I started running again this week, on a whim. A work friend of mine -- a girl I love hanging out with, who shares my insane love of and snobbery for correct grammar, spelling and punctuation -- decided to captain a group in the Nike Women's Half-Marathon lottery, and I couldn't resist signing up. (We'll find out later this month if we're in.)
I'm cutting it close in terms of being able to prepare for the race, which is only about 20 weeks away, and that's something I would usually rail against -- but I had few other reasons not to train right now, so I'm going for it. In fact, I went into full attack mode on Monday, drawing up a training spreadsheet and mapping out several 2-, 3- and 4-mile runs for myself across San Francisco. I'm ready to train!
There are two things I'm thinking on as I get started. The first is that I haven't really run in about two years, favoring sprinting-walking intervals as a more efficient way to do my cardio. That's worked out well until the last two months when, probably more so due to poor schedules and a whole lot of stress eating, I have -- second item -- gained about 10 pounds. (I know I said "a little weight" last week, but that's the number.) No, really. I'm as stunned as you are. OK, maybe you're not that stunned. But I am. How did that happen? Seriously?
The good news is that, despite these items to ponder, my pace seems to be on par with where I left off a few years back: Around 13 minutes per mile, if the miles aren't all in Russian Hill. Yes, I'm slow, and I'm OK with that. Most importantly: I'm really enjoying the running. I had forgotten it! This week, I've felt strong, powerful and more relaxed after my runs. Sprints just don't achieve quite the same boost.
If we get into the race, I'm poised, I think, to squeeze the training in. But if we don't, I'm going to shoot instead for the Hark the Herald Angels 12K on Angel Island in December. It's a race I've always wanted to run, what with its Christmas theme and the fact that it's on trails -- and this just might be the perfect excuse to get all trained up for it.
I'm cutting it close in terms of being able to prepare for the race, which is only about 20 weeks away, and that's something I would usually rail against -- but I had few other reasons not to train right now, so I'm going for it. In fact, I went into full attack mode on Monday, drawing up a training spreadsheet and mapping out several 2-, 3- and 4-mile runs for myself across San Francisco. I'm ready to train!
There are two things I'm thinking on as I get started. The first is that I haven't really run in about two years, favoring sprinting-walking intervals as a more efficient way to do my cardio. That's worked out well until the last two months when, probably more so due to poor schedules and a whole lot of stress eating, I have -- second item -- gained about 10 pounds. (I know I said "a little weight" last week, but that's the number.) No, really. I'm as stunned as you are. OK, maybe you're not that stunned. But I am. How did that happen? Seriously?
The good news is that, despite these items to ponder, my pace seems to be on par with where I left off a few years back: Around 13 minutes per mile, if the miles aren't all in Russian Hill. Yes, I'm slow, and I'm OK with that. Most importantly: I'm really enjoying the running. I had forgotten it! This week, I've felt strong, powerful and more relaxed after my runs. Sprints just don't achieve quite the same boost.
If we get into the race, I'm poised, I think, to squeeze the training in. But if we don't, I'm going to shoot instead for the Hark the Herald Angels 12K on Angel Island in December. It's a race I've always wanted to run, what with its Christmas theme and the fact that it's on trails -- and this just might be the perfect excuse to get all trained up for it.
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