Adaptability is pretty important in running. Because runners and running, by nature, is a selfish act, occasionally one has to alter his plans, regime or surroundings if they are going to a session in. For me that usually means getting up out of bed and out the door hours before normal so that I’m all finished before I typically even wake up. I keep late-night hours so this is difficult, though necessary.
But if that’s what it takes from time to time, so be it. As long as I get the work in, I feel good.
I suppose all runners are like this, too. In fact, I remember reading an interview with Bill Rodgers where he talked about squeezing in runs while waiting for a flight at the airport. Of course doing something like that these days would be nearly impossible with the raised levels of security, but it seems to me that real runners have put in some work on the access roads around the airport. That’s a definite hardcore running act that makes my list next to having just two remaining original toenails, urinating blood, or not quite making it to the bathroom in time and dropping the deuce in those microfiber shorts.
It really is quite a durable fabric.
Anyway, I did three runs where I was finished for the day and showered before 9 a.m. Two of those three were in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware where my wife, son and me spent the weekend. Frankly, though, the toughest part wasn’t waking up early because after chasing around a 3-year old boy every waking hour, I was too trashed to keep my normal schedule. I had no other choice but to be in bed not too long after the sun had set.
Here’s the week of May 7-13:
Monday 15.3 miles in 1:42:20
Still nursing the remnants of my cold, but, surprisingly, I ran very well. Despite the day off I was very strong and kept a solid pace. A few more runs like this and I'll be feeling much better.
Tuesday 15 miles in 1:39:46
I did the entire run on the field and was very solid with my pace for the first 11 miles. After that it faltered slightly, but not too much. Anyway, I kept a steady 6:37 pace for 11 miles with very little effort. What made it telling (or something) was that I was (and am) phlegmy and stuffed up from my cold/allergies. The damn late spring is wreaking havoc with my head.
Wednesday 13.2 miles in 1:27:53
This was a weird one. I woke up in the morning feeling like I had to throw up. I don't know if that's because of allergies or a cold or what, but my stomach felt quite quesy and it really affected me. Running-wise I felt great, albeit a bit tired, but the entire time I felt like I needed to throw up.
Thursday 13 miles in 1:27:37
This was definitely a beater. The humidity mixed with tired and stiff legs didn't make this run fun. Plus, I still have remnants of my cold/allergies wreaking havoc with my head. I even took a sudafed-type pill, which contains a substance that is banned (if used in large quantities) by the IOC or WADA or whomever. Then again, if it were up to Dick Pound and WADA, shoes would be banned. Digressing, I toughed it out for 13.
Friday 10 miles in 66:03
Got up early to run before driving to Rehoboth and surprisingly did well. Maybe there's something about running at 7 a.m.?
Saturday 10 miles in 67:16
Did another early morning run and felt nearly as good as yesterday. It was kind of fun to run in a different place (I went from weaved my way around Rehoboth and Dewey Beach), but truth be told, I like my regular routes the best. I'm not saying I didn't have fun, but it's very evident that some serious work has to start soon.
Sunday 5.5 miles in 36:47
Retraced some of the same tracks I ran yesterday, only not as long. For the third day in a row I was finished running before 9 a.m. and I even did this one in a misting rain with ocean winds (trade winds?) blowing fairly hard. Midway through this one I felt really strong and ready to crank out some miles... not today.
That’s 82 miles for the week. There are 21 weeks to the Steamtown Marathon on Oct.7. I wonder if I can get close to 2:30 again? Either way, I have to make a decision about which race I’m going to do and when I’m going to do it.