"Endurance is patience concentrated." - Carlyle
The itch has returned! No, not the type that requires medical
attention; the running itch! Last week I started the '100 Miles in
January Challenge' and it really jump started me. I did 3 days in a
row of 5 milers and then I took Thursday off. I didn't realize how
hard taking a day off would be once the itch returned. I knew I
needed a break, especially since Wednesday evening I couldn't keep my
eyes open past 8 pm, and I had an amazingly sore buttocks.
However, I was left feeling so anxious all day Thursday. It was
beautiful outside and I hated that I was taking a day off. I wanted to
continue ticking off the 100 miles and make a huge dent in my first
week. Of course, running 15 miles in 3 days IS a huge dent considering
I was averaging 15 miles or less in a week gearing up to this
challenge. So, yes a break was indeed needed.
I'm not a patient person, AT.ALL. Well, I have my moments but
generally I have a very aggressive - go getter personality. I want to
get things done RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT. If I have something on my
"plate" I feel anxious and uneasy. I always feel the need to be doing
SOMETHING. So having this challenge is going to prove to be harder for
me than I anticipated. Getting in the miles won't be hard, I clocked
my 35th mile today and I have over 2 weeks left to go. It's going to
be hard because I have to be patient. I have to run the miles in a
smart fashion. Doing 50 in a week is just stupid. I know this, but my
patience - or lack there of - doesn't LIKE it.
On Saturday, I met up with my Team in Training peeps for an 8 mile out
and back on the trail. I was partially excited about the trail run and
partially dreading it. I get VERY bored running on the trail. Plus, my
gal pal wasn't going to be there and she's usually the one team member
that runs the same pace as me. When we started the run it was a frigid
28 degrees and my feet had turned into ice blocks. I took off from the
pack and never looked back. (Running hills has really proved to
increase my pace on the flats.) As I was coming out of a tunnel on the
trail I decided to look back and see how far ahead I was from the
group. There was literally no one in sight. I have no idea what pace I
was running, but I felt absolutely great so I kept going.
I planned on going an extra quarter of a mile to get the full 8 miles
(the out and back was really only 7.6) and I figured that would give
some other runners a chance to "catch-up" to me. Fortunately, for my
sanity, I was "caught" and I had a friend to run with for the last
mile before hitting the water stop. We were chatting and running at a
nice pace and I decided to challenge him to a race - "Race me to the
mile post!!!" Well this was a big mistake because he totally dusted my
sorry self, and I felt the energy drain from my entire body the second
we turned around. BONK.
On the 4 miles back, I struggled between wanting to run with the pack,
or hang back (in the middle) and finishing strong. I was really feeling
the weeks total mileage pulling me down. Somewhere around mile 6 my
coach caught up with me. We were chatting for a bit and he mentioned
that I needed to slow down. In true Holly fashion I protested. "I'm
fine! I'm talking, I'm running... I pass the test!!!" He was hearing
none of it. This is a 60 year old man, who just last year ran the
Boston Marathon, I have no business disagreeing with him. He started
talking to me about being a patient runner. (Uh oh, I'm in trouble
now!)
Coach J, who has no clue I am doing a 100 Mile Challenge, or that I
write this blog (and we will keep those on the hush!) explained to me
that the miles I'm running now are my "base miles." Base miles aren't
meant for being raced through or rushed. Base miles are for building
up to the long runs when the first 8 or so miles are critical for
preserving energy. So even though "I felt fine" and could easily talk
through the run, I was still rushing through it, unnecessarily to
boot. Enter patience...
I am going to ATTEMPT to demonstrate patience for the 65.85 remaining
miles of my challenge and hopefully that will translate into my
marathon training. It would be an added bonus if the patience found
it's way into my day to day activities, too!
Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,
Holly
attention; the running itch! Last week I started the '100 Miles in
January Challenge' and it really jump started me. I did 3 days in a
row of 5 milers and then I took Thursday off. I didn't realize how
hard taking a day off would be once the itch returned. I knew I
needed a break, especially since Wednesday evening I couldn't keep my
eyes open past 8 pm, and I had an amazingly sore buttocks.
However, I was left feeling so anxious all day Thursday. It was
beautiful outside and I hated that I was taking a day off. I wanted to
continue ticking off the 100 miles and make a huge dent in my first
week. Of course, running 15 miles in 3 days IS a huge dent considering
I was averaging 15 miles or less in a week gearing up to this
challenge. So, yes a break was indeed needed.
I'm not a patient person, AT.ALL. Well, I have my moments but
generally I have a very aggressive - go getter personality. I want to
get things done RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT. If I have something on my
"plate" I feel anxious and uneasy. I always feel the need to be doing
SOMETHING. So having this challenge is going to prove to be harder for
me than I anticipated. Getting in the miles won't be hard, I clocked
my 35th mile today and I have over 2 weeks left to go. It's going to
be hard because I have to be patient. I have to run the miles in a
smart fashion. Doing 50 in a week is just stupid. I know this, but my
patience - or lack there of - doesn't LIKE it.
On Saturday, I met up with my Team in Training peeps for an 8 mile out
and back on the trail. I was partially excited about the trail run and
partially dreading it. I get VERY bored running on the trail. Plus, my
gal pal wasn't going to be there and she's usually the one team member
that runs the same pace as me. When we started the run it was a frigid
28 degrees and my feet had turned into ice blocks. I took off from the
pack and never looked back. (Running hills has really proved to
increase my pace on the flats.) As I was coming out of a tunnel on the
trail I decided to look back and see how far ahead I was from the
group. There was literally no one in sight. I have no idea what pace I
was running, but I felt absolutely great so I kept going.
I planned on going an extra quarter of a mile to get the full 8 miles
(the out and back was really only 7.6) and I figured that would give
some other runners a chance to "catch-up" to me. Fortunately, for my
sanity, I was "caught" and I had a friend to run with for the last
mile before hitting the water stop. We were chatting and running at a
nice pace and I decided to challenge him to a race - "Race me to the
mile post!!!" Well this was a big mistake because he totally dusted my
sorry self, and I felt the energy drain from my entire body the second
we turned around. BONK.
On the 4 miles back, I struggled between wanting to run with the pack,
or hang back (in the middle) and finishing strong. I was really feeling
the weeks total mileage pulling me down. Somewhere around mile 6 my
coach caught up with me. We were chatting for a bit and he mentioned
that I needed to slow down. In true Holly fashion I protested. "I'm
fine! I'm talking, I'm running... I pass the test!!!" He was hearing
none of it. This is a 60 year old man, who just last year ran the
Boston Marathon, I have no business disagreeing with him. He started
talking to me about being a patient runner. (Uh oh, I'm in trouble
now!)
Coach J, who has no clue I am doing a 100 Mile Challenge, or that I
write this blog (and we will keep those on the hush!) explained to me
that the miles I'm running now are my "base miles." Base miles aren't
meant for being raced through or rushed. Base miles are for building
up to the long runs when the first 8 or so miles are critical for
preserving energy. So even though "I felt fine" and could easily talk
through the run, I was still rushing through it, unnecessarily to
boot. Enter patience...
I am going to ATTEMPT to demonstrate patience for the 65.85 remaining
miles of my challenge and hopefully that will translate into my
marathon training. It would be an added bonus if the patience found
it's way into my day to day activities, too!
Run Hard,
Run Strong,
Run for You,
Holly
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