Wednesday, June 8, 2016

WWU - 5.3 For 53 Years!

5.3 sweaty miles, done!

Not only did I get up early and run on my birthday (2.5 miles), but I also ran my age on Saturday in the form of 5.3 miles.  I had my doubts ahead of the run, mostly because of the warm weather, but the run actually went really well.  I mapped out a 5.3 mile route which ironically had the turn around at the driveway of the retirement home - I wasn't sure what the message was with that...could have been either A) turn around, you're not quite ready for this place just yet; or B) here's your future home; either way, it made me laugh.  Diane and I ran together and, as usual, had a good time chitchatting as we covered the miles.  It was another muggy morning, but luckily the rain held off until after we'd finished - still, I'd dearly love to go back to running in a mere 88% humidity instead of the pure 100% that we've been facing for the last several weeks.
Jeff, Diane, me, Andi, Cary, Brian, Karen, CC, and Lolo - my renegades!

After the run, we adjourned to Blue Baker, where 9,000 different conversations were happening all at the same time - slight exaggeration, but it's fun to hear what everyone is talking about.  Lawn darts, Hippity Hops, BB guns, Karen and Jimmymeow's recent trip to Maui, kids, babies, baseball - you name it, we covered it.  Plus we were given a warm, fresh from the oven double chocolate oatmeal cookie, which was about as delicious as you can imagine.  It was a great way to start our weekend!

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On Monday, I tried something different:  Diane came over early in the morning, and we ran without doing intervals.  When she runs by herself, she doesn't do intervals, so I asked her to pace me because I'd like to get back to running a few miles without stopping.  We were slow and steady, and there wasn't as much talking going on because we never stopped running, but I lasted for 1.5 miles before taking a short break.  Then we ran another mile without stopping, for a total of 2.5 miles, woohoo!  Funny thing is that my legs were a little sore afterward, when I didn't notice any soreness after running more than twice that distance on Saturday.  I'd say it was using different muscles, but running is running...I guess the difference is not walking for part of the run.  Still, it was good and I'm looking forward to building on this over the next couple of months.

23 comments:

  1. For not being used to running without walk breaks you went far the first time at a mile and a half. Just be sure to listen to your body and stop and walk if you need to. Easy goes on building up miles too fast don't want any new injuries or old ones flaring up.

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  2. It was definitely a turn around sign, you are not ready. Not by far!

    I always like it that you run your age in miles around your birthday, same as Lori does with her biking. Perfect way to end the birthday festivities with your running buddies.

    And well done on running without the intervals, must felt good.

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    1. Yeah, I have to agree with you - I'm a long way from needing that old folk's home! :)

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  3. Kudos to you on your run. I don't think I could do more than 5 miles now if I wanted too. I've been training (and I use that word lightly) for a 5K this weekend and I haven't been able to get more than a mile and a half in before I have to stop and walk. Partly because I think I've been out of shape and partly because the weather here got real hot real fast.
    If I remember correctly our birthdays are right near each other. I did not run on mine. I went to a movie, went shopping, and went to Starbucks...lol. Perhaps I should have ran though!

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    1. I don't know, your birthday sounds pretty awesome! :)

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  4. Love everything about this post! You know, if you're not running with Diane, you can train yourself to run longer intervals before you take your walk break. I mean technically I have never "run" a full marathon because I always walked through every single water stop. So really, I was running 2 miles then walking through the water stop - repeat for 26.2 miles. I know the elites just run but I never wanted to end up sticky from energy drinks going on me instead of into me lol!

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    1. Today was interesting - we ran two miles straight and I had a hard time during the last .5; had I been alone, I know I would have walked. I'm glad to have Diane there to encourage me; she'll be leaving for a long summer break in a few weeks so I feel like I need to get into this habit quickly, in order to keep it up once I'm not running with her.

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  5. How nice that your friend paced you to run straight through your run! It had to feel good to do that.

    I like the idea of 5.3 miles for 53 years. I may steal that for my birthday in the fall.

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    1. Steal away! But don't curse me if it happens to be a hot and humid day when you do your birthday run. ;)

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  6. That first picture is a great shot of you. Kudos for your long birthday run, and even more kudos for running without stopping. That is really hard.

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    1. Thanks - I was feeling pretty dang accomplished when Jeff took that picture. :)

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  7. God job on the birthday miles and great job on the straight non-interval run!!!

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  8. LOL at the retirement home turnaround. Happy birthday again! Way to go!

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  9. Happy Birthday!!!!!!

    Great idea 5.3 for 53.

    I don't do intervals per se but I do stop and walk (whenever).

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  10. I am totally LOLing at the retirement home turnaround point. HA!

    That is awesome you ran so much without the walk breaks! And interesting that you noticed the soreness right away! But like you said, it will get better as you work on it!

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    1. I thought the soreness was odd, but at least it was just normal muscle soreness and not something dumb like my hamstring or PF or whatever. I'll take it!

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  11. LOVE the 5.3 for 53!!!!!
    LOL at the turnaround at the retirement home!
    Happy Birthday again Shelley!!!! Cheers to you!

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  12. Congratulations on the run!

    When I used to run, after I first built up mileage, I never walked for whatever reason. I just ran for what I was scheduled for. I probably could have been better if I actually paced with intervals.

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    1. Back in 2010, I would take a little walk break at just about every mile, to take a drink of water. It worked well (because I can't drink and run, LOL); that's what I'm hoping to get back to.

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  13. Yep, congrats on the run! I love that you ran your age - I am still at 4.8 miles :D

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