Fast Running, Slow Spread

Last night's group run was a pile of crap. I just KNEW it was going to be an off night. I was so cold walking home from the train that I totally overdressed for the run. I rushed out the door and forgot my fleece headband. I tried to come up with all sorts of excuses for skipping. And then when everyone in the group started out super fast I knew I was going to be in the way, way back. Thankfully I know the route like the back of my hand now.

Anyway, I was at the very back of the group for the first mile. Then, one of the women in the group slightly ahead of me paused and called to me. I told her she didn't have to wait for me, but she did. I managed to keep up with them for the next two miles (which we ran at just under 9 minutes each) but faded at mile 3 and then to the very, very back after our break at mile 4. I forgot to upload all the data but the splits looked something like this:

Mile 1: 9:13
Mile 2: 8:54
Mile 3: 8:56
Mile 4: 9:15
Mile 5: 9:50
Mile .5: 9:20

Average pace? 9:15. And that's ONLY because I was able to keep up with the "slow" part of the group for two miles.

I skipped my lunchtime run today because I just didn't think my body could handle running another 3 miles at a 9 minute/mile pace so soon. I KNOW that running faster will make me faster, but in the mean time I have to remember not to overdo it and hurt myself or burn out. I can't run my 10K race pace all the time :-)

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In other fitness-related news, I'm having a crisis of desk-spread. See, from June 2002-June 2008 I worked a job where I rarely sat at a desk all day. I was up and down from my chair, hauling heavy boxes and books, climbing several flights of stairs multiple times per day, and just generally moving around a lot. Since July 2008, however, I've started working a desk job where the only reason I typically have to get up is to use the bathroom or heat up my lunch. In fact, the stapler in my office broke and I purposely haven't replaced it so that it forces me to get up and use the one in the copier area. Which is all of 15 feet from my desk. I can tell that even with my running and gym-going that my body has changed and not necessarily for the better. Yes, I'm running faster than I was two years ago, but I feel like I'm not in as good of shape overall.

And then I watched the following video:

How to live to be 100+



(If you're viewing this via a reader, you'll have to click through to watch the video.)

If you have 20 minutes, I HIGHLY recommend it. Their conclusions lead me to realize that my previous job may have been doing more for me than I realized. Also, that I really wish I had good friends living next door, across the street, or just closer than 45 minutes away. Preferably friends who like to have a glass of wine or two after work :-)

Anyway, I'm now on the hunt for ways to get more movement into my day. At least, movement that one can accomplish while wearing business professional clothing and that won't cause me to break into a sweat. And that doesn't involve going for a brisk walk in the freezing Chicago winters. Or purchasing the treadmill pictured above. Any ideas?