Wednesday, February 8, 2017

WWU - Unintentional Speedwork

 Just a slight height difference...

I don't normally run with Andi on Saturdays, simply because there is a foot difference in our height and her stride is so much longer than mine that I have to jog to keep up with her just when she's walking intently, much less running.  However, both Diane and Cary were out of town last Saturday, and while I'm fine with running solo, I really wanted to run on our new road - but it's really dark and isolated, so I begged Andi to run with me.  She agreed, and even said she would try and slow down, which I know is challenging...I've run with slower people and you really have to work at not running at your natural pace.

We set off doing my regular intervals, and even though she slowed down, I was having to push it a little to keep up.  Of course, I was also trying to have a conversation with her while we ran, but soon had to give that up as it became apparent that I could either run faster, or talk, but I couldn't do both.  The run was good - the weather was ideal, with a feels like temperature of 48 degrees - and it was fun to challenge myself in a different way; running 4 miles was the perfect distance for this.

We ended up finishing this run three minutes faster than the last time I ran 4 miles, which was two weeks ago.  I've heard that it's good to occasionally run with someone who is faster than you, and I can see why - I pushed myself more than I have been in quite a while, and to paraphrase our Renegade Run Club motto, I didn't die (original motto was "but did you die?" and current motto is "not dying since 2015").  I didn't set out to do speedwork for this run, but that's what ended up happening.  I think I'll have to do this again in another few weeks, just to mix things up.  It's funny - I have avoided speedwork for a long time, but getting to do it, even unintentionally, ended up being a good thing.

After the run, you know the drill.  Blue Baker, treats, coffee, chatter.  We got our usual table once more so all was right with the world.

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Over the next few months, I will be running several races but the farthest distance will be a 10K.  Because of this, I don't feel like I have to, well, coddle myself when it comes to running.  It sounds odd, but bear with me - after injuring my ankle and losing an entire year of running to that injury, plus having to start again from zero, I've always had a fear of overdoing it and having that same thing happen again.  It didn't help when I hurt my hamstring a couple years later; that was just more proof to me that I needed to be gentle with my training.

But now, I'm good.  My goal race, the Aramco Houston half marathon, is done; there's no training to be worried about, no "if I don't keep building on this, I'm going to be a hurting fool come race day" - I can run, I can push it, I can take a day off from running if I'm feeling sore.  If a friend wants to run two days in a row, then I can do that.  If a friend wants to run farther than we normally do, I can do that, too.  I'm going with the flow, and it feels very liberating to just run. 

16 comments:

  1. Hooray for pushing! And for four miles! Believe me, it doesn't hurt the faster runner to slow down a bit either - it's just as good for them as it is for you to try to run faster.

    Firl, I am with you on the just running thing. So very liberating.

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    1. I feel LIBERATED!! //takes bra off// Wait, that will NOT work for running. ;)

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  2. It always feels good to "just run"! Enjoy your break and don't forget to throw in a little "unintentional speedwork", just to push yourself a little bit!

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    1. I'm definitely going to give that speedwork thing a go in the future...

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  3. This all sounds so good--pushing yourself to run a little faster sometimes, but coddling yourself as well. Of course, BB sounds so very good too :)

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  4. Good job! Funny that you posted that picture because just from what I see of you on the blog, I thought you were a Tall person (or is Andi just Very tall?)

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    1. Andi is very tall and I am very short. But I love that you thought I was a tall person! :)

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  5. It is SO good to run with someone faster from time to time for that reason! I have a friend I meet every few months and we tend to run faster together, even though we don't mean too - and I think we both appreciate it. WTG on running four miles three whole minutes faster! DANG!

    I love being in that spot where you can go with the flow with your running. Enjoy!

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    1. At first I didn't think three minutes was that much faster but now I'm feeling pretty accomplished about it, thanks! :)

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  6. Three minutes is a big difference! Hooray for pushing! Going with the flow makes life easier, don't you think?

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    1. It definitely does, although why I don't always do that - go with the flow - is a mystery for the ages!

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  7. Good for you for pushing yourself and running in a situation where you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone! Definitely give that another go in a a few weeks!

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  8. I used to walk with a woman at one of the law firms I worked at who is 6 feet tall (to my 5.2" height) and same thing - her walking was my jogging just to keep up with her!

    Great job on pushing yourself and "not dying since 2015!"

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  9. That's a whole lot faster and I think it's good you do it every now and then. And I like the idea that you run just for fun now, no pressure, just fun.

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