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April 23, 2006
A Whole New Day
I mean this in two respects. I felt like pooey during my 1200 workout earlier this week. I felt great today. The weather was 75 degrees, mostly sunny, and calm yesterday. Today it was about 35 degrees with an incredible wind. Indeed, it was a whole new day.
I know, I've complained all late winter and early spring about this wind. There have been some really windy days out there that reek various forms of havoc on workouts and long runs. However, I take back any earlier complaints I've made about the wind and I apply them to today. Today was an amazing wind. And it had impecable timing too, as it raged through the valley in which I was supposed to do a long, hilly run. The hill in which I was to incorporate the hilly part of my long run faced directly into the wind. After 1 hill climb into this ridiculous wind, I had to come up with a Plan B. It all worked out, I found another hill that was perpendicular to the wind, and got on with life.
The Original Plan was to run 3 miles on a flat trail, then 5x1.1 miles uphill at 10k- 1/2 marathon effort, with a return jog back down the hill, 14-ish miles total. I decided beforehand that I was going to do the hills at 1/2 marathon effort, rather than anything faster. After all, long runs are not supposed to be run too fast or too hard, the general point is time-on-feet, right? And, I figured that would be a fine workout by the end. I ran the 3 miles easy through a wind tunnel for a trail, then tackled my first 1.1 mile hill at 1/2 marathon effort. Typically, when I'm running this hill on an easy day, it takes me about 8:45-8:50 to get to the top. Today, while running at 1/2 marathon effort, uphill, into that blasted wind, it took me 9:46. I was going nowhere despite working hard. This wasn't going to cut it, I had to find another hill.
After the hellish first hill climb, I jogged to another hill that I thought would do the trick. Conditions weren't perfect (It was only about 3/4 mile long and it was on a narrow trail with occasionally difficult footing.), but the wind was a crosswind, so I got back to the workout. With Plan B, I did 5x this hill, about 3/4 mile long, at 1/2 marathon effort, with a jog back down. At this point, I was a few miles from my car by trail, so I ran easy back to the trailhead where my car was. By the time it was said and done, I'm still going to call this run 14-ish miles, but I'm not exactly sure.
The exciting ending to this run: While returning to my car on a narrow bit of trail, I met up with a herd of bison. None of us had anywhere to go, as the terrain was steep up or steep down on either side of the trail. They didn't budge, in fact the kept migrating my way, so I jumped off the trail into a huge cactus field. Who knew there were cactuses in this part of the world? June and I were dodging thorns whilst dodging bison. It turned out okay, even the part where I was crawling on all fours to get back up on the trail after the incident, and ended the run.
So, do you want to know how I felt about this run? In case you care, I felt awesome. Once I submitted to the wind and its power and found another place to do this run, I felt even better. In my 5 hill climbs, I ran hard, fluidly, and consistently, making it to the top each time feeling strong. I tried to focus on my form and catering my effort to the various grade changes. It was a good day.
Posted by Meghan at April 23, 2006 7:01 PM
Comments
Meghan, you may remember I like to read lyrics of catchy tunes (that always interfered with listening to the words at the time the tune was released) and then be pleasantly surprised to find out they are ok, and link them to an idea (your title), even if only remotely connected... Just to be on the clear side (poetry and and sogs are often used for courting purposes), I am posting it for me (and my soulmate) but I hope it is ok to share it with you and the other bloggers :)
In case I forget, remind me to write about "RUNNING WATER" re. your "running hard, fluidly and consistently."
BRAND NEW DAY
Words and music by Sting
How many of you people out there
Been hurt in some kind of love affair
And how many times do you swear that you’ll never love again?
How many lonely, sleepless nights
How many lies, how many fights
And why would you want to put yourself through all that again?
’love is pain,’ I hear you say
Love has a cruel and bitter way
Of paying you back for all the faith you ever had in your brain
How could it be that what you need the most
Can leave you feeling just like a ghost?
You never want to feel so sad and lost again
One day you could be looking
Through an old book in rainy weather
You see a picture of her smiling at you
When you were still together
You could be walking down the street
And who should you chance to meet
But that same old smile that you’ve been thinking of all day
You can turn the clock to zero, honey
I’ll sell the stock, we’ll spend all the money
We’re starting up a BRAND NEW DAY
Turn the clock all the way back
I wonder if she’ll take me back
I’m thinking in a BRAND NEW WAY
Turn the clock to zero, sister
You’ll never know how much I missed her
Starting up a BRAND NEW DAY
Turn the clock to zero, boss
The river’s wide, we’ll swim across
Started up a BRAND NEW DAY
It could happen to you - just like it happened to me
There’s simply no immunity - there’s no guarantee
I say love’s such a force - if you find yourself in it
And sometimes no reflection is there
Baby wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Wait a minute, wait a minute
Turn the clock to zero, honey
I’ll sell the stock, we’ll spend all the money
We’re starting up a BRAND NEW DAY
Turn the clock to zero, mac
I’m begging her to take me back
I’m thinking in a BRAND NEW DAY
Turn the clock to zero, boss
The river’s wide, we’ll swim across
Started up a BRAND NEW DAY
Turn the clock to zero buddy
Don’t wanna be no fuddy duddy
Started up a BRAND NEW DAY
I’m the rhythm in your tune
I’m the sun and you’re the moon
I’m a bat and you’re the cave
You’re the beach and I’m the wave
I’m the plow and you’re the land
You’re the glove and I’m the hand
I’m the train and you’re the station
I’m a flagpole to your nation - yeah
Stand up all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl
Stand up all you lovers in the world
Starting up a BRAND NEW DAY
I’m the present to your future
You’re the wound and I’m the suture
You’re the magnet to my pole
I’m the devil in your soul
You’re the pupil I’m the teacher
You’re the church and I’m the preacher
You’re the flower I’m the rain
You’re the tunnel I’m the train
Stand up all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl
Stand up all you lovers in the world
Starting up a BRAND NEW DAY
You’re the crop to my rotation
You’re the sum of my equation
I’m the answer to your question
If you follow my suggestion
We can turn this ship around
We’ll go up instead of down
You’re the pan and I’m the handle
You’re the flame and I’m the candle
Stand up all you lovers in the world
Stand up and be counted every boy and every girl
Stand up all you lovers in the world
We’re starting up a BRAND NEW DAY
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at April 24, 2006 3:41 AM
Awesome run! It sounds like running is starting to go really well for you!
Posted by: Caitlin at April 24, 2006 3:37 PM