Splits, that's all it is

10:08, 9:44, 10:09, 10:08, 9:48, 9:53, 9:35, 10:06, 10:01, 9:34, 11:05, 8:45

Splits, the time it takes me to cover a certain amount of distance. This past Saturday as part of building up for the half marathon it was decided to attempt to run 12 miles. The goal was to do it in under two hours, and to feel good about it afterwards. One part of the equation is objective, with a chronograph on my watch to keep track of my mile splits and total time. The other part of the equation is purely subjective and can change with the passage of time. After a few weeks of not being able to run the longer distances with my usual running partner or partners, I needed to be able to see how long it would take me to cover this distance. A plan was set in motion a couple of weeks ago when May 21 was going to be the first, and last, opportunity to get a long run with others in before the half. I was a little worried about my endurance. The week before I was only able to get in a couple of runs, the longest being six miles. Doing it on my own and in under an hour was good news, but six is only half of twelve!

7 AM on a Saturday is early but somehow I was able to drag my butt out to Inside Track to meet up with others for the run. Had to wake up much earlier so I can get something in me so I can have the energy to make it to twelve. The latest thing that seems to work for me is a bagel with peanut butter. It worked last week when that was what I had for breakfast all three days of a skiing weekend. Downhill skiing isn't running but it still takes a bit out of me. So I tried it on Saturday before my long run day. Any ways off we went at 7:05. We started off with a fair sized group but thought that it would go down to three right away; Brandy, Daisy and me. It turned out that Daisy hadn't run in a while herself and would go slower than Brandy and me. So the two of us went and we were able to keep a good pace. Every mile we checked to see what our splits were and they looked good. We were able to also keep a good conversation going throughout the run. Topics from the supposed rapture to my Jewish background to the types of birds flying in the sky.

I mentioned that I thought that pelicans were pretty cool birds, especially in the way they glide just over the water. The conversation and the relatively cool and overcast day helped us get to the six mile mark. We took a little break for refueling before starting back to Inside Track. Heading back had new challenges for me since I had never made it to the 6 mile mark. It meant that I had to run almost a mile before I started the climb up the bridge. It was a challenge but the little break helped give me enough energy back to do it with relative ease. Ohm just before the bridge we saw Daisy about a half mile behind us and about a quarter mile behind her was Linda. Daisy we knew could run at the same pace as us but Linda has made huge strides the past few weeks. She was doing about twelve minute miles and now she seems to be at a 10:40 mile pace. Hope she isn't pushing too hard so she doesn't hurt herself.

Our pace was keeping steady, or at least we think it's steady enough. I know that others may say that a steady pace should be within ten seconds of each other. Here we are with 30-40 second swings. The one part of the usual Saturday long run course is the sand portion where the bikeway is being redone. The sand is very loose in parts and after running a few miles it really takes a lot out of me but I must continue, especially when I am running with someone. Don't want to be the one to slow the group down. After ten miles Brandy had to make another stop but she told me to continue. I continued but only walked it so she can catch up to me sooner. I either walk fast or she took a little longer than expected as I was able to cover over a third of a mile walking before she caught up with me. Regardless I was able to cover mile 11 in 11:05 walking a third, running two thirds. When she had caught up with me she told me not to slow down and run with her. I was to run on my own from this point on. Having saved a little more energy I was able to get back to Seaward and Pierpont and run the last mile in 8:45!

My overall time 1:58:56!! Goal #1 was met. Brandy was able to finish about 20-25 seconds behind me, which means she did her last mile in a little over 9 minutes. So she too was able to finish in under two hours. Now for how we felt after the run. I can honestly say that we are both happy with this run, and even now a couple of days later, I am still very happy with my run. We completed most of the run having a conversation going. We didn't have the excitement of many other racers around us to get the old adrenaline pumping even more. So we did the 12 miles averaging just under 10 minutes per mile. The window of 2:00 to 2:05 is very possible. I am still holding out hope that I may break 2 hours myself but will not be disappointed if I don't. I need to remember that I want to finish the race upright, and maybe with a kick at the end. I need to prepare better to refuel during the race. Gummy bears or something like that may just be the thing for me. As of today there are thirteen days until the race. I don't see another double digit distance run before then. Maybe an eight miler this Saturday? We'll have to see. Stand by for the results.

