I started writing this post on Monday… yeah, it takes nearly a week to finish a blog post!
Sunday, I went back to my favorite spot for the Return of the Long Run: a 7-miler. Everyone has their own definition of…well, everything. My “long run” definition is 7 miles. Not sure why. 5-6 is pretty long too, but 7 feels Legit Long in my mind. My plan called for runs of 5-4-6 for a total of 15 this week. However, I only have time for at most 3.5 on my Tues-Thurs runs, so I ended up doing 3-3.4-1.6-7 for a total of 15 (little bit of a math lesson, right?) But it works 🙂
I headed out after Asher went down for his second nap, around 2 PM. I would have gone during the first nap, as I prefer to get the long run over with, but Javi made such an awesome breakfast (eggs + ham + homemade hash browns + pancakes! Oh yeah and sunflower honey toast! nom noms) I couldn’t quite fathom running after eating all that. So I ate a light lunch of leftover pizza (figured it probably wouldn’t upset my tummy & thankfully I was right). It was sunny and 52*, perfect conditions for a full lap around the lake. I mix it up by switching going clockwise, and counterclockwise around the lake. Last time was clockwise (with Dad last weekend, for 6.5), so this time was counter–same as the Salem Lake 7 miler race in September. Good for visualizing.
Wore a technical T-shirt & shorts, my Garmin, and my RoadID bracelet. I carried no food or drink. I started way too fast. Decided on no music, since I left my iPod at work and didn’t feel like carrying my phone. I like to feel disconnected sometimes.
The miles flew by. I stopped to use the bathroom at halfway (thankfully the lake has a trailer in the main parking lot with facilities–they sell drinks, bait, and have several clean bathrooms, yay!) TMI alert: The only difference I can tell between my pre-Asher body and right now is having this feeling like I have to pee while I run. Not every time, but on my long ones especially. Hoping that goes away.
I was feeling really good until the 7th mile, when my legs started to say “hey, we haven’t done this distance in awhile!” They don’t feel awful today, but they don’t feel great either. My normal Monday strength routine was replaced with stretching, walking on the treadmill for 5 minutes, and sitting in the sauna for 5 minutes. Oh well.. can’t do it all!
I found this on the 2,015 in 2015 forum on Facebook & loved it:
Running truly does help me make sense of everything & “unspool the tangles”. Life can be so complicated, busy, scary, worrisome, annoying, monotonous–tangly!… etc etc. For me, running makes life less of that big mess… and the more I run, the more I appreciate everything: the strength of my body, the love of my family, the amazing things I can accomplish with my mind, the way we are blessed in 1,000 ways and may not even realize it. God opens up my eyes to the wonderful things around me, and all the blessings throughout my life, when I run.
Finished at a 10 min/mile pace (right on my goal easy/long run pace). Legs were lead, but I had peace of mind & a grateful heart. Can’t ask for more from a long run!
Update from today {Thursday}: Speed work day! 1 mile warm up with my training partner, 1 mile @ 8:00, 1/2 mile recovery, 1 mile @ 7:56, 1/2 mile cooldown. Felt awesome–very good for building my confidence for the 5K in a few weeks.
Til next time!
Leave a Reply