Running has been a struggle. Moving has worn me down inside and out. We had a horrible time with our buyers showing up on our last day in the house. It turned into a nightmare that is too long to blog about at this time.
I didn't run for a week after the Saint and moving. Last Sunday I met Allison in the 'hood to run. We both were fine going slow and walking when needed due to each of us having ailments (her shin was busted and my IT bands/knees aren't happy with all the trail running and moving). I think we ran maybe 6 miles, could be more or less. I didn't really keep track of time or distance. It was my first 'hood run from the new house, and I briefly thought about having us run by my old house. I thought better of it knowing I'd get emotional.
Monday was circuit. It was hot and muggy after some rain passed through. Lunges always get me. I'm weak in the core and suffered through the core workout. I generally love circuit, but this week was not my favorite.
Yesterday was tempo. I haven't run a tempo run in months and the last ones I did were when I was in my best running shape post-3M half marathon. If I hadn't switched gears to train for the MS150, maybe I would have stayed strong. Maybe if I hadn't switched gears and focused on moving and trail runs. Maybe if it wasn't hot, and I wasn't carrying a blubber roll around my middle.
I was determined to run 3 miles, even though Gilbert wanted most of us to run 2. I knew if I dropped back down to a 2 mile tempo, that it would be hard for me to go back to 3 miles. I felt tired in the first 400m, but my pace seemed fine. Pace seemed fine through 3/4 mile where I slowed a tad bit. I was trying to push but stay within a decent range for someone very out-of-shape. Gilbert was standing at the mile 1 marker and said, "Jessica, just turn around and do a 2 mile tempo. You'll have extra miles in the cool down." I stopped and replied, "If I don't do 3 then I'll never do 3 again." He waved me on, and I went toward the 1.5 marker.
That 2nd mile has been the slowest in past runs, so I knew it would be again. I suffered a lot and had a pain that wasn't a stitch and wasn't anything I was interested in "running through." So I walked. I knew any decent time was shot after the first walk, so I just ran and walked a few seconds here and there the whole way back. I debated stopping my watch back at the 1 mile marker and calling it a 2 mile tempo so I could walk the mile back. I didn't do it though, and I ran back with intermittent walking. I ended up with a time of 32.34, which was actually faster than I thought it would be with all the walking I did. It's a true testament to the shape I'm in physically and mentally, and hopefully, I'll get faster next time.
Am I just plain out-of-shape? Am I tired from moving and trail runs as my legs have felt weak since then? Did I struggle b/c it was the first real hard run in the heat? Have I weakened mentally with all the slow trail runs and slow long runs and cookies?
No matter how slow it was, I'm happy to have done the 3 mile tempo.
I have a little over a week to train for the
Hill Country Kids' Triathlon. I'm on a team with Elijah, and our team name is The Course is With Us. David and Joshua remain a team and kept the same name from last year - Team Bob. Boys will do 100m swim, 2.5 mile bike, and 1K run. David and I will do a 200m swim, 5.1 mile bike, and 1.2 mile run. Even though those distances are super short, it's still a killer to do a tri...especially when I haven't trained.
Labels: Running, triathlon
