Monday, April 22, 2013

No Reason

I have yet to experience the need to run.  I don't have that runner's high.  I don't feel badly if I don't get to go for a run.

On the other hand, I usually do feel better after a run.

I didn't want to go for a run today.  I had a bunch of excuses (although admittedly, none were very good excuses), but I didn't have a reason.  So I ran.

Still, since I really didn't want to run I used my "April Challenge" out.  I only ran one mile.  But it was a beautiful mile on a gorgeous spring day on a small New England island.  Then I took my dog for a walk.  

So, I didn't need to run, but I am glad I did.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Boston


I will never qualify for Boston.
I will never run a marathon.
I may never run another half marathon.

But I ran today.

I ran my 2.26 mile route.  I ran without intervals.  I ran without stopping.

I ran without fear.

While I was running I thought about all of the races when my children and I stood at the finish line cheering on Brian.

And all of the times our roles were reversed and they stood at the finish line waiting for me.

I listened to my breathing. I felt my feet hit the pavement.  

I ran into a cold headwind. I ran up the hills.  I ran with my calves burning.

I waved to the cars as they passed.  Few waved back.  They didn't know why I ran.  That's okay.  I knew.

I ran because I could.


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Afraid on Foreign Soil



I ran today.  I ran my usual route.  Or what had been my usual 2.25 mile loop.  Today was different.  Today, I ran afraid.
  • I ran afraid because nothing looked familiar.  It had been so long since I ran this loop that everything looked foreign.  All of the trees were bare. I could see houses that I couldn't see before.  Houses had been built in my absence.  Houses had been torn down and renovated.  It was not my usual route.
  • I ran afraid because I was only doing two and a quarter miles; three would have added another hill.
  • I ran afraid to run too fast.  I didn't want to tire out.  I ran with intervals
  • I ran afraid that the run and the weather front would conspire to cause another migraine.
  • I ran afraid that the road back was too long and too hard.




But this I know:
  • The foreign becomes familiar.
  • Two becomes three, then four, then five...
  • Slow becomes fast.
  • You can only prepare yourself the best you can; you cannot control the weather.
  • The road back is the right road.  

So for today, I ran.  I ran with fears and I ran with doubts, but I ran .  

I will not, however, tell you my time.  





Monday, April 8, 2013

Hardest. Run. Ever.

I ran the Jamestown Bridge 10K yesterday morning.  I ran it even though I really didn't want to, but I don't regret it.  What looked like a miserably cold morning for a run turned out to be almost perfect (just a little windy on the top of the bridge).  It got me out and running.  I ran with a friend.  My family was there to cheer me along the course, and my mom made me Eggs Benedict when I got home.

Today was a different story.  Today I hobbled around Newport.  Stairs and chairs were my enemies.  Sitting, standing, walking--none were without pain.  That's what I get for taking so much time off.  

Taking all of that into consideration, I didn't want to run today's mile.  But even more than that, I really, really didn't want to run three miles tomorrow.  So, as my family was heating up various leftovers from multiple forays to area restaurants during Newport's Restaurant Week, I mapped out a mile loop, laced up my tennis shoes, and hobbled outside.  As I walked (I use the term loosely) to the starting point I questioned my sanity.  As I started running, I knew I was crazy.  

A mile later, I was finished.  And that's about all I can say for that run.  Except that when Brian questions my choice of attire and says it is too warm out to wear pants, no only should I wear pants, but I should also wear gloves.
Elizabeth Westman and I crossing the finish line.
My hat's on backwards because, yes, it was that windy!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Consistently Adaptable

Today's run was overcome by events (OBE).  I planned, I made changes, I planned again.

Not. Gonna. Happen.  

So, after yesterday's long spiel about April being all about consistency, blah, blah, blah; today I add a caveat:  plans change.   No mile today.  The 10K looms large on Sunday.  It will have to be enough.
Did you get your run in today?



Wednesday, April 3, 2013

One Mile



As you know, I signed up for the April "Run Your Ass Off" Challenge.  The premise behind the challenge is to run one mile every day in April.  If you miss a day, you run three miles the next day.  You skip two days?  Run five miles.  

Because of this, today hosted a rare event:  an afternoon run.  My morning didn't lend itself to a run.  In the past the answer to that was a simple,  "Oh well, maybe next time".  Today I was supposed to run a mile.  And I really didn't want to run three miles tomorrow.  (Tomorrow is Thursday.  On Thursdays I play Mah Jongg.  I was already trying to figure out how to get one mile in; three was too much to contemplate.)  So, even though I had already gotten dressed for the day (make-up and everything) and been out in the world, I changed into my running gear, and  since it is still chillingly cold outside, hopped on the treadmill. 

As I was running, I kept thinking that this was a lot to go through for a mile.  If I was going to go to the trouble of getting all sweaty anyway, shouldn't I put on some mileage? Shouldn't I really make it worth my while?

No.  After taking the long, cold winter off, this mile-a-day challenge is exactly what I need right now.  I need to concentrate on consistency.  The low mileage makes it easy to get to every day.  The higher mileage penalties incentivize the daily run.  Again, this is exactly what I need.

[I will not be running this Friday and Saturday (guests in town).  To make up for those two missed days, I am running a previously scheduled 10K on Sunday--all within the rules.]

I will be running a mile every day.  I am looking for consistency.  In that consistency, I will strive for improvement.  

Yesterday, I ran my mile almost a minute faster than Monday.  Today, I ran a couple of seconds faster than yesterday. Tomorrow?  Maybe another second. Or two.   And in the end, I hope to regain my running self that I let languish over the winter.

Did you run today?  Are you running tomorrow?