Running In Place

A busy few days are behind me and it’s taken me most the day to kind of muster the energy to post. We had a fair amount of company for Thanksgiving dinner, which we actually celebrated yesterday due to out-of-towners. My husband’s brother and his wife came up from Poughkeepsie, and his sister and her husband came from Washington DC to spend the weekend with us. In the good news department, I really love his family and am always happy to have them, but I have to admit that 7 people in our 1200 sq. foot, 1 bathroom log cabin is pretty cozy quarters. My dad and step-mom also joined us for dinner, but fortunately they only live 2 miles down the hill so we didn’t have to find a place for them to sleep. Anyway, it was a raucous good time but ultimately exhausting.

Happily I say that I was able to get out for a couple of runs that were overall good, though I’m really struggling with getting a sense of my pace and keeping to an appropriate one.

On Thursday, as no company was arriving, Brian and I spend most of the while doing housecleaning and preparation but I was able to get out for a run in the afternoon. The weather had been very nasty in the morning with rain, thunder, and lightning at first, followed by plummeting temps and the expectation of snow. As luck would have it, while I was out on the trail, there was nothing coming down from the sky and the wind hadn’t really picked up to the predicted 50 mph gusts yet. I was scheduled for a mile and a half and I kind of just wanted to bang it out and get back home to tie up loose ends – well, bang it out I did: when I looked at my watch at the first mile it said 8:25. What the hell!?? I think that the smart thing to do would have been to slow down, I mean in real life that’s not my pace, and god knows it was far from comfortable. So, yeah, I kept on going and did the next 1/2 mile in another 3:24. What’s up with that!?

My next run was yesterday and as I was supposed to do 2 miles, I really wanted to be more reasonable and more consistent. I set Garmin’s pace alert for a fast pace of 9:17 and a slow pace of 11:00. What I really wanted was to stay at between 10:00 and 10:30. Well that old Garmin just hollered at me for about the whole run –
Garmin: Speed Up
Me: yes sir, speeding up (puff puff puff)
Garmin: Slow Down
Me: ok ok, I’m slowing down (thank you)
Garmin: Speed Up
Me: are you sure? I don’t feel like I slowed down.
Garmin: Speed Up. Speed Up.
Me: ok, this feels good, this has got to be about right
Garmin: Speed Up
Me: you little $#!%&*
Garmin: Slow Down

So when all was said and done, my first mile was 9:44 and second was 10:38. And that’s not what I’m looking for – sure I want to run faster but I’m looking to be consistent and not blow my wad in the first mile and then flounder in the subsequent miles. I just can’t seem to get an honest sense of how fast or slow I’m going. On Tuesday I’m to run 2.5 miles – my longest thus far – and I’m thinking that unless I make myself go out reeeaaaaal slow, I’m going to be all fast and hard at first and end up at a snail’s pace for the last 1/2 mile. Does this become natural after awhile?? Garmin and I aren’t going to be friends very much longer if I continue to use the pace alert.

Anyway, I’m not unhappy with the runs, the fact that I can do this at all just amazes me and I am all full of gratitude. I just really want to train right and run (and improve) with consistency, I want to go faster but I’m trying not to make that be my priority right now (though that may change after I run my first race)

Beautiful day today! A surprising sunny, dry and 50’s even though there was a hard frost this AM. Of course, by the time I got out of work the sun was gone, but the temp had only dropped to about 45F. I was psyched for 2 miles – it was the first time on the 5K schedule and only the second time I’d even run that far. I have this total lack of being able to sense my pace at this point, but I knew that the last time I ran 2 miles it was very comfortable when I did it in 22:31 – so I wanted to do it a little faster this time. Consequently, this was not a comfortable run I kept thinking, “I have no idea if I’m actually running any faster, but I sure feel shitty so God I hope so!” Even so, I felt like I stayed fairly strong till the last quarter mile, then I was really having to push. When all was said and done I finished it in 20:29 and felt very happy that I was in fact running a little faster and not just flailing about.

