Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Wednesday Workout Update - Happy Halloween!

My thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the terrible storm on the east coast; I hope life returns to normal for you all very soon.

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I can't figure out this running thing.  After struggling for so long, I had my best long run yet on Saturday.  Who knows why - I can't believe it really boils down to temperature, although everything seems to point that way.  We ran 11 miles and pretty much everything about the run was perfect, from the very cold morning temperature of 44 degrees, to the amount of layering I guessed at wearing (it's been so long since I've had to wear warmer clothes that I'd forgotten what I should wear), to the not-quite-as-hilly route, as well as our fueling along the way (we've thrown in a Honey Stinger Waffle, or cookie as Jeff calls it, in place of one of the GUs), and our steady pace - the only glitch was the dead deer lying on the side of the road that startled me when we came upon it in the dark (poor little Bambi). 

The run went so well that we kept being surprised when our Garmins rang in another mile - we hit 4 miles, and then it was 7, and then 9, and boom - we were done!  A run like this does so much to not only restore the faith in my running ability, but also is a huge confidence booster for our upcoming race.  If I can run 11 miles, surely I can run 13.1, right? 
I ran more miles than I have fingers, so I had to hold up my Garmin to show the distance!

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Yesterday Jenny and I had a good run.  Finally!  It was another cool morning - just 40 degrees when we set out.  We walked for about half a mile to warm up, and then set out to run 3 miles by way of 1.5 out and 1.5 back.  As it turned out, most of the way on our "out" path was downhill, which of course meant that we'd be running uphill the whole way back.  We ran in comfortable silence for a while, and then I said "If I were Oprah, I'd have a driver waiting at the bottom to take us back up to the top."  Jenny countered with "If I were Oprah, I'd have someone else do this run for me" - that's Jenny, always thinking a couple of steps ahead!  Since neither of us magically turned into Oprah, we finished the entire run with an average pace of 12:37, which, considering how we've been running together lately, is a miracle.

Tomorrow I'll get another 2 miles in, although not with Erica, as she hasn't been feeling well.  Luckily for me, Jeff is in town this week so I'll run with him.  And then, one more long run on Saturday, followed by several hours of a coma.  We live the wild life, yes we do!

15 comments:

  1. You can definitely run 13 miles and you will run them too, no doubt about that!

    Happy to hear that, besides the great run on Saturday, you had a good run yesterday too.

    You're rocking this week!

    Happy Halloween

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  2. Why do you not believe it's temperature? I keep telling you that and now you have proof!

    You're going to be fine with the 13.1 - at the very least you'll finish, at the best you'll get some crazy fast time you weren't expecting, but in both cases, just have fun.

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  3. I am glad you running abilities are where you want them to be. And I think temperature has everything to do with it! Hoping for temps in the 40's this weekend! :D

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  4. I wondered how you were going to show "11 miles" in your blog. You could also borrow one of Jeff's fingers! Ha ha!

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    1. I considered it, but wasn't sure which one he'd use. ;)

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  5. I'm trying to figure out the physiological reason that good weather makes a difference in a good run. Something to do with the availability of oxygen and how the muscles receive and process it??

    Anyway, just glad you had such a good long run, followed by a good short run--an added bonus!

    You don't look at all like you just ran 11 miles in that picture--awesome!

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    1. I know, I looked so much better after that 11 miler than the previous, shorter distances. It really was a good run.

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  6. That pace is awesome for 11 miles! Wow!

    Temperature and humidity make *all* the difference in comfort.

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  7. Oh my, temperature is the key, isn't it? I used to think it was the magical month of October, but have been proven wrong many times this month. What a great run, to start in the 40s and get warmer into the 50s as you ran? Perfect.

    I'm so excited for your double digit long runs. You've got this half in the bag!

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  8. Im glad you are feeling better with your runs. I am sure the temperature does make a big difference, but I am also sure its the hard work and training you have put in too. Your half marathon is so close now. You sound like you are prepared.

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  9. You're right on track for a great half. It's wonderful that the weather is cooperating so nicely. You're also doing a fine job of inspiring me. I'm running romorrow morning, early, before the grandkids arrive. Thanks!

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  10. Great job!!! And amazing pace!!! Ive found that less humidity is what does it for me!!! The higher the humidity, the worse the run!!!

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  11. It's definitely the lower humidity too. I swear it sucks the breath from your body when it feels like a wet blanket smothering you.

    Great job!

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  12. That is great! I really admire your tenacity with the running.

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