Yesterday was supposed to be either a 5 mile tempo or 6 miles easy, depending on which plan I was using. I decided to do a 6.2 mile tempo because I was participating in Casey’s virtual 10K. The boys woke me up 6! times Friday night, so I missed my morning run opportunity and decided I’d run home from Jones’ soccer game. This was a great idea except for one small item – 1.5 miles of uphill. I decided I’d aim for my tempo pace for the first mile, take it easy for two miles and then pick up my speed once I hit the top of the hill.
Mile 1 was awesome. Nice flat route. Sunny, beautiful day. Hit my prescribed pace of 9:11. Woot! I’m thinking I’m going to rock this run. Then I headed up the hill. Mile 2 was finished at an awesome pace of 9:02. Um, oops. At the end of the second mile, I was DONE. Mile 3 involved a bit of walking. My legs felt like jello and running 3 miles with jello legs pretty much sucks. If I hadn’t been participating in a virtual race, I would have stopped at mile 3. Instead, I pushed on and ended up finishing the 6.2 in 59:51.
Today wasn’t much better. My legs still had nothing left in them. I needed to run four miles and barely managed it. I did, however, manage negative splits – 9:55, 9:52, 9:31, 9:13. I discovered in the last mile that running faster didn’t hurt any more than running slow did, so I picked up the pace to just get the run over with. The one good thing about this weekend’s running? If I can run sub 10:00 minute miles feeling like I did today, I should be able to do that at the end of a flat marathon. (I don’t even want to talk about how much I’m going to hate the half in TN.)
Now, my legs hurt, it’s gray and rainy outside, and my nose is running (thanks Jones for the lovely cold), so I’m going to go find a cup of decaf and a book and a warm blanket.
Isn't it wonderful how the kids like to share such things with parents? And I know you will love the TN half when the time comes. Running in a race is soooo cooool, it just bumps up the adrenline.
wow… you kicking out those runs! It's gray and cold here… got some nasty rain Friday night and icy snow Saturday… weather I have never seen before in ND…in January.
Negative splits with tired legs is awesome! Hope your book is good!
Sounds like someone needs the healing properties of a good dark beer. If you don't know why, you will on Brews Day (Tuesday).
Well, if these are your times with tired rubber legs…I am impressed. I can only dream of the day…keep on doing it!
You are hardcore! I would have scratched the run until Sunday and got some rest on Saturday. I hope you feel better.
Rest up- you'll get some speedwork in when your body is ready!
Great run there, jello legs 🙂 And I'm with ya on the kids determining if you actually make that morning run. My morning Y visits are always subject to change based on how many times my feet hit the floor during the night.
ok, I laughed just at your title 🙂 Whoops on the fast-paced 2nd mile, but yay for finishing the run anyway! You rock.
Way to go on the 6 mile run even when you didn't feel it! I'm impressed!The decaf, book and blanket sounds heavenly! We had rain, rain, and more rain yesterday. I'm dreaming of the day when I go back to running on flat land – these hills are making me look bad!
Great job on the negative splits! Sometimes the legs just do not want to go! Hopefully you can get rid of that cold soon and your runs will be better!
You're learning to run on tired legs, which is going to pay off in the marathon! Way to push through those miles.
Great job finding a way to fit your virtual race in! Great job!
Whoa, whoa, hold on sista…I promise that you will love it in that sick kinda way. You will hate it at the time, no doubt BUT when it's over and your legs are toasted, you'll say – it wasn't that bad, it was hard, but it's over and I did it! You will rock it. STAY on those hills those, they hurt but you're right – go faster to get them over with faster!
Nice job on the runs with tired legs!
Great times on tired legs! This will definitely help during the marathon but try and get some rest too.