The First Four Miles
Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 1:27 PM | Dena Harris Good news! In case this writing career doesn't pan out, I suspect I have a strong future in 1-900 phone sex lines as every day I get better and better at this heavy breathing thing.
Yes, today was a running day.
In fact, today's run was one of the longest tempo runs of the FURMAN FIRST program: a one mile warm-up followed by 10 miles at marathon pace, or 8:23/mile for me. Here is what I learned from today's run:
- Overdressing is a bad thing
- I must remember to pack sunglasses for Boston
- Starting out too fast will always come back to bite me in the end
- I sound (and possibly look) like an asthmatic walrus the first four miles of any run
- There is a lot of guano on the Greenway
I struggled to hold pace today. Which makes no sense as Barefoot Josh and I ran a faster pace than this for the same distance two weeks ago. But as several of my running friends point out, there's just no telling who's going to show up on any given day for a run. Some days are just better than others.
However, if I needed a reminder that so much of this running business is mental, I had it today.
I pushed myself through the last two miles, taking several walk breaks, then hauling a** the last half mile to make sure I made pace. Once the official run was over, I took a deep breath, relaxed, and went into a slow and easy cool-down run for a mile. The difference was immense. No strain, no heavy breathing, just a nice easy pace. No worries...
I looked at my watch at the end of my cool-down mile and guess what? I ran it at race pace - an 8:23. But since I didn't HAVE to run that fast and wasn't worrying about pace, it all came easy.
MENTAL. I just have to get my head in the game.
Reader Comments (6)
So what does that tell you.....you are thinking too much in the beginning and just running and enjoying whatever the rest of the way?! I am just impressed you can run this far everyday. I only go to the gym everyday and sometimes have to talk myself into it. You are great! Love ya.
If it weren't for your speedy cool down, I'd say it was the keys weighing you down.
And you'd use an 800 number? That's an unconventional business strategy.
You're right, let's change that to "900." But hmmm, how'd you catch that, Josh?
I found much joy in reading the phrase "guano on the Greenway." I am now singing it repeatedly to the tune of English Beat's "Mirror in the Bathroom."
Iris - I only know Kenny G tunes. ;)
Whatever gets you through the day, be it KG, Ke$ha, or a little guano on the Greenway.