I have missed my Saturday Running Commentary. In fact, I’ve missed running. I keep picturing particular streets I used to run down and thinking, “Damn.” I have no excuse for stopping when I did. And the reason I stayed stopped for so long is simple inertia: an object at rest tending to stay at rest. In my defense, I was busy with a play, and then I got sick, and I have been going to Curves. Oh, I know, excuses, excuses. Let’s get on with the post.
That was a long first paragraph. I usually don’t do that.
Where was I? Ah yes, about to run. I got up Saturday at 4:30 a.m., actually earlier than I have to get up for work. My husband Steven has an early shift today. I thought, perfect, I’ll run as soon as he leaves. It’ll still be cool and quiet. I followed this plan.
Previously when I have written about running, I haven’t liked to say how long I run. I’m worried it’ll hurt my street cred. But today I thought, others who run similarly short times may feel encouraged. And those who are apt to point and laugh are probably going to do so regardless (you know who you are).
I hadn’t done anything week before last due to being sick. This past week, however, I returned to Curves and put in three workouts. That’s about 30 minutes of fairly intense exercise. I thought, therefore, that I could probably run for 30 minutes. After all, I do not run at an intense rate. This could work. I set out.
And almost immediately wondered if after two months off (two months? Eek!), running for a full half hour was the right thing to do. Maybe 15 minutes would be better. After all, start slow, build up. Isn’t that the right way to do it? And how about my original plan to run up the hill by Valley Health? Surely one could start out with a level run and feel good about it.
I decided to compromise. I would run the hill at whatever slow rate seemed good at the time. As for total run time, I would see what happened. 15 minutes would be acceptable. 20 would be better. If by some weird chance I made 30, well, woo hoo for me. I wouldn’t expect such miracles.
The weather report expected a scorcher today. Or maybe a steamer. You know, humidity. In any case, by 6:30 this morning the sun was up and I was soon feeling the heat. That was OK. It wasn’t too bad, especially when I could find some shade. I was going to rock that hill.
It wasn’t much fun at first. German Street goes gradually uphill as you approach Valley Health from my street. You wouldn’t think these subtle upgrades would be a problem, but I was really feeling it.
I saw another runner coming towards me, on the road. I was on the sidewalk. I prefer to run on the sidewalk away from cars, but I sometimes feel a little self-conscious about it. It seems like “real” runners run in the road. I pondered what made a “real” runner (yes, I put in in quotes in my head as I thought about it). I waved when we passed each other. The other runner said good morning in a perfectly friendly fashion.
Up the hill. Oof. I made it. Only seven minutes into the run. That was good, right? Now I was all done with hills for the day. The run got a lot more fun after that. Well, maybe not fun, but at least I reached the “I can rock this” stage.
I went for 23 minutes, followed by a 12 minute cool-down walk with my schnoodle Tabby (she won’t run with me, but she loves the cool-down walk). I thought that was pretty good. It’s a rebuilding year for me. I had no thoughts of running the Boilermaker anyways. All I really want is to be in 5K shape by the DARE run in August. I can rock that.
Mohawk Valley Girl 