A story of going from being a non-runner to planning for a marathon in three years...

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Running in a Winter Wonderland


Source


It snowed during my run last night. Or, as my running buddy Anne said, "It's a freaking blizzard!"

It wasn't really a blizzard. Just some flurries. I told Anne it made her hardcore. Although, I have to admit, having snowflakes fly into your eye while running is a unique experience.

Last night was another tempo run. One mile warm-up, three miles at 9:07, and the last mile and a half cool down. It was also the Asics-sponsored run. While I didn't win any free shoes, they did provide us with Jimmy John's sandwiches post-run. Yum!

At the start of the run I informed the people around me that I would be doing my tempo run. One of the faster women was like, "Oh, I'll stick with you. You're doing 9 minute miles? That sounds good." Uh, yeah, she left us in the dust at the first intersection.

I swear, this group is such a weird mix of people. Most of them are nice but have no clue that they run pretty fast (at least compared to me). Then there are some that are downright running snobs. Like the guy who wrote in our newsletter that running has been dumbed down by people like John Bingham. If I hadn't thrown the newsletter out in disgust I would quote him directly. Ugh.

There was another one of those guys last night who seems to think running slow is "miserable". Well, maybe it is for him but my run last night was outstanding!

Anne stuck with me the entire way even when I had to stop and remove a rock from my shoe (seriously. It's freaking snowing outside and I'm balancing on one foot while shaking a rock out of my shoe and trying not to put my sock-clad foot down on the asphalt). We didn't chat much as I think we were pushing each other. She'd just done a 14 mile run the day before and I was definitely running hard. Actually, a little too hard. All my tempo miles were done significantly under 9:07 and my warm-up and cool down were both under 10:00.

However, every time I run these paces I just keep wondering how in the world I could possibly hold a 9 minute mile for more than 5 or 6 miles. I feel like dying at the end of 6.2 with my pace hovering just under 9:00. Am I really supposed to hold that for 7 more miles???

Only time will tell, I suppose. But no matter what those running snobs say, I'm out there, I'm kicking butt, and I'm hardcore because I run with snowflakes in my eyes.

************************


Activity
Route:--Elev. Avg:628 ft
Location:Forest Park, ILElev. Gain:+3 ft
Date:02/15/10Up/Downhill: [+22/-19]
Time:06:35 PMDifficulty:2.8 / 5.0
 
Weather:Light Snow
 26 F temp; 81% humidity
 26 F heat index; winds NW 8
Performance

Distance: 5.52 miles
Time:0:49:38
Speed:6.7 mph
Pace:8' 59 /mi
Calories:646
Map
 
Elevation (ft)
 
Pace (min/mile)
 
Splits
MilePace (min/mile)Speed (mph)Elevation
Gain
actual+/- avgactual+/- avg
19' 33+0' 346.3-0.40 ft
28' 40-0' 196.9+0.2-9 ft
38' 36-0' 237.0+0.3+3 ft
48' 53-0' 066.8+0.1+7 ft
59' 45+0' 466.2-0.50 ft
end9' 12+0' 136.5-0.2+3 ft
Versus average of 8' 59 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've just come across your blog, and wanted to say hi--and that the running snobs are my greatest race fear! (that and being passed by walkers :)

I'm doing the non-runner to marathoner thing, too, but in one year (which may be insane). Are you running Chicago in October?

kristen said...

Those tempo miles were way faster than 9! Good job. That's really shitty somebody would say that in print. Douchebag!

kilax said...

I am sorry you have running snobs in your group. I don't understand those people. They are the ones who make people NOT want to run.

You will be able to hold that pace! It will come in time. Especially when the weather gets better :)

Lacey said...

you've got some serious perks at this club :) maybe you'll wiin shoes next time!!!!!

great job with the tempo-- i think 3 miles at hard pace is a great tempo run. and then what you can do to bump it up each week is either run the same distance trying for a few seconds faster per mile or try to keep that same pace for another half mile or so. then you'll feel more confident about a 10k for example. but i totally hear you wondering how the heck to get race pace sometimes... it is so intimidating!!!! but races are so unique with the feeling + adrenaline, i think that plays a big role for me.

way to get out there!!!!!! tell the snobs to go to you know where!!!! :)

lifestudent said...

I hate snowflakes in my eyes. Only a few more weeks of this. We can do it!

Bayjb said...

You are seriously hard core to run in snow. You need to whip my a** into shape. No mercy!

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