Day 4,389—Long Run on the Track: the opposite of Yesterday’s Run—

 

     I was moving slowly, feeling groggy when I started running. This morning, I was doing chores and trying to catch up on the pushups I didn’t do yesterday, and my daughter kept asking me if I was going to go running soon. I planned to run 20 to reach my goal of 80 miles for the week, but the way I was feeling, I didn’t know what I would be able to do. I went directly to the track and started running close to a 12-minute mile. I thought I might be at 11 and 12-minute miles for a while. Once I started on the track, I tried to make up for the first two slow miles so I could get closer to 10-minute miles for the first hour. I didn’t get there by the first hour, but I was doing a better job of going faster and keeping better form. After over two hours, I went to get some water and was shocked to discover that the water fountains weren’t turned on!?!!!! The only one I could use had barely any pressure, so I was using my collapsible cup to get as much as possible. It took forever, but it worked, so I was able to drink close to 18 ounces that way. It was so frustrating! Why haven’t you turned your water fountains on? They’re right by the track. I hope they turn them on soon, because it will be nice not to have to leave the area when I run. I wish it were open more, but I like going there on the weekend when I need to do a run like this.

        I didn’t even stretch yesterday, and every part of my body was not forgiving me. I kept pushing the pace until I was running 9-minute miles, and I kept that up for the last hour. I was shocked by how I was bouncing back because I had just been so miserable at the start of this run. It isn’t as adventurous as a trail run, but the track is my version of a treadmill. I can zone out and just focus on exactly what I am doing. It does get boring after a while, but it is also much easier than the streets or trails. My legs and feet are still recovering from yesterday, which was one of the reasons why I wanted to run on a trail, so going to the track accomplished that goal. I had doubts heading into this run that I would be able to do 20. I am glad I ignored them and just started to run.