Today’s Run: Happy Blah Whining
Garmin says:
Distance: 2.01
Time: 20:29
Avg. Pace: 10:12

I got a postcard from Team in Training today regarding kind of an “early bird” opportunity to get started with a coach, fundraising, etc. for some races next year. I think it was shortly after I had read about TNT on Marshall’s Blog last spring that I happened to get a mailing from them and followed up with some interest. Shortly thereafter came the stress fracture, so TNT was yet another plan I had to shitcan. Anyway, I’m not sure, but I can’t help but reconsider it now that this little postcard dropped out of the sky again. One of the initial misgivings I had was the marathon thing – it’s just not something that’s in my consciousness right now. I don’t rule it out down the road but it’s not anything I want to rush into. Anyway, one of the participating races next year is the Lake Placid Half Marathon. Now Lake Placid is just a couple of hours up the road from me and a half marathon seems totally doable in light of the fact that I am already planning the 15K Boilermaker not but a month later. My other big concern is the fundraising – I work at a not-for-profit, shoestring corporation that serves rural communities. The company and the employees don’t have a whole lot of donation ability, even as much as their hearts would be in the right place. I don’t have alot of family left, and I don’t (by choice) have a big (or even medium size) circle of friends. All in all, I fall short on alot of the standard sources for fundraising. I would love to support such a worthy cause, hell – in my line of work, I would like to support every cause that supports people with cancers and other life-limiting illnesses. So I am fearful that I will sign on and then not be able to meet the need. Anyway, I am mulling it over – I think it would be sensationally cool to do – so I will probably check out the meeting on Dec. 6 regarding going forward and see where it all takes me.

Tonight’s run was fine, I tired a little more quickly than last time but not dyin’ or anything. The weather has remained mild, it must have been high 40’s. There was a misty rain and it was pretty foggy so I ended up sticking to the sidewalks more than I generally do – though some of the sidewalks that go around the perimeter of the school are paved rather than concrete so I don’t think I’m worse for the wear. Garmin crapped out about a 1/2 mile in as I forgot to change the batteries, so I just winged it. As it turned out when I clocked my route by car afterwards, I ran exactly 1.5 miles which was just what was on the docket for tonight. I never thought to look at my watch when I started so I honestly have no idea how long it took me, nor what my pace might have been – not a big deal. I think I am just flat out tired tonight, running or no running. One neat aspect of tonight – as I was running through some neighborhoods I couldn’t help but notice that there were a few Christmas trees up. I enjoyed that as I do get a little warm and fuzzy about the holiday thing – I am looking forward to when I can run through town and see all the trees in picture windows and outdoor lights.

Today’s Run: Happy Blah Whining
Garmin says (Garmin don’t say shit today)
Distance: 1.5 miles

Just a side note, I have been doing (stupid) weights on Mondays and Wednesdays. I’m not going to the gym though because just the thought of it makes me buggy, I don’t know why the heck I even have a membership. I’ve just been doing a program at home with some light weights for upper body and strengthening exercises for lower. It’s tolerable and much less agitating than the fitness mill.

Like Dianna I have to take a moment to lament my lack of blog activity lately – really for some time now. I could go on about a shortage of time/energy/opportunity by the time I get home from work and it would be true – but the reality is that I think I really need to prioritize it for my own good. Here I am in week 2 of preparation for my very first 5k on Jan. 1 and I think I ought to chronicle it a little. I want a tangible record of my progress to use as ammunition against that silly part of me that would allow my fears and nervousness to start planting seeds of doubt about my true abilitiy. And I want to get fired up, which I am having a hard time doing lately – and which is kind of dispiriting because when I was first able to run again post-injury, I was so happy grateful joyful, and I’m sad that it’s not still there like it was. So I’ll make it be there – or rather, I’ll take it out of the box that it’s been in, which is tucked away in the closet behind work/home/other miscellaneous and put it back on!

