This is What Pain Looks Like.

If there's a silver lining to that painful 9-miler it's this: my blisters (a cluster of new and old on each big toe) held me back more than my legs, lungs, or heart did. I certainly wasn't going fast, but I was able to maintain a healthy pace and could've definitely picked it up if it weren't for the pain on my power toes. I will have tomorrow's cross-training and Sunday's rest to try and heal them up before another week. If anyone has any blister healing tips, PLEASE let me know!

Houston, we have a problem.

A mile into my 4-miler today I had to crash into a yard with my leg up in pain. Ugh. It was strange, like my bone was hurting. Long story short, I rubbed and stretched until I could stand on it and discovered that if I ran on the balls of my feet, the pain was manageable. For the last 3 miles my heals almost never even touched the road. It was hard on my calves, but legs felt better and better. I'm praying that the Lord holds my legs together again tomorrow and that they are ready for this Friday's 9er.

Second Long Run

Well, logged another one of my Friday long runs. This time it was 7 miles. I ran it at the same pace that I ran last week's 6, about 11:30/mi. I'm not gonna complain about my pace since, I did it in an Alabama summer afternoon, but I do want to see that number go down a good bit. I find that I start out at exactly a 10:00/mi. pace and just can't keep it going. Which, everything I read says that that indicates I really need to slow down at the start. The problem I have is that a 10 minute mile seems so slow to me already?! However, I'd rather see myself start out at an 11:30/mi and speed up throughout my run to finish with a 10 minute mile. At least, that's what the running experts say to do. It's easy for me to think.. I'm gonna go out there and see how fast I can do 3 miles (which is my plan for today), but it's a whole different story when I'm a 1/2 mile in and already feelin' rough. I think it's most discouraging when I feel like I'm killin' it and I hear my pace update in my ear somewhere around 11:00/mi.

I recently asked some ex-runner guys at work for some tips. These are the recommendations I got: 1. It's in your genes, there's not much to do about being slow (great..). 2. Get more sleep (hmm... that could be an issue). 3. Being limber is everything. 4. If you really wanna be competitive, getchoo' some Adderall(really?).

I have made a point to try to pound a protein shake or something after my runs in an attempt to quicken my recovery. I may already be feeling the affects of that.

This week's long run is only 5 miles(it's a rebuilding year), but next week I will break my record and do 9!

Today: 3 miles

Night Rider

Another late night run through the hood due to how awesome Wednesdays are. Work, Superior Grill's free buffet/happy hour, then to Church of the Highlands.

The dark runs mean better weather. It felt good. I took it easy and maintained about 10:30/mi. I feel like my body needs restoration as much as exercise lately, so I've decided to do some push hard runs and some easy runs. I'm already a little nervous about Friday's 7-miler...

First Long Run

This past Friday was the first long run on the plan. 6 miles. I did it at Veterans Park by Spain Park. It was the hardest run I've done to date. After a short water break at 2.81 miles, I had to decide in my mind that I would not stop again. It was extremely hard. When I saw I was about to click over to 5 miles on my nikeplus monitor, I decided that I needed to get pumped somehow. So, the next runner that I passed on the trail (45 year old woman) I turned to and screamed at her, "WE CAN DO THIS!!!" I thought it would be hilarious and that we would both laugh and be encouraged. Well, at least I laughed and was encouraged ... Then my dang phone died at 5.9 miles. Think I'm gonna put it in a little baggy, then put it in the armband next time. I "crosstrained" the next day at SnapFitness doing some weights/bike/elyptical.