All in Stride

My legs are tired this evening, and, odd as this may sound, this excites me.  I'm thrilled because the soreness and tiredness is a result of having had the best running week I've had in a long time.  Not only did I go out for a run 4 times this week, but each time I ran strong and pushed myself just enough to up my game without leaving me to crash and burn at the end.  But I don't take any of the credit, because three of the four times I was running with my group.  

After a couple of post-H2C lackluster weeks of running, I'm back in business!  Despite my husband being out of town all last week, I managed to get some good miles in.  I also did something over the week that I haven't done in a long time; I left my watch at home.  I've been so obsessed with my pace the last few months, that I haven't had a relaxing, fun run in awhile.  I had been pushing my limits by trying to go at as fast of a pace as possible on every run that it mentally, not just physically, became work to go out for a run.  Make no mistake, I still pushed myself, but only slightly outside my comfort zone.  But without a watch to focus on, I wasn't distracted with calculations and predictions in my head, and I was left to simply enjoy the run and my friend's company.  

Pub Run Tuesday

My sister-in-law was gracious enough to come and watch the kiddo so I could join this bi-weekly event.  Apparently I wasn't the only mama to be solo parenting this week, because 4 out of the 9 ladies who showed up with kiddos strapped in jogging strollers.  I was instantly impressed because our pub run route is quite hilly, and I can't begin to fathom pushing 60+ pounds of stroller and kiddo up those hills.  More likely is that I would have to chase down a run-away stroller on the downhill!  What I love about this group is how determined every mama is.  I finished with many of those stroller-pushing mamas close on my heels, one of whom kept pace with me the entire time!  I was quite impressed, and just a tad envious that I couldn't "smoke" them!

Miles: 2.5

Time: Not the foggiest idea

Saturday morning at Forest Park

Miles: 10

Time: All I know is something less than 1:40 

Sunday morning at Fairmount

Miles: 3.5

Time: 32 minutes

Since I had two solid workouts this week, I wanted to give my legs as much rest as possible for yesterday's long run.  But with an active toddler, I found myself on my feet a lot.  I wanted to run 10-11 miles, but I wasn't sure how fresh my legs would feel by the time Saturday morning rolled around.  

We had a huge turnout on Saturday, which is great, but oddly enough, no one was planning on running more than 8 miles.  Most of the ladies had just run the Shamrock 15k, so they wanted to give their legs a bit of a break (I do realize 8 miles for normal people is not viewed as "a break").  But I decided I'd just go as far as they did and wait to decide if I'd run the extra 3 miles.  

Normally we start off in a pack and then the group spreads out into partners and individuals according to their own pace.  I hung back with a friend who tends to run slower, but I figured I'd be easy on my legs.  I stayed with her for about 3-4 miles, and then took off to catch up with my usual company.  When I caught up with them, I noticed that my legs were springier than in the first half of the run.  I didn't feel like running an extra 3 miles, but I didn't want to stop at 8.  As a middle ground, while they stopped and stretched before getting coffee, I ran back to the car, grabbed my wallet, and then ran back, adding about another mile and a half.  In the end, I probably could have pushed it with the 11 miles, but I felt great after 9.5.  And my time was one of my faster long runs, averaging a 9:15 min/mile.

I had read repeatedly that it can be harder to run slower because you are running that much longer.  It might be more effort to run faster, but you expend that much more energy overall when you run for a longer period of time.  I couldn't really fathom that until this run.  It turns out that running slower, even if it's a minute or even 30 seconds off pace, can be more work.  When I initially hung back with my friend, my legs felt tired, my turnover was neither smooth nor easy, and there were pauses in my speech.  But when I started to speed up to catch up with the others, I immediately fell into a comfortable stride.  My lungs pumped a bit harder, but my legs were happy.  It didn't take long for both to settle into a rhythm, allowing me to just run on auto and chat with my friends.  And then before I knew it, the run was over.  

This past week has really given me an opportunity to reflect on my recent strides (pun intended) in my running.  The workouts have given me cause for thinking that I might just be able to pull off 8:30/8:45 paces in Hood to Coast.  I'm looking forward to my 10k next month -- I'll be racing my heart out!

Miles: 9.5

Time: 1 hr 28 mins

Before we take off, we usually discuss how many miles each runner plans to do. It gives is sense to see who will likely run with whom and if anyone will wind up running on their own at any point. I also use it personally to hold myself accountable. Rarely do I go less than what I say, and occasionally I run more. I told the group I was planning on 9. Somehow, standing with my friends and knowing how great I feel after our Saturday runs, I was confident 9 would be doable. We took off and quickly fell into a good, comfortable pace. Easy enough to still talk, but with some effort.

As much as I love running in Forest Park i can still psych myself out a bit on runs longer than 7 miles. That's because after 3.5 miles the trail goes more noticeably uphill again. Because I can see the uphill, I feel it more. So I mentally prepared myself for the mile before the turnaround, and I surprisingly felt good. Good enough to even pick up the pace a bit. I thought, yeah, I can totally finish this out.

With about 3 miles left to go, my legs began to feel heavy. Around this time my friend was also complaining of tight hamstrings. I told her we could push through it, we just had to make it to the 1-mile marker, where we could use the downhill to our advantage, but I wasn't quite sure myself. Shortly after the 2-mile marker I was trying to stave off a pain in the collarbone. I didn't want to run anymore, and I wasn't even sure I could make it to the end.

Finally, with just one mile left to go, I felt relieved. I could back off on the effort a bit and let the downhill take me the rest of the way without sacrificing time. Only I didn't. Back off, that is. I did something I normally don't do and that I certainly don't do on my own, but I ignored the pain in my lungs, the leaden weight of my legs, and the coldness that hadn't left my body since stepping out I'd the car (which worried me slightly), and I picked up the pace. I didn't say anything to my friend, who I knew was already outside of her comfort zone, and just gradually sped up. She didn't say anything, just matched me stride for stride. In the last 100 yards or so I asked if she had enough to sprint to the end. I barely gave her enough time to respond before we opened up our stride.

At the end we could barely talk, but we didn't collapse. We ran 9 miles and, despite the pain and draining enthusiasm, finished really strong. More than ever I see the power in being a part of such a great group. I had never felt more proud myself or more thrilled to have a group pushing and encouraging me, whether it's directly or by finding the potential within. I would never have done this on my own. I would probably have turned early or walked the rest of the way. I may not have even got up to run at all.

Miles: 9
Furman target time: 1:31:57 (10:13 pace)
Actual time: 1:30:07 (10:01 pace)

Another Wednesday, another OMSI run with the Running Mamas.  I was lucky enough to be running stroller-free (kiddo was making up a day at preschool), but I just wasn't feeling it.  I figured I should run, or I'd be kicking myself for it later.  But I would have much rather spent my "free" morning wrapped around a warm cup of coffee instead of freezing my ass off on the waterfront.  It was another good turnout, so at least I'd get to catch up with my friends.