Yesterday, day 20: Five miles. Barely.
Ooof.
After last Saturday’s 4.5 mile run, and after buying new running shoes on Wednesday, I was feeling pretty prepared for this one.
The funny thing about training, especially when you’re like me and haven’t ever really run very far, is how it all starts to feel very precise. Or, at least, you try to make things precise, which is a losing battle. I’ve mapped out all my routes in advance, to make sure I’m reaching the minimum number of miles, and tried to make sure I don’t go over that minimum by too much and either risk overstraining myself or taking too long.
Today, I tested out several routes on Gmaps Pedometer, but didn’t decide on one until I was in the car with Peattie heading to the Panhandle. (Yes, we drive in order to run. He feels especially dumb about it; I feel only somewhat dumb about it. But the park is so nice and near my house is so heavily trafficked with cars and hipsters.) Considering I ran 4.5 miles last week, I really didn’t think hitting the five-mile point would be that hard, in terms of routing as well as exertion. But it’s a little tricky to navigate and find the exact right route that will get me to five miles without going too far (as in, more than half a mile) over — especially given the geography of the park, and the fact that I don’t know said geography very well.
Some of my pre-mapped routes had me going as far as Park Presidio Drive/Transverse, and when I mentioned this to Peattie in the car, he said that was as far as he runs. Not convenient, considering the whole purpose of this little buddy running setup is for him to run at his (much faster) pace and go farther than I do, running at my slower pace. So I decided to run the slightly more complicated, but less risky (in terms of me getting lost or turned around and somehow going like, six miles instead of five!) route, which was very similar to last week but stretched out a tiny bit more. Next week, I’m going to have to leave my (very recently-discovered) comfort zone to get to six.
Anyway, despite the fact that I wasn’t going much farther than last week, today’s run was pretty painful. My legs were hurting a little, and I admit that I did walk for a short time on the hill up toward Stow Lake. It wasn’t because I was out of breath (I rarely am when I’m running, since I go so slow — I have other issues) — but my legs were really not enjoying it. Although to be honest, walking at that point doesn’t feel any better — something to remember next time.
The upside of all this is that afterwards, when I was retracing my steps on Gmaps Pedometer, I was absolutely sure for a second that I’d mis-calculated last Saturday’s run, and that I hadn’t gone as far as I’d thought I had. I double-checked, though, and I hadn’t!
Now, a question. I originally slotted myself for two weeks in a row of five mile runs, because I had extra time, but I feel like if I can go up another mile, I should. That way, I can get to the higher numbers sooner, double up on the 8-10 mile range, and build my comfort level with distances closer to that of the actual race. Thoughts?
Summary:
- 5.02 miles (route)
- 53:35 minutes
- 5.62mph
P.S. I wrote this yesterday and didn’t post it, in the middle of stressing out about a hauling service picking up this chair that we needed to get rid of (we put it on the street and our landlord complained, and so we actually just paid someone to come but they came an hour late, I was rushing, etc.). So I’m posting today and with an update: I am sore. Also, my left leg is totally out of whack. Tips?
