I am a tortoise — Running 7/14

I just missed the 3 mile mark. Like barely missed it. I was pacing myself. I also had to walk a little in my last interval.

But I am okay with missing 3 miles this time because I nailed it on Tuesday. Today I was getting passed by other runners on the trail, and I reminded myself, “I am a tortoise.”

I switched it up today. Instead of hitting the pavement in my neighborhood, I grabbed my teenager and made the short drive to my nearest park. It has a beautiful path along the river that attracts walkers, runners, cyclists, and dogs. There seemed to be a coordinated dog parent meet up when we arrived. I don’t mind dogs. I mind people who talk on their speakerphone on their walk.

We’ve had summer storms for the past week. I rounded a curve and found a massive trees had fallen across the path. Luckily the way it fell created a tunnel tall enough for most to pass through without losing our stride.

Luckily it wasn’t too hot but — WOOF — it was humid. I was sweating, glistening really. I wore my white tank to offset the heat and then remembered why I don’t work out in white tanks: my hair dye created a red ring around the coller. I soaked it when I got home, but I’ll be super disappointed if it doesn’t wash out. I mean, I’ll still wear it, but I’ll be disappointed.

Grey days — good run

I managed to make it out early this morning. Full of fresh fruit, yogurt, and coffee, I set out in my new cropped tank. It was cooler and cloudy this morning— one of Atlanta’s grey days.

I needed to stick with my 10 min run interval because I was not able to finish my training last week. The rain on Saturday and out of town visitors interrupted my routine and then I got a migraine on Sunday that put me down for the count.

The smart thing was for me to continue with the 10 min intervals at least for today.

I felt good about it. I managed to at least slow jog for each interval without interruption. This is good because last week I was walking a little in my running intervals.

I also turned around before I got to the bottom of the monster hill this time to ensure I didn’t lose my spirit hustling up the hill at the beginning of my last interval. I think that hurt me last time. I didn’t avoid the hill but I also didn’t take it on either.

Three miles, decent time. My stats said my best time was 5 mins and 48 seconds. I don’t believe that. I must have shook my Garmin.

Highs and Lows — mostly highs

Victory today because I made it the 3 mile distance. I’ve been hovering close to it but today I made it.

Back out today for the 10 minute intervals.

I was feeling good. Interval one, I didn’t even look at my watch. Interval two, starting to speed up and had to pace myself. At the end of interval two, I got a stitch. It wasn’t in my side but right where my bra normally rests on my torso, the muscle that stretched when I do seated twists. For stitches, you want to slow down and breathe it out. I managed to keep going until the interval was over and walked it out.

Interval three was where it became difficult. I looked ahead of me and realized I was at the bottom of a hill. Hills suck. But you don’t get better at them by avoiding them. I slowed down and shuffled up the hill. It was a long hill. I didn’t make it to the summit until I was nine minutes into the ten minute interval. Basically it was all uphill. I had to stop three times to walk.

My stats were great. My speed was faster today. I’m not trying for speed but it was still nice to see those numbers.