This weekend lead me to a great run on Saturday! I finished my 10.75 mile run in 1:39:43, and here are my splits for all you number crunchers. They are nothing to be proud of and definitely show my inconsistency, (watching the birds flock around parts of the ocean, passing by cute dogs, running into an old high school teacher, and bathroom breaks to blow my continually runny nose, I have excuses)
mile 1 - 8:54
mile 2 - 9:03
mile 3 - 8:48
mile 4 - 8:39
mile 5 - 8:31
mile 6 - 9:24
mile 7 - 9:45
mile 8 - 8:58
mile 9 - 8:52
mile 10 - 8:19
.75 of a mile - 9:10
I hope to finish the upcoming half marathon in under two hours, but we will see. My running partner and I think that the adrenaline and everything will bring us back to our old high school days of racing and will get us going faster.
This weekend on our run, Nicole and I talked a lot about the enjoyment of a run, and how we both love to be able to fit in our jeans, and eat Taco Bell, but at the same time, our running careers have turned into something that is so much more than just working off the calories.
We used to run to please our coaches, then we ran to stay in shape through the college years and the Freshman 15, and essentially keep up with the Jones's, but as we talked about on our ten mile jog, we have reached the pinnacle of running. We have begun to enjoy running, and not have the kinks, the pains, the soreness. We have trained our bodies enough to absorb the long runs, and have reached the happy medium where a five mile run isn't a labor, but a labor of love that is not a task, but a pleasure.
It takes a while to reach this point, let me tell you. Over the past ten years, I have never enjoyed a single run as much as I do know, gulping in the scenery, whatever that might be, swatting away the gnats, and even the sopping sports bra that have come to litter my room throughout the week show that I am doing something healthy, and enjoying it.
I encourage everyone to run, not only for their own health, but because once they get used to the body aches and pains, running becomes a release. Those few steps turn into miles, and the few miles turn into more miles, those miles turning into satisfaction. In two days alone I ran 25 miles, not because I had to, but because I wanted too. I go our for a run and find myself in my own little world, enjoying the surroundings, the people I pass by walking or biking.
I never envisioned myself to be this girl out jogging because I was completely head over heels in love with the pain it caused my body, especially because for the last ten years, running has been apart of my life, whether I liked it or not. I've come to realize though that I do love running, I love the sound of my feet hitting the pavement continuously. I love the little walk sign that allows me to cross the street. I love the looks I get from drivers in cars, like they have never seen a girl run before. I love the feeling it gives me when I get home after a hard run and I can barely breathe, but that feeling, that freedom, that is what I run for.
Realize what you run for. Enjoy your run.
PS. Check back on Chic Runner on Thursday. Fun stuff is in the air!
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16 comments:
Thanks for the deep thoughts - makes me want to take longer runs!
Amen sista.
I never thought I would love a long distance run by myself. But my long, alone runs are my favorite now. About 80% of the run I am thinking, "there is nothing else I would rather be doing." The other 20% I'm thinking about food. ha ha.
Great job on the run and the post about it. I like your style.
great post... i feel the same way! looove the long runs :) great job on yours!!!
i always stare at the cute doggies too!!
Great post! Sub 2 is def in the cards. You'll do it! ;D
You put that quite eloquently. I'm still an occasional three-mile runner, but all of these great running blogs are making me want to run more...and run a race. So far, the longest race I've done is a 10K. Hmmm...
I love this post! I hope you reach your goal of a sub 2 hour half marathon. At the rate that you're going, i think you'll be able to do it! :-)
Oh yes, I run on the boardwalk in the mornings from the Balboa Pier to 36th st. For my long runs, I run to HB. Maybe I'll see ya out there!
Oh, also, I think it's awesome that you're the team captain for your Race for the Cure team!! I loved the race and the event. It was SO fun!! Can't wait to hear how yours go!
So positive and upbeat. I love it!! It is so good to reflect when running and think how lucky we are. Great job on the 10!
Great post! I totally agree with you.
You touched my SOUL tonight girlfriend! Oh how I love running too and how it has transformed my life. My running partner and I have had similar conversations and I cant wait to share this post with her.
You rock sista.....this was a phenomenal post and you said what I have been feeling for years.....best wishes!
Oh and good luck with the sub 2 hour 1/2 marathon. I'm sending positive vibes.....
AND... I am right behind you in October with a goal of a sub hour half marathon myself!!!
Excellent times!!
And for the rest of your post - so so true!
Thanks so much for your comment on my blog! I have to say that I am blown away at your running...I could never do that! Way to do though!
Hi! I have always wanted to run but never got into it because it was so hard to just get around the block (and I'm not overweight or anything, just not in shape). Anyway, I started running before work last summer and ended up totally loving it. After a couple of months I was running 2 miles every morning - not a lot, but it definitely made me feel good and I knew I was going to be a runner for life.
Anyway, I have totally fallen off the wagon now that I am pregnant but hope to get back on once I have the baby in September. Here's my question: you are saying you run 8 miles before work. WHAT? How long does that take you? It doesn't seem like I could EVER get up earlier enough to run a whole 8 miles before I start work at 8am! Please advise...
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