Once I regrouped, I took a closer look at the schedule and it seems most of the runs are done at an easy pace. There are only two evenings of speed and interval/tempo run work. I began to breathe again, perhaps this plan won't be so bad. Maybe I could handle this. I have to admit, crazy as it seems, I do kind of like the challenge it presents me. Can I do the workouts? Can I stick to the plan? I'm not 100% sure I can, but I do know I'm going to give it my best shot.
I'm going into this with the mindset that the plan is perfection and while we can strive for perfection we can't get caught up in it, because we are only human and we have lives and things happen. So I'm gonna do my best to complete each and every workout, but I also realize that there may be a night or two (or three or four) where for one reason or another I can't complete or do a workout and that is okay. My only stipulation is the reason for skipping has to be valid. For example, if I have a migraine one night, then okay I can skip (or I could see how many folks I can scare while doing a run/vomiting combo--Exorcist anyone?). However, if I am tired because I went to bed late last night then that doesn't cut it. All I know is at the end of all this I better be able to bounce quarters off my perfectly sculpted buttocks.
That night we did our first run, five miles in the rain in Central Park. It was actually kind of nice. I think the rain kept it from being too humid and nasty. I have decided that since summer is coming (Sorry, John Snow, you know nothing.) I am going to try switching some of my runs to the morning hours. For those of you who know my love of the early morning hours, this shift may mean that piggys will now be flying, but I'm giving it a shot.
The idea of running when it is less humid is definitely reason number one, however I think there are other advantages to this craizness of morning running as well. One, by 8am or so my workout is done and I have the whole day ahead of me (well except for that pesky work thing). Two, more time for me to pursue my other interests. Three, I can spend more time with hubby. Four, I can get in an extra strength training or yoga workout (wait another workout--something is definitely wrong with me).
On Wednesday night (June 3) I did the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge--3.2 miles in Central Park. At one point I heard a burp on my left. This is apparently the new signal for "I'm passing you." Who knew? I think during my next race I'm going to try announcing my desire to pass by farting. Let's see how many folks clear outta my way! Hum...depending on what I have pre-race this could be all kinds of fun! Look out Queens 10K, you have been warned!
I was able to shave two minutes off my time from last year and I felt really good during the race.(Pictures are below.) I was even able to maintain a pace of under ten minutes for two of the miles. My usual pace is somewhere around 10:30 or so. However, I have been working on getting faster and have started regularly clocking a pace somewhere between 9:49 and 10:20. It seems to fluctuate quite a bit, which does bother me a bit. When I run, I can't always get a true sense of what pace I'm doing. I'm trying to figure that out. I'm also trying to control my pace and see how long I can maintain it.
For example, on a run the other morning, I did my second mile under 10 minutes. For mile three I wanted to see if I could maintain that pace. The start of the third mile was an incline and I could feel my self slowing down. I checked my watch and sure enough it read 10:12. I became a bit frustrated and I'll admit I thought of slowing down and giving up trying to maintain the pace. However, then I snapped myself out of it and I thought if I just push through this point once it levels out, maybe I can dig in and get back on pace. So I stayed with it and mile three came in at one second under my pace for mile two! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! That's another reason to run in the morning--if all goes well, you are on a high for the rest of the day.
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