Sunday Running

Today’s Route: Landsdown
Distance: 3.0 miles

Ok, so we met at 6:00am on Sunday morning to go running, and the heavy dinner I’d had at 9:30 the night before still hadn’t settled. So it was kind of a sluggish run, but it was really cold, and I was bundled up really well, which made it different and interesting. I never wear a jacket when running, and I had on my long-sleeved under armor on, with a fleece jacket, gloves and a head wrap. About the last mile, I unzipped my jacket and took my gloves off. It was a good run!

The only downside was that daylight was approaching, and usually I can’t see the paths ahead of me (we usually run at 4:45am, and it’s still dark). But on Sunday, I could see all of the hills, and see Gina and Kevin far up ahead, and I had to remind myself to stay calm and keep pushing. I didn’t want to be gasping for air like a fish out of water, so I just kept the pace and push through and tried to keep my breathing level. It was a good way to start a Sunday, except it knocked me on my butt as usual, and I ended up sleeping late and not going to church. If I could just stay up and get ready, I’d be set. But there’s too much down time between when we finish running and when I have to be at church. I take my shower, eat something warm, and then with two hours to waste, I go comatose. I know, I know, it’s no excuse. Must find another way!

Hills and wind

Today’s Route: Landsdown
Distance: 3.0 miles

We added a little distance to this route today to get right at 3 miles. We had a pace of 10:05, which is good considering the hills and the fact that we were running into a head wind up most of the hills. It was a challenge, but I did good. I didn’t feel the urge to give up until almost the end, and I pushed through. Every now and then, when I’m running, I’ll get this feeling that I need to stop, that I can’t do it anymore and I have to trick myself into keeping up. The only times I’ve ever stopped to walk is if my stomach starts cramping really bad, or if I get a bad side stitch. If it’s just my head, and I’m just tired, then I have to push through. I tell myself that I’m not in any pain, and that I just have to keep going.

Today, with all the hills, I was heaving by quitting time, but I was proud because I’d pushed through. I have to admit that I kinda like hills. I mean I hate them, and they wear me out, but I like the feeling of pushing with my legs and feeling the burn in my rear-end. It makes me feel strong somehow. I go up hills at the same pace as running flat, not because I like being fast on hills, but mostly just to get it over with quicker. Which is better? I don’t know, but just getting to the top is an accomplishment. I didn’t notice this last time, but the last haul up Scotty Lane is awful. It’s all uphill, and it varies from “kinda uphill” to “wow that’s a steep hill!” It was really a challenge. Man. But it’s done! We’re gonna do the “Turkey Day 5-Miler” on Saturday morning. That should be fun!

The hills are alive...

Today’s route: Landsdown subdivision
Distance: 2.8 miles

Gina is someone that’s just started running with us. Well, actually, she used to run with Pam and Kevin, but she recently had a baby, and had been out of commission for a while., so she’s new to me, but not the group. Anyway, Gina lives in Landsdown and so we started off today in front of her house. As Pam put it, “they shouldn’t call it Lands-“down” because it’s all uphill!” And she wasn’t kidding. It was nothing but hills hills hills! As soon as I’d recover from one hill, we were facing another. It was rough a few times, but feeling the burn in my butt and legs made me feel good. It was hard work and I was doing it… it made me proud. So even though it was only 2.8 miles, it was still a great workout. Hills can only be good for you! That means next time I run, I’ll be a little faster, thanks to those awful hills.