“Long” Run?
I guess this was a long run - at least by many folks standards. I was supposed to meet up with the group at 7:00 to do 8-10 miles, with group stretching at 8:30, but while I left in what I thought was plenty of time I hit some road construction and didn’t actually get to RunTex until a few minutes after everyone else in my group must have left. Ah, well. I decided to do the seven mile loop and then see how much time I had left.
It was humid and warm, but not too bad, and the short lap of the lake was fairly uneventful. I did notice that I was breathing pretty hard at times, but it never felt like I was running that hard so I put it down to heat acclimatization. One thing that I had to do was watch myself when ran behind other runners, I had a habit of slowing down to match their paces. Still, I did the seven mile loop in about 63 minutes, right around a 9:00 pace, and then an untimed one mile cooldown around Auditorium Shores.
At one point I was passed by a really fit guy, doing at least an 8:00 pace without any apparent effort. I couldn’t help but wish that I was in his place, until I passed a couple out for a jog (well supported with two water bottles each) at about an 11:00. That’s when I wondered - maybe, to them, I was that incredibly fit guy? Hmm. Wouldn’t that be a twist. Even so, I look forward to the time ~5 lbs from now when I can start doing my summer runs without a shirt like “my” fast guy was :)
Anyway, I got back to RunTex a few minutes before the other groups started to drift in. Jay led us through a good 30+ minutes of stretching, which is always fun, and then another 15 minutes or so of ab work which is less enjoyable (but just as important). That was about it really - eight miles, stretching, abs, and done by about 9:30 when the rest of the world is just beginning to drift out of bed.
One more thing - RunTex was having a great sale, a motorola backback from 2003 with as much Motorola Marathon gear as you could stuff into it for $20. I now have shorts, long sleeved shirts for winter, a couple of jackets (one for my lovely wife), two birthday gifts, and three travel mugs. And another backpack. I thought I grabbed a singlet also, but I guess it got lost in the mad shuffle - oh, well.
Monday morning I’ll either do a seven mile progressive run, or sleep in. I’m not 100% sure which yet.
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Apr 10th 2005
10:02 PM
Gee, I wish I had checked out that sale now! I can stuff a lot of gear in those Moto backpacks! It’s good to have you back, Richard. Have fun on your relaxed progressive run on Monday (easy 2, faster 5).
Apr 11th 2005
12:24 AM
Sounds like you had a good Sat. run. I felt that way on Sat. I did a 10k race and was home by 9..my hubby and kids were just rolling out of bed. And I had already raced! That’s a good feeling. smile.
Take care, kirsten
Apr 11th 2005
10:29 AM
Jealous of the sale - the backpack and gear for $20?! Wow — sounds like you got a great deal. And yes, I think you count as lots of people’s “fast guy!”
Tell me again what a progressive run is? These are the things I should know, but don’t. Which is why I’m *nobody’s* fast chick. But at least I can a little faster than 11/mile (now!!).
Apr 11th 2005
1:12 PM
To me, a 10:00 miler at best, anything sub-10 is fast! So you fit that description. :)
Apr 12th 2005
3:57 PM
*sigh* Some days it’s so hot I wish I could run shirtless. I guess technically in Austin, where it’s legal for women to go around topless (true, I’m pretty sure), I could try it, but there’s, uh, gravity to be reckoned with.
Apr 13th 2005
10:53 AM
Believe it or not, i have a question/comment about the last comment. They have these nude races I have heard about-but as a woman I don’t think that would be very comfortable. Are sports bras allowed at these events? I guess that defeats the point of nude racing, but without them I think it would be impossible…Anyone actually know anything about female nude racing etiquette? And Richard if you find this comment taking your blog in an unexpected direction please feel free to delete it! I just never found ANYONE (big surprise, right?) else to ask this question.
Oh yes, and Richard I like your blog! Good post!
Apr 13th 2005
1:15 PM
I’ve never heard of such a thing. Honestly. I’m not sure I would participate, for lots of reasons. Chafing and bouncing are in my top 5 reasons.
Apr 13th 2005
1:34 PM
I’ve heard of it, but never seen one. If I had the opportunity - I don’t know, it sounds like an interesting experience if nothing else. And the guys would have bounce issues as well, I’m sure. Oh, and Tracy? Bodyglide, and lots of it.
Apr 13th 2005
3:40 PM
Did I tell you that I almost grabbed for the vaseline at a water stop during the Half? Didn’t know what it was for. Good thing I heard someone say something before I reached for one to eat it.