Monday: 3 Miles (26:21)
To start the week, I left my house just needing to get some miles in for the week and continue my “consecutive days” record. Beginning after 8 in the evening, I had put it off as long as possible, but decided I didn’t have a choice and I would rather continue the streak then to lose it over my own stubbornness. The run was less than stellar, but as I ran through the neighborhood, I was focused on just getting to 3 miles, which has become the magic number that I must run at a minimum to at least feel as though I got something out of the day. Here’s to hoping this week is a productive one!
Quote of the Day:
“There is magic in misery, just ask a runner.”
Tuesday: 6 Miles (45:53)
Running down 24 highway always make my heart rate increase rapidly. If I had a dollar for each time a car has almost hit me, or just simply not cared that I was running, I could afford to have someone right up my thoughts each day. The road is hilly and though there are sidewalks, there are many places were traffic constantly is pulling onto 24, so the added element of obvious drivers is always in my mind as I run. I didn’t start the run off with the intent to run negative splits, but as each mile passed, I continued to challenge myself to knock the times down and before I knew it, I was approaching my last hill, hell bent on breaking the 7:16 pace I had ran the mile before. The elevation gain was towards the end and I had to push myself more mentally than physically as I wanted to stop, but fortunately, was able to finish in 7:15, officially running all negative splits and averaging a 7:38 pace, which was much needed after not really coming into the run thinking I could run that quickly.
Quote of the Day:
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
Wednesday: 3 Miles (25:38) 7 Miles (1:00:50)
Prior to my meeting in Columbia, I had the opportunity to run in Rocheport, a town just outside of Columbia. The road was less than ideal, an old country road with no room on the sides to run, but I was bent on getting a run in and seeing the sun rise in a different city. The run started off slow, but overall, I was pleased with the overall run, dodging a snake and two dump trucks as I watched the sun rise over I-70.
When I returned from Columbia that evening, I decided to get another run in, this time with Ashley. We ran the typical LBT route and managed to have a fairly decent pace, though we did spend a lot of our time talking shop, we are both teachers, which was nice since I had just returned from a conference. Running a double today was also reassuring as I was concerned with sitting in the meeting and car all day I wouldn’t be able to get my legs moving again, but obviously, that wasn’t accurate.
Quote of the Day:
“Sky above me, earth below me, fire within me”
Thursday: 3 Miles (23:44)
After a long day, I was ready to simply lay on the couch and find some mind numbing show to take my brain off of the day's tasks, but instead, my conscious told me to suck it up and get on my running shoes. I spent the next few minutes dragging my feet to find my things and decided that the faster I ran, the faster I could get back to what I was doing, much of nothing. The run however, as it always does, gave me time to think and reflect and in the end, I was thankful that I made the trek and logged the miles. With a pace a little below 8 minutes and some hill work combined, i was pleased with this late evening run as the temperatures were still not ideal. I hope that all of this running in the heat will pay off in the end, because at this time, its dreadful, but I know it will be beneficial.
Quote of the Day:
“Be stronger than your excuses.”
Friday: 6 Miles (53:47)
With the concert in St. Louis planned for this weekend I had to make sure I was getting my runs in prior to departure. I spend Friday morning at the gym with Stephanie, Stephen, and Jen, stomping along and trying to stay focused to get the 6 miles in. I found that as my speed increased, the distance on my Garmin watch didn’t necessarily stay consistent with the treadmill. The pace and distance both were much slower on my watch. So while the numbers below reflect the watch tracking, I must admit the treadmill had me moving much more quickly. But regardless, I was able to get 6 miles in and then feel the satisfaction of the hydro massage bed that Planet Fitness offers. If I could find one of these at a reasonable price, I would most certainly purchase one for home!
Quote of the Day:
“One life, just one. Why aren’t we running like we are on fire towards our wildest dreams.”
Sunday: 8 Miles (1:14:08)
I thought this quote was fitting for today. As the miles slowly passed this morning, I reflected over this journey and where I have come in the last 13 weeks as a runner. I have found that in the quiet moments in my mind, which are far and few between, I have the greatest sense of clarity and can truly be reflective and honest with myself. Thought Ashley and I didn’t really talk much, it was nice to get the run in this morning. With the sunrise in front of us I had the opportunity to think about the process and the time that I have committed to attempting to reach my goals. Training has really required me to step back and identify what is truly important to me as well as identify things in my life that I need to do a better job of eliminating as they no longer hold a purpose. At times, situational events have kept me from working towards my goals and while my goals are my own, I know that others have similar and goals and being competitive, I want to reach my first, I also know others are watching me, some silent, others not, and as is reality some are hoping that I don’t succeed, which leads right back to my quote, if I am not doing something daily to help me get better day by day, I am sacrificing the gift I have been given. With that perspective, it puts events in your life in a completely different context.
Quote of the Day:
“Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.”
Final Thoughts:
As they say, all streaks must eventually come to an end. With the concert in St. Louis this weekend, I wasn’t able to get a run in Saturday, ending my consecutive running days streak at 14. During that time, I was able to log a total of 101 miles and average 7.2 miles a day. In total I was able to accumulate 36 miles and total 477 miles after 13 weeks of training. I have also began to think about the possibility of running a marathon, prior to my marathon in Baltimore. I need to really reflect over this and pray for guidance, but i am intrigued at the opportunity to test my ability beforehand and put myself in a situation where i have to run a race solo rather than with a group as that will be the case in Baltimore.
Ahhhh, the deliberation prior to Quad Cities. I may be mistaking, but I think you were a lot like me in this one. You knew from the beginning there was a part of you that wanted to do it, you just weren’t sure you wanted to commit. At the time it seemed to close to the goal race in Baltimore, but now, a few weeks down the road, it seems like a distant memory…a memory that hopefully brought about positive things. If nothing else, it was a fun weekend away, with friends, doing what you love.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, and that Sunday run…the sunrise was even better when we were on our way back, you just had to be willing to glance behind you every now and then. It’s kind of like life…we don’t want to live looking through our rearview mirror, but every once in a while it’s okay to glance back to get a glimpse of the beauty we’ve left behind. Just because we choose to turn the other way, doesn’t mean there’s not something worth reminiscing and learning from behind us.