Apparently I am not a sprinter

It has only been about eight months since I really started doing any kind of running, and it has been mostly fun. I went from being out of breath after trying to run a block to being able to complete a half marathon, albeit with good chunks of walking in the back half of that race, to running 11 miles just a couple of weeks ago and feeling that I could have done another mile or two. For the most part I have been injury free. I have tried to take it easy and gradually increase the distance I run, along with the speed at which I run. I think that I can run a little faster but being almost 48 I know that I should take it easy and not rush my progress. I want to be able to continue to run for quite some time. It has been helpful towards my goal of keeping the weight loss that has occurred the past year and a half. It has also been fun amazing myself at what I have achieved physically, plus I have met some new people through this running club that I was able to join all due to this sport which has me hooked.

Speaking of the running club,to keep things fresh and fun, last night's workout was splitting the club into teams of four people and running relays for some good competitive fun. It turned out okay that the slow group has grown (along with Brandy, there is now Linda and Daisy and we picked another one up Lydia) and there was one of us in each of the teams. Different relays were ran: the first was 4x800, followed by 4x400, then 4x200, with the last relay to start off with one runner doing a 1200,followed by a 400, then an 800 and the last runner had to run a 1600. This sounded a little daunting to me and the others in the slow group, but we figured that if we all ran during the same leg of the relays, it would be okay and be like we were running together.

It was decided that we would be the third leg of the relay. For my first leg, the 800, I was able to run the first lap in 1:55 and the second in 1:52. I was very comfortable with it but knew that I could have maybe ran a couple of seconds faster but I had to make sure I could run the other relays. The next relay I was able to complete my lap in 1:40, again very comfortable with the time, and I was getting caught up in the excitement of the competition. For the 4x200 my team was second when I ran my leg, second only by a couple of seconds. I knew that I could outrun the others in the slow group in the short distance but I also knew that I didn't want to go too fast. I took off at what I thought was a comfortable pace. Before this relay and based on the times for my 800 and 400, I knew that I should be able to do the 200 in about 45 seconds and that should be okay. My turnover rate was my usual pace I thought but I knew that I was also lengthening my stride so I could go a little faster. As I was rounding out the curve and ready to look at my watch to see my time for the first 100, I felt a pull just below my right butt cheek and the hamstring. Not good at all. I slowed it down and was able to jog to touch off to the next runner but I knew that I was done for the night. There goes my moment as a sprinter.

I asked the others if they thought I was going too fat and nobody thought so. I probably was but they are used to seeing others run pretty fast and just confused with me with them. I walked a couple of laps the rest of the night as the last relay was run. Once I got home I iced the back of my leg and then took a warm shower. Wasn't sure if I should stretch it out but felt that maybe using the foam roller would be better. I didn't put all of my weight on the roller, keeping the left leg on the ground as I used the roller. I put on some Aspercreme before I went to sleep. It must have helped as I was able to sleep thru most of the night and my leg seemed to not hurt as bad. After a full day at work with moderate walking on it the leg doesn't feel as tight. A few more days of staying off it should do the trick and I should be able to go for a few miles on Sunday. Brandy told me to take it easy or else I would be on the DL longer. Told her that I just want to to be on the 7-day DL so I will be good and rest it. I may buy some compression shorts or sleeve for the thigh to help with the healing as I get back to jogging/running. I will go for a few miles on Sunday, whether it's walking or jogging still remains to be seen. I signed up for the O2O half marathon and I will do what I have to in order to be able to complete it.