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Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Taming Goliath
Run Time: 48:50
Total Miles to Date: 70.2
Thoughts on the Run:
Today was cold. I decided I was not ready to run in the 30-degree morning weather, mostly because I don't have the right gear, so I decided to shift to an afternoon run instead.
I felt great driving home. It was a clear, cloudless, sunny day, 50 degrees but with a decent wind as well. It felt pretty cool getting out of the car but I knew I would warm up quickly and put on my usual cool weather gear: t-shirt for my upper body, which rarely gets cold, but running pants for my lower, especially to keep my knees warm.
I decided that since it was so close to the 10K, I'd just take it easy on this run and focus on one thing: consistency. No "hard on the hills" or "easy walks" or "pushing downhills", just get into a tempo and relax and do it. My mantra was, "Don't stop" and my thought process was, what pace can I settle into that feels like I could hold it for miles and miles?
I started out in the steep uphill leading from our cul-de-sac, always a fun little jaunt, feeling fairly winded as I crested the hill. Coming down, I had a double-whammy of hitting the shade (several degrees cooler) and being blasted by wind. My problem now was that I was just not warmed up.
Fortunately, a nice long hill was waiting for me next to the local high school. I chugged my way up, focusing on an even, paced stride. I was surprised because I felt great. It felt like I was meant to be out there, and suddenly 5 miles was an "easy" workout and not another milestone to conquer. I've done this run - I just raced a mile farther - so I can do it. My legs felt light and I had an unusual spring to my step. In fact, going up the hill, I realized that all of my focusing on my foot strike with my right leg had paid off ... I no longer had to focus, and I was striding just fine. So, no pain in my feet, ankles, knees, no more awkward feeling that my right leg was twisted, and a more economical run.
Over the hill, down the back. I decided to time this one precisely, so I started my hand-held timer and this time instead of clipping it just zipped it into my pocket and hoped it wouldn't bounce on the reset button. The only problem I had during this portion was a little cramp that felt like a stitch but was in my lower back on the left side. Instinctively I lifted my chest and stood more upright and began breathing more deeply and it eventually (after about 10 minutes) went away.
Going back up the next hill was easy enough. As I crested the hill and started going downhill, I started to feel a strange sensation ... one I liked, but was new to me. It was like I could feel that my legs were getting tired, my calfs were a little sore, my chest was a little tired ... yet, it was okay. I knew my body had what it needed to finish the run. Even a little nausea was there, but I was detached. I really enjoyed the sensation - that all of these things were going on but I was detached and could easily run through it. It was like I was a separate person.
Then I realized I had also decided not to take my MP3. I wanted to focus on the run, my body, the environment, and not get lost in music. Maybe this had something to do with it.
It was amazing feeling myself pick up the stride a bit and push through, yet not be present to really feel like I'd have to walk. It was in this state that I reached Goliath, the very long hill at the end of my loop. If you view the course, click the little blue zig-zag arrow to get the elevation map. Goliath is the steep climb from mile 3 to 3 3/4. It's probably not heartbreak hill but it is quite a workout for me. Normally in my easier runs I walk Goliath, but today I was fine. My calfs hurt and my breathing was picking up but in the detached mode I was, I was able to just let my legs propel me up. I realized that I had obtained my goal: to reach that methodic pace that I felt I could fall into and just run forever.
Up and over, down a bit, a little more uphill, and then dowhill back to the end.
I felt good and decided I had probably run around an 11-minute pace. I was surprised when I pulled out my timer and expecting to see a 5 saw a 4 instead - 48:50. So, I did a better-than 10-mile pace on the easy run. This was great news! I felt terrific.
I walked back to the house, spent 20 minutes with my flexibility yoga routine, and then showered. It feels great to have the run done and I look forward to some speed work on my treadmill tomorrow.
Jeremy
posted by Jeremy Likness | 5:55 PM
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