September 20, 2014

September 20 - Beat the Blerch (10K Race)

Total time: 1:39:31
Total distance: 6.2 miles

You guys. YOU GUYS.

I DID IT.

It was amazing. The morning was cloudy and cool which is my perfect, ideal running weather. The route quickly went from paved roads to gravel trails, which was something I wasn't used to. The park was gorgeous. The trail was gorgeous. I was in a very zen state of mind throughout almost the entire thing.

I started off like I always do, but something magical happened around Mile 3. (Perhaps it was the cake at the aid station.) During miles 3 & 4, I felt so good that I decided I was going to run the whole thing, even if I had to drag myself across the finish line. And aside from the pit stop/photo ops at the aid station, I did. I ran the whole thing. All 6.2 miles. I didn't come all that way to not give it absolutely everything I had.

When I crossed that finish line, I felt damn near euphoric. Better than I had after any 5K. The elusive runner's high, perhaps. But it was that moment that I felt almost invincible. I had done this thing, this crazy thing that I never thought I'd ever be able to do. What else could I do? What couldn't I do?

Looking at my time afterward, I was momentarily confused and couldn't figure out why my times didn't match up... And then I realized my watch auto-paused when I stopped to take a picture with Sasquatch and the Blerches at the aid station. (Obviously). So, official race time is 1:39:31 but actual time spent running was the 1:38:10 time. Either way. Better than the 1:45 I was expecting! I have decided I really like this distance because once I get past Mile 2, I usually feel pretty good. Maybe a half marathon is on the cards someday after all? We'll see. For now, I shall bask in the glory of my 10K.







September 18, 2014

September 18

Total time: 32 minutes
Total distance: 2 miles

I am the worst. Not only have I not been adequately training for this 10K (which is in, you know, TWO DAYS) but I waited until now to try out my new shoes because of reasons that aren't entirely clear but probably have something to do with procrastination. Well, and the fact that the Shoe Guy told me to run 1-2 miles on a treadmill first before taking them outside - he practically made me pinky swear - which I wasn't sure there was a valid reason for doing so, other than simply being able to return them if I decided I didn't like them. So with a somewhat guilty conscience, I put on the new shoes and went outside. I mean, let's be real: I wasn't going to return them. I don't have time. I needed them, like, a month ago.

Anyway, everyone say hello to my new shoes: the Saucony Cortana 4. They were, uh, a bit more expensive than my PureFlows, but I can justify almost anything when it comes to injury prevention and well-being. I didn't really like the PureFlow 3s (which is too bad, because they had them in my favorite color) and these felt the best, so. I guess it's an investment, right?

Also! When I went to get fitted for new shoes, the Shoe Guy examined my old ones and said approvingly, "good wear pattern." I felt so vindicated as a runner, you guys. 



I'm still on the fence if I should take them to Seattle with me or not. I'm leaning towards yes, because they are new and cushiony. They're not at all broken in, but I am certain that my old ones will hurt my feet if I try to wear them for more than a mile or two. Six miles with blistering, aching feet sounds miserable. I mean, the new ones could conceivably hurt my feet too, but at least they're... new and cushiony. I'm probably overthinking this. 

Anyway - a nice slow and steady run with the new kicks. I ended up liking them a lot, which is good, because I have officially voided their returnability.

September 5, 2014

September 5

Total time: 47:20 minutes
Total distance: 3.10 miles

I live in the same city as my alma mater, and they recently launched an art project where decorated statues of our mascot were painted/sculpted and placed around town.... effectively creating a scavenger hunt for those of us who are into such things. (Hint: I am one of those people.)

There were quite a few of them near-ish to my house, so I decided that tonight's run would be a pretty casual loop into the semi-campus area to capture a few of these elusive statues. I ran/walked/lollygagged to the stadium and back, stopping to take photos of the sculptures on the way. It was completely aimless and wonderful, which is probably what a Friday evening run should be. By the time I circled back and made it to my park (my usual running grounds), I'd actually managed to get in the equivalent of a 5K.


I've also made peace with the fact that I think I need new shoes. And soon. I am going to murder my feet if I wear these things in the 10K. I know you're not supposed to wear new shoes for a race, but I can't see how they'd be any worse than these. At least new ones will have cushion. So, I'll be off to the running store hopefully this weekend to get me a new pair... and it might be an entirely new pair, since my current style (the Brooks PureFlow 2) is discontinued, and my running message board peeps say the PureFlow 3s are actually noticeably different. Not super keen on spending the money right now, but I'm even less keen on injuring myself, so: that's that.