It’s not a real training schedule, with predetermined daily mileage and workouts. I just want to build my endurance and move through this final stage of injury-recovery, get in some ad-hoc basebuilding as I get closer to my training for the 2010 London Marathon. The only set-in-stone workouts are my Saturday long runs, since I backed them out against the Ted Corbitt 15k on December 19th. The only other tenet of this training is to run five days a week, distance based on how I’m feeling that day. I do want to do some overmileage to prepare, which means today I had to run 8 miles so that I can build up by 1 mile each week until I am 2 miles over the race distance. I came to this plus-two strategy from my experience in the Baltimore Half, where the last two miles were the ones where I was running on fumes. I’ll just say it: I want to PR in a big way at the Ted Corbitt 15k. Two years ago, I ran a 15k at a 10:44 pace. Is it too much to say I’d like to cut that by two minutes per mile?
But for today, I set out telling myself I needn’t repeat last week’s long run performance. Long runs are for getting in the distance, easy; not for speed workouts. So I set out. It was a blue day, in the best sense of the word. Blue skies. Blue tights, blue socks, blue NYC Marathon long-sleeved tee–even my sunglasses (to protect my blue eyes) have blue frames. I ate a spelt bagel with Nutella and two cups of coffee for breakfast (I mention this because I believe it had something to do with the fabulousness of this run), and was on the road an hour later. Route 940, I will flatten thine hills and straighten thine curves! Thou art mine! (Sorry. I just saw a Shakespeare review on Thursday.)
Look, I swear I wasn’t going for speed. I accounted for 10-minute miles. I can’t help the fact that once again my body took over and said to me, “Lady shaddup! I got this. You just zone out and let me churn.” Mmokay! But oh my goodness this run felt soo good. My thoughts swirled three feet above my body, over there, and with him, and five years ago. My brain was everywhere but where my body was, and on this particular morning that was a very. good. thing. I looked at Little G maybe twice, I barely cared. This one was by feel, this one was in homage of the blue skies, of my blue eyes that I knew would snap crackle and pop later with mirth once this was in the bag. My splits were tight; my pace remarkably even for such a hilly course–the fastest was 8:43 and the slowest 9:13. I wrapped up 8.26 miles in a quite unpainful 1:13:566. This is when I dare to think my time goal for the Ted Corbitt (while requiring work and focus) is not unreasonable; this is when I dare to say I am confident.
Songs I ran to: “Sabotage” by The Beastie Boys, “Sad Sailor Song” by The Waifs, “Sadly Beautiful” by The Replacements, “Safe Europeans Home” by The Clash, “Safety in NUmbers” by Joan Osborne, “Samba da Bencao” by Bebel Gilberto, “Same Old Thing” by The Streets, “Saturday in the Park” by Chicago, “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” by Big & Rich, “Save His Soul” by Blues Traveler, “Save the Best for Last” by Vanessa Williams (no this does not embarrass me), “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer, “Say No Go” by De La Soul, “Scam” by Jamiroquai, “Sea Lion Woman” by Feist, “Second Hand New” by Matthew Sweet & Suzanna Hoffs, “See a Little Light” by Bob Mould, “Sei Volata Via” by Ron, Fiorella Mannoia, Francesco De Gregori & Pino Daniele, “Sell the Lie” by The Damnwells, “Sem Contencao” by Bebel Gilberto
To thine own pace be true. The Passenger.
Mama Bear you are such a great writer. Every time I read about your runs I literally want to jump up and go for a run. Amazing.
Now, your run was simply BLUE!! BLUE in the best sense. Blue like your pretty eyes. Wow. Ted Corbitt 15K? 9.3 miles will be a run in the park for you. If you run by feel and let your body do the work, you’ve got it!!!
I think the fluid, not-too-structured training plan is definitely the way to go, especially as you come back from injury. Listen to your body and push yourself, but not too hard.