20/20 Running
| February 13, 2013 | Posted by Emily under Uncategorized |
On Saturday morning, I went for my first post-injury 20 mile training run.
It wasn’t my best work.
I was coming off of the flu. There were 30 mph winds. It was cold. I was tired. I happy houred too hard the night before. I didn’t sleep well. I lifted heavy things with my legs on Friday. I was full of excuses.
I gave myself an out from the start, telling myself “you’ve been sick, you can always run 20 next week when you feel better. Or maybe split this into two runs. 10 now, 10 later. Go back to bed and rest in between. You need it. You’re not a wimp, you’re just not healthy.”
This was a huge mistake. If you tell your legs they can jump ship when the going gets rough, they’ll be reaching for that life preserver from mile 1.
But through some small mental miracle, I ran every planned step of the 20 miles. The good news is, my first 20 miler of the training cycle is behind me and it can (hopefully) only get better from here. The bad news is, I spent three hours battling some seriously disappointing mental weakness. But I’m not going to beat myself up about one bad long run. I’ve got 15 weeks to up my game.
The next morning, I was up bright and early to meet my friends Elyse and Steve to head across the river to the Love the Run You’re With 5k to chase my 20 miles of running with (spoiler alert!) 20 minutes of running.
Some highlights from the 5 kilometers of “racing” since a race report of “I started, ran hard for 20 minutes and then finished” is not really that exciting:
1) My body does not recover as fast as it did last fall. I am sure you are all as blown away by this as I am. I knew from the start that any PR or 19:xx 5k was not going to happen less than 24 hours after a 20 mile long run. When I woke up with heavy legs, I quickly revised my goal to 3.1 miles of tempo running.
Source: Swim Bike Run Photography
2) Long-run fatigue aside, I was pleased that my legs did not totally suck. I was able to run consistently and hold a steady tempo pace. Every mile split was between 6:25-6:35 and I finished in 20:21(ish).
Source: Swim Bike Run Photography. To be used in a future children’s book series-Where’s Sweaty?
3) I need to do some major hill work, like whoa. Related: I sucked at hills on Sunday.
The course immediately opens up into a rather steep incline. The second I hit it, I slowed way down and the look of my face was not that dissimilar from someone dying a very slow and painful death. I know this to be an absolute fact because my friend snapped a picture of me on this hill and later proved to be Friend of the Year when he allowed me to delete it from his phone.
Source: RunWashington
4) My race was not plagued by an all-consuming burning desire to be competitive. And I think this is a good thing.
There is a time and a place to let your competitive drive help fuel your race strategy. Like goal races. Competitive urges are most definitely invited as VIP guests to my start line party in Vermont.
But at other times, an overwhelming ego and an addiction to competition can really own you in an unhealthy way. Last year, I struggled to find a balance between using races as good training runs and not blowing up my own run plan to try and beat some random girls to the finish line.
On Sunday, I was in my own little zone. I wanted miles in the 6:30s. And that was it. I didn’t care about overall place, age group place or outkicking some chick in a tutu to the finish.
5) I didn’t totally hate this 5k. In fact, I kind of liked it. It was quick, easy and fun. 
This doesn’t mean I’ll actually start running 5ks, don’t be silly. But I might have to retire as sitting president of the 5k haterz club.
6) Some of you asked about the bib colors. The race makes you divulge your relationship status during registration and you are assigned a bib color to match your status (green for single, red for in a relationship, yellow for it’s complicated. This was my first year not wearing yellow, I’m gonna go ahead and call that a sign of growth).
Elyse and I both snagged awards as single runners. There’s a joke to be made about fast girls in DC, and I’d prefer if none of you made it.
7) I missed racing while I was injured and recovering. A lot. The second we were done running, I was ready to trot back over to the start line and do it again. I’m pumped for the Spring season and ready to spend a very healthy number of weekends bonding with a bib and a set of safety pins.
Awesome report, and looks like you had a solid race! Love the bib colors – great way to find a sweaty v-day running date? :) I am in the 5k hater club, unless it has a bike and swim before it. :) Haven’t raced in over 2 months now and I’m also itching to put on a bib or get bodymarked for sure!!!
im not sure how i feel about all this “i dont hate 5ks anymore” business… but you redeemed yourself with a 20 miler beforehand. now thats a workout i can get behind.
You’re a ROCKSTAR! Love your 20/20. I’m not running right now, so this post makes me especially jealous (in a good way). I’m so happy you’re running strong right now! Hopefully I’ll see you at the V-day fun run tomorrow night?
I like the DC Road Runners shirt ;)
Is that a DC Road Runners tee you’re wearing?! I didn’t know you were a club member. You should join us for runs sometimes!
+ 1 Mary ;)
Like the Tuesday V-day/ Fat Tuesday Fun Run and Happy Hour!!
Great race! Looks like you had a fun time. I spy sweaty behind the guy in the gray t-shirt (who I think is the guy pictured further below)… it’s the new “where’s waldo?”
I like the different race bib idea, despite the color I would wear :) Great race report…btw I’m thinking about making Vermont my first marathon! What do you think?
Did you get a V-day run date? :)
I’m coming off of the flu this week too — and hats off to you because I couldn’t pull myself up to put on any mileage today! Cheers!
No longer complicated? what fun is that? ;-)
Good luck with your training for Vermont.
Did you run your 50? I just came across your blog somehow in Facebook, it’s good, and you write really well..funny and correct, two things I love in a Blog! Im running my first 50 mile in a month. The Buffalo Run at Antelope Island, in Salt Lake City.
Im super excited and nervous! Id love to hear how yours went! Ill have to cruise your Blog some more, maybe I missed the post, or maybe you haven’t run the 50 yet.
My friend and super amazing Ultra Runner, Karl Meltzer is helping me prepare for this race; he is actually running the 100 mile course of the race. He has me topping out only 18 mi. 2 weeks before the race; this makes me nervous, but the dude wins 100 mile races and breaks records, he knows his shit, for sure.
Mentally, I’m there, and that’s the biggest part, I hear. I know that’s slightly cliche, but I can see it, I can almost feel what mile 40 is going to feel like, and then how hard mile 45 is going to be to get to. But, I can see myself finishing it, because I fucking want to! I read you hit like 90 miles in a week with lots of cross training. That’s impressive, when do you recover, though? I run 6 days a week and Spin twice a week- but I haven’t gone over 60 miles in an average week. Anyway, I’m babbling, really just wanted to say hi, nice blog, and Ill be following.
I admit, I blog..and I’m not dropping it here for any reason except, Ive been photo journal-ing my ultra running/training out here in Utah. I’d feel cool if you checked it out:) Happy Running. #finglovemyhokastoo!
writeitallaway.blogspot.com
Natalie
I did run my 50! LOVED it. So exciting you’re training for your first! I loved ultra training and racing and it sounds like you’re feeling the same way. Feel free to email me at any time and geek out about it.
PS Karl Keltzer is your friend? JEALOUS.