wrong. I guess I require perfection from myself as do you it seems.
Good job letting the body rest. You have a tough winter of training ahead of you!
Great job on the run. It's always nice to hear how people started getting excited about fitness!
Jodi
Back in highschool, I can't run more than one lap on the track.
All the base you are building has helped you improve your run speed.
I'm glad you shook that cold and are out there training again.
That's funny about the pizza. Dan and I did something similar a couple years ago when we were on vacation, only we were running back and forth between the laundromat and the restaurant between courses.
Being a runner pays off in many odd ways.
MMmmm pizza. I need a deep dish pie soon.
Sometimes we need to look back at see how far we have come and give oueselves a pat on the back sometimes. Taking a break is
always hard, but sometimes it is necessary. Great job on the track workout.
Pretty good idea running back to your apt! Ahhhh, hubby sounds like a good guy!
Good mile time! It is helpful to compare then and now when you think you're not improving.
Looking at your yearly review- I usually bike over 2000 and run less then 300, I need more running miles. Compared to you, i'm very bike heavy.
I love running fast!! Good work on the track workout. I remember how hard it was starting running- keeping on going even when you feel like dying. I remember my first 4-5ish mile run- I had been running sporadically for awhile and one night I was so frustrated by a guy who was messing me round that I decided to leave the house and just run for as long as I felt like it. I was so excited when I did the whole loop back to my house! It's hard to believe that now that 5 miles is an easy run...
Keep that depression at bay, it really does have an ugly head.
Cheers.
Rice.
Glad to hear you are taking some off time... and eating pizza. Mmmmm... pizza. :)
Isn't it amazing what a little training can do to our fitness? Great that you can appreciate the gains you have made over the years.
Congrats on the (almost) 10 yr milestone too..that is awesome!
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