A Hilly 7-Miler & Several Lessons Learned

This past Saturday our training group had our first long hill run. A week ago we had our first hill work, where we did a shorter run (about 3.5) that included 4 hill repeats. The 7-miler on Saturday was our first long run with lots of hills though. My two girl friends in my group weren't there for various reasons, so I was already pretty nervous about doing 7 for the first time this season and for the first real hill run of the season. Combine that with the fact that I was housesitting, so not sleeping in my own bed and not used to hearing a dog moving around the house at all hours of the night (scared me to death!!!)... and don't forget that I had a bar dinner with my dad and stepmom to celebrate my birthday, first interview since the layoff and my dad's first paycheck at his new job. Translation: cocktails, beer and greasy pizza. Not fun the next morning at 4:30, trust me on this one. Also not fun? Coffee. But hey, that's what training is for--to figure out what NOT to do on race day. It ended up being ok in the end, and perhaps it was just nerves all along, but my tummy wasn't happy with me when I showed up at the run.

One thing that is nice and that I've been noticing the past few runs is how I've been starting to feel better, pick up speed and really collect myself as the run progresses. At the beginning I find myself thinking "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know..." and feeling very unsure, but later I feel much stronger. It's much better than the reverse! The 7 miles of hills was kind of a beating, but in a great way. I felt fantastic after we finished.

A word on the runner's high: it doesn't necessarily mean it feels fabulous. It's a lot like being half drunk, minus the mental buzz and quick wit. It's more of a physical feeling rather than a mental one. You feel off, semi-disoriented, almost out of body b/c usually your legs are shaking or you feel a bit numb from all the jarring and pounding you've been doing for the past hour and a half or so. Then you get the laughs--just thinking about what you just did is like, "Wow. That's nuts." It's surreal. Love the run!

A Great Morning!

Just got back from a nice 6 miler with the group and breakfast with Ashley. It was a pretty good run and a great way to start the day. Next week will be 7 miles! More than half way (mileage wise)! Had a little bit of pain in my left calf but after I stretched it at the first water stop it eased up. This week I plan on doing more cross training (yoga, pilates, spin and body pump) and less walking. Definitely going to stretch and ice a few times today. I might go to body pump today depending on how I'm feeling this afternoon. I wasn't nearly as sore from it this week, so I'm thinking I'd like to start doing it twice a week.

Yesterday I was invited to out to PK for the weekend (and we all know how much I love the lake!) but the thought of doing a 6 miler on my own in this heat was just unbearable, so I figured I should stay here. I also remembered back when I was unable to run and would have given anything to be able to, so I tried to stay positive and know that I was making the best decision. Now that the run is over (and I just had a delicious bagel and cream cheese!), I am sure it was a wise choice. It is, however, difficult to make yourself get in bed on Friday nights when you can hear all your neighbors out and about and keep getting late-night text messages from friends at the bars. More frustrating than anything is that people don't seem to get it. Yah, I know I'm not going to win the races that I train for, but that's not why I do it. I do it because I want to and it's important to me, and it's about bettering myself--and I happen to love doing it. I don't see why certain people consider those reasons to be unimportant. I suppose you either get it or you don't, and if you don't there's probably no explaining it to you. Anyway, I really wish I could get better at going to sleep earlier on Fridays, but without the work week to tire me out, it's hard to wind down that early and I end up lying awake in bed for hours, which totally sucks. Had lots of energy this morning though so I was pleased.

I'm off to stretch a bit and then hit the pool for some relaxation before it really heats up out there... :)