Today was week #3 of really nice running/walking weather. I'm afraid to think of what might be waiting for us. I can't imagine this is going to last forever. I know that's not very glass half full thinking but reality is what it is.
Today I was able to stick with my plan again. I so love when that happens. I had 9 to run today. I went 4.5; walked long enough to take a gu and some water and ran the rest of the way. I felt good almost the whole way and really good when it was over.
My left foot though is doing something weird. Started out with numbness in the ball of my foot just below the 4th and 5th toes. Then a sharp pain ran up to my knee. At one point I landed on a small stone right on that spot on the ball of my foot and the pain went shooting up to my jaw. Seriously, I thought my head would explode. It passed quickly but still... the numbness and pain shooting in my lower leg stayed through the last two miles. Within 5 minutes of finishing the run it was like it never happened.
I thought a lot about hills and run/walk today. First the hills. I read an article on running uphill this week. I've read stuff on hills before but this one really made sense. So I tried to follow the advice today. The advice on kicking the ground somehow made a lot of sense to me. Who knows if I did it exactly the way it is described (likely not since I didn't memorize the text before my run) but I did what it felt like what was described and I like the result. I managed both hills- one at about 3 miles into the run and one in the last mile going back- and funny to say but I was still kicking at the top of the hill. How do I explain this... um it's like I still had spring in my step at the top of the hill instead of feeling like "Oh thank goodness that's over". I liked that feeling better. I think I have to keep trying this though and see if it feels this good on hot humid day or a day when my butt is dragging going into the run. Today was such a great day weather and mood wise. A lot of things would feel great on a day like that!
So about the run/walk thing. Many in our group are trying it this year after a great seminar on it early in the season. Typically they are doing 5 and 1's or 4 and 1's... 5 minutes walking, 1 minute running etc. I understand the concept; which is all about keeping your legs fresh for the long distance. I have tried it with different people. These folks are faster than me (very few are slower than me in this group) and I figured if I could keep up with them running with the promise of a walk break every 3-5 minutes I'd be ok with the faster running. Although I've managed to keep up it doesn't feel comfortable.
And quite frankly my brain does not seem to be on board with these shorter intervals. I prefer to go miles and then take a short break. My walk breaks are shorter when I do it that way. I know from past experience that I need breaks in the marathon. So as we venture into the 14, 15, 18 and 21 mile runs I will have to experiment with what mile breaks. The last two runs (13 and 9) I went 4 or 4.5 miles. I think for the 14 miler I'm going to try two 5's and a 4. Actually it's too early to say that for sure. But if the Saturday weather continues to hold nice that will be the plan.
All of this means more running alone since my pace (in three years now) just doesn't seem to quite match anyone else's. But it's ok. There's always somebody just ahead or just behind or leap frogging me or passing me on their way back so it's not really alone alone.
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