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January 18, 2008
So It Goes . . .
And so it goes. I had a rough workout on Tuesday - it was the 1 mile, .5 mile, .5 mile x 3 with 30 seconds rest. The goal times were 6:00, 2:55, 2:50. The morning started off rough - we were cordially greeted with 8 degree temperatures and a 15-20 mph headwind rearing its ugly head out of the southwest. As a result, only about 5 of us actually got out of bed to box with mother nature. From the get-go, I was miserable. My lips froze together, my face seemed organically botoxed, my hands were numb, and my contacts felt like icicles against my eyes. It's probably fairly obvious that I do not fare well in the frosty temps. Anything 20 and above and I am ready to rock, but anything below 20 and I am dreaming about warm blankets and Starbucks extra hot lattes.
Because the wind was a monster, H. moved us off the lakefront path and onto the road and we did our repeats over 3 hills that had us moving directly east and then directly west. Going East was a dream! I hit the first mile in exact 6:00, and the first 800s in 2:50 (out of the wind) and 3:01 (into the wind). Over the final hill, I felt a painful fatigue crawl down my quads - I knew I would have to fight for the rest of the workout. I ran the next set in 6:13, 2:58, 3:14. After that final half, H. pulled me from the final repeat and had me run 2 miles tempo - I finished in 12 something, but the time seems completely irrelevant . . . the effort was there, though.
On Wednesday I wasn't exactly feeling great about my life as a runner. I hate making excuses and I expect my body to perform and rise to the occasion no matter what the conditions spin for that day. So by Wednesday, I was already dreading our 8 x 800s on Thursday. I can handle tempo runs and mile repeats and 2 mile repeats, but anything less than a mile and my slow twitch muscles rebel.
We did a 3 mile warm-up - smoking the last mile in 6:15 and then we lined up for 8 x 800 with about 45 seconds rest in between. It was MUCH warmer than Tuesday, but we still had the wind to contend with. You can pretty much figure out the wind from my splits: 2:58, 2:52, 2:57, 2:52, 3:01, 2:53, 3:01, 2:49.
H. halted my latest running binge and put me back on a 6 cycle day diet. H. knows me better as a runner than I know myself and we both agree that - at least for now - I still require one full day of complete rest and nothingness. I am hoping that reviving our old routine will subsequently revive my legs :)
I took Monday off and I am taking today off . . . I can feel the cry for rest in my body and now is not the time to fight it. I'll be ready for a nice treadmill workout tomorrow and another treadmill run on Sunday.
The semester started this week . . . it's always interesting to meet my new students. Of course, they always think I am whacked when I recite "Richard Corey" (who put a bullet through his head) and then proclaim that it is my favorite poem (which - ironically, of course - conflicts with my overly enthusiastic and upbeat teaching performances). I love throwing a few curve balls their way.
Posted by bridget at January 18, 2008 2:15 PM
Comments
Ouch - that hurt just reading about it. Way to go braving the temps. Admittedly I am not doing that this year, but there is something of an ego boost of getting out there and hitting the workout despite the evil weather.
I too need a rest day every week. It may be just as much mental as physical. We all need to learn that boundary for ourselves.
Nice job!!
Posted by: mindi at January 19, 2008 7:16 PM
if only i could live one Day,
as Richard did with all his Wealth,
the Light indeed would come to Stay,
and blind my state of mental Health.
So if indeed the curveball came,
as the torn page of a book unread,
i'd read and read claim after claim,
and ask myself: " but, Why is he Dead?"
I guess the answer to be clear,
in the study of his fine Life,
perhaps solitude or maybe Fear,
For sure i know, he had no Wife...
Thought i'd test my literary reaction time with a poetic effort of sorts... curveballs are great :-)
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at January 27, 2008 3:51 PM