Ok, let’s talk running…

Today was good, very good! As it is now dark by the time I get out of work, I can’t run on my trail anymore. There is a little village between my office and my home that is well lit and quietly residential, so with my reflective vest and little flashing bicycle taillight clipped to it, I can pretty much run all over town. The weather this evening couldn’t be beat – 45F, clear & dry, no wind. Unseasonably mild and not to be missed! 1.75 miles slated for today – as I was warming up and then for about the first 1/2 mile I felt kind of sluggish and uninspired but then it started to turn. The fact is that the mile/mile & a half or so that I have most recently been running, sans walk breaks, is not unbearable, but also not yet easy, not even comfortable. So you can imagine how surprised I was when, at around a 1/2 mile, I kind of suddenly realized that, though I wasn’t necessarily running easily, I was running comfortably and was feeling strong. That was very reassuring. At the 1.75 mile mark I still felt good and although I didn’t want to be foolish and overdo (especially since I’m just running on pavement again in the last week), I wasn’t ready to stop. So I took it to 2 miles – first 2 miles ever without a walk – and a strong (if not fast) 2 miles. Speaking of fast, I am giving an open invitation for anyone to give me a slap upside the head if I start complaining about how slow I am. I want to be determined not to get caught up in that right now, there will be plenty of time for speed later.

Tuesday’s Run - Happy Blah Whining
Garmin says:
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 22:31
Avg. Pace: 11:15

One last thing (totally non-running, just a bragging daughter)

Check out the cool pic of my dad that was on the front page of the local daily paper:

The caption underneath read:
Vietnam Veteran Gary Wedgewood of Floyd lowers his service cap during a prayer following the Veteran’s Day Parade Sunday in Whitesboro.

I love my good old dad

Ok, I’ll dispense with the sad first

On Thursday, my son’s pet rat died.

Ratski was old for a rat (2 years) and had been growing a mammary gland tumor for awhile. She was a sweet litte critter.

For those cringing at the thought of a snuggly lil’ rat – they really do make great pets. They are very intelligent and trainable, and they are affectionate and will bond with you – more so than other little rodents like gerbils or hamsters. Their drawback is their short lifespans and the fact that many pet store rats are lab overflow and have been bred to develop tumors. My son was pretty stoic about it – being nearly 15 and all, he wasn’t quite willing to cry in front of us, but he kept vigil with her wrapped in a towel the whole while she was doing her dying.

“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would have it no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan….” – Irving Townsend

Bye Ratski.

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Ok then, elswhere -

It was a non-descript running week. I never really had a chance for an uninterrupted run due to some work travel obligations. I had to be in Poughkeepsie for a few days for work but it was very cool because my husband’s bro and his wife live down there so I had a much better place to hang out at then a hotel. I also got to do some running/walking at Marist College.

It was running/walking because that campus is pretty hilly, very hilly. Thus far I have been a total flatlander and I know I’m gonna have to run up a hill or two one of these days but this was a little more than I was willing (able) to commit to all at once It was very beautiful – right on the Hudson River – they still have some colorful leaves on the trees which was nice as we no longer have any up my way. The wind was quite strong but kind of exhilerating.

Now I am home and the forecast reads snow! We had a little on Friday but it did not stick, and probably won’t for a couple more weeks. I got some silk gloves from an army/navy surplus place and they are great because, at least for now, they keep my hands warm but not sweaty. As it gets colder I think they’ll be a great wicking underliner under my fleece gloves. I’m considering some STABILicers for my sneaks. Does anyone have experience with these? This will be my first winter running outdoors and I don’t want “lack of appropriate clothing” to be any kind of deterent because I know full well how brutal and snow-laden our winters are around here.

On that note – my official 5k training starts Monday. I am following the oft-referenced Hal Higdon and have posted my training calendar . It was difficult but I resisted the urge to make Mondays and Wednesdays “stupid weights” rather than simply “weights.” Dammit I’m gonna find the joy!!

I am really looking forward to going into a goal mode . Up until now I have been working on just running – which has been great in a way because the progress is so incredibly measurable. In August I ran for 30 seconds at a time – now I can run a mile and a half to 2 miles at a time. I don’t minimize that, but now I will be running towards a culmination of my efforts – my first 5k! I enjoy running just to be running, just to be able to run, and to be able to continue to run when my old body (and mind) would have said “you must stop!” But it’s neat to think about running towards something concrete – the work all culminating to one specific event. Though I’m sure that most others in the RBF have experienced this time and again, I am looking forward to the beginning of a great adventure!