This has been a great week for running / moving.
I moved a total of 37 miles (7 more than last week) and I am finally at the half way mark for both time and mileage. I should have hit the half way point last week but the snow cut my 14 miles into 12 long hellish miles. The long run this week was fantastic even though I lost my route map less than a mile out the door. Luckily I remembered 90% of it having run it the previous week.
I kept a great pace for the long run (10:30 min/mile) and felt strong through the entire 14 miles. A long ice bath afterwards and hardly any muscle soreness followed. I’m not sure how to explain it but I feel like this week is the cross over point for me. If anybody has ever used the couch to 5k program to start running I would call this week the pivotal “Week 5 day 3”. You know which day I’m talking about…
The first time you run for 20 minutes non stop.
It’s that point in the training where for so long you feel like you’re going up hill then all of a sudden you crest the top and just for a moment stand still and realize that this dream of running a marathon (or 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, ultra marathon) is going to be a reality barring any injury or anything else that hopefully won’t get in the way. Ye,s of course my miles are going to get longer over the next couple of weeks but I’m doing something now on a regular basis that this time last year still seemed impossible: running double digits on a regular basis.
Hard to believe that while I read about everyone signing up for their first half marathon and thinking about my own half marathon training back in November of 2010, that my current training takes me beyond that 13.1 every weekend from here on out until May 20th and even beyond that as I continue to train for the Maritime Marathon in September.
This coming weekend is the Moose Run and I am really looking forward to it. I think I could have easily run another mile this past weekend so I’m not worried about finishing the race. The weather is picking up around these parts and Sunday is looking to be a lovely day to run a 25k.
Speaking of weather, it’s amazing what a little sunshine and warmer weather can do for your mental health. This winter has been hard for me. Living in the constant cold (and still not used to having that layer of fat that kept me warm for so long) was down right depressing (and painful). There is still some snow in the weather forecast but this is the first week that it looks to stay in the 40’s almost everyday and just the thought of warmer weather raises my spirits. With the change in time this week I plan on taking full advantage of the longer days by running during the days and taking long walks in the evening with Red…
Here’s to moving more
And to living.
I think this week was a milestone week for moving for both of us in a couple of ways. And there’s no question that the sunshine and a little be a warmth did wonders for the spirit. I’m crazy proud of both of us this week.
Here’s to looking forward to a race together next weekend – who’d have thunk we’d be saying that on a regular basis huh? xo