How about some Friday Running Commentary? For one reason, I went running. For another, I’m just not feeling Friday today. For a while I even thought I had to work tomorrow, which would have made this a real non-Friday. Unfortunately, that fell through, so I was left with a Friday that did not feel like a Friday for no good reason. However, I do not repine. Instead I went for a long run and now I intend to write about it (yes, yes, I know, Truman Capote said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing,” but I don’t think he was talking about me).
Today was cooler than yesterday and overcast, much better running weather. I put on sunscreen, though, because I know you can still burn on a cloudy day. I had a vague idea that I would take a long run. When I had thought I was working tomorrow, I thought I would make it the run where I upped my time by the recommended ten percent, in case I did not run tomorrow. Since I do not have to work tomorrow, no doubt I will run. Still, a long run seemed like a good idea. Accordingly, I took a bottle of water with me, to sip at while I ran then re-fill from the spring. That gave me a direction to run in.
To re-cap my recent runs: Last weekend I ran for an hour and 14 minutes both Saturday and Sunday, hills on Saturday, none on Sunday. I ran again on Wednesday for 42 minutes with a couple of small hills. That was a painful run; I felt like I was barely going to make it. Running more hills than I managed seemed quite out of the question. So I was not sure how I would feel about running long or running hills today. But I was going to try.
Well, I did not do as well as I had hoped but neither was it as heinous as I had feared. I ran a few minor hills. There were moments where I felt grim and hopeless, when I questioned my choices, and I felt fat, old and creaky. There were other moments when I believed what I always say to myself, that I can pretty much keep going for as long as I decide to. I had wild thoughts of upping my run time, as I had thought to do earlier. Then I had daring thoughts of equaling my longest time so far. Then I wondered what the hell I was thinking.
I finished my water and made it to the spring. I decided to do what I did Saturday, that is, run by my house, drop off the full bottle, and finish the run empty-handed. I still didn’t know how long the run would ultimately be. A little suspense adds interest to my runs.
By the end of the run, I had changed my mind several times: “I’ll run here… no, here… oh wait, there’s that ‘Do Not Enter’ sign, I have to go here!” I ran up Bellinger Street, across the street from where I live. I usually run all the way up to German Street then down my side of the street home. Today I was directly opposite my house as my watch ticked the last seconds to the one hour mark. So I stopped at one hour. I thought that was pretty good.
I can’t say I felt marvelous as I walked my cool-down, but I felt pleased enough with myself. I had a glass of chocolate milk after I showered, because I had read recently that this was a good recovery drink. It was pretty tasty.
Just over three weeks remain till the Boilermaker. I confess, I am questioning the fitness of my knees. Then again, what are a few creaks on my way to 15K glory and beer?
Mohawk Valley Girl 