RUN: 12.5 miles in 2 hrs, all on the mill
SWIM: 1200y in 30 mins, all just the drill
I know, I know. I'm so unfunny. The only reason I think I am funny is because of this post-run high. 8D
Yesterday's snow and ice storm made for some interesting pack to run on. A light puffy snow on top of 2-4 inches of melted-together ice pellets, on top of a good 0.5 inch of ice. My feet didn't even sink in, I just walked on top of all the pack. And where there wasnt snow, due to shoveling or clearing, it was either slushy or icy. And the grand cherry on top of all that? COLD. 19F and windy. And I had 12 miles planned.
Now usually this doesn't phase me. I don't mind running the cold. And the reason for this is all the nice polar clothing I have. But see today I didn't have them--they were all in the laundry! Why didn't I do laundry yesterday?! So after some creative-fail layering attempts, I gave up and decided to run indoors.
Indoors?!? A long run?!? No, I'll just 6 miles. I'll move the long run to Friday.
So off to work, the gym was closed for weather until noon anyway. But while I'm at work, the lack of the runners high started to hit me. AH! Like a deprived drug addict, I'm craving my run. Need it. Want it. Distracted. Unhappy. Bored. I finally just threw in the towel and left, thinking I'll come back to work afterwards. Little did I know that 1hrs worth of therapy wouldnt cut it for today.
Got to the gym a little after 2pm. I had a plan: Run 1h, swim 1hr, then if I really felt up to it run another 1hr. My plans changed. I decided to binge. Run 2hr, then swim. I needed a bit hit of drug. I needed to hurt.
So I signed up for a 'mill, using my creative ways to get a 1hr signup with a 30 min time limit onthe signup. The first hour was going to be a faster paced flat run. Once warmed up, I sped up to a 7.0 on the mill, which I think is a 8:34 pace, and settled in. I had brought head phones, but couldnt find the jack to plug them in. So it was some old SNL episode with closed captioning.
In the end I didn't watch the tv. I stared blankly ahead at the data screen, not reading it and not focusing. Finally, I was in my zone. At times I focused on good form and cadence. My mind wandered, happily, floating from topic to topic. No music, no talk, nothing but me breathing and the sound of shoes on a belt.
And speaking of that sound, when I worked on my "paw back", I'd get a squeek from my shoes. Especially at the faster paces. Hopefully it's not a problem I have off the treadmill, as I think it indicates some drag of the shoe.
One hour up: 6.33 miles. I signed up for another hour. I should also add at this point that I forgot to bring in a water bottle from the truck. I debated going back out for it, but can you believe that I was too lazy to do it? So at this time a big hit at a water fountain and a gel. I was a bit dizzy from stopping all the sudden and maybe dehydration. More please. Of the running I mean.
Next hour was the random hill setting. Goal was to keep a high pace, power up the hills, then recover without slowing. As much as you can do that on a treadmill anyway. The hills weren't so random, in fact, they were a repeating set of : 0,0,0,1,1,3,1,3,2,2,2,1,1,3,5,3,0 repeat. Or something like that. Incline changed every minute. The big 3,5,3, hill combo at the end looked enticing. And it was. After the 1st climb, I hit a real high and turned up the speed through the 0 incline portion. I was reliving a little of the Search & Destroy feeling from Saturday.
I went through the repeats ?? 3-4 times?? Lost count. It was that good.
But by the last repeat, I was flagging and hurting. No water and no food, not the best combination. And I was sweating like crazy. After all the cold running I've been doing, it was a somewhat new sensation. I was in the last repeat, in the 1,1 rest before the big hill. I stared at it. 3,5,3. 3 minutes of hills. My mind wandered, fuzzy. I had already turned down the incline for fear of falling or tripping. 3 minutes of hills. Just 3. I can do this. Dig deep, push through, and all those cliches starting bubbling up. Those 3 minutes would come back to me like an investment, and I'd get 110% of my investment back come race day.
Then the cool down. Ahhh, a rest. But I hate walking on the treadmill, and besides I was woozy again. I was actually holding the side rails! Clean off the machine (and while doing so find the phone jack) then off to stretch and drink water. And to decide, should I swim?
Yes I should, but not the full hour. I know there's a lifeguard to pull me out and all, but I'd rather avoid that. Let's drill for 30 mins. Deal.
I worked on CHG's drills from Monday. The first few laps felt awesome! Fast! Easy breathing! Then I got tired..oh...maybe 3 laps in. Switched to TI drills. 50y drill, 50y swim to practice, 50y drill, etc. By 8 laps in I was watching the clock. Done yet? No. 9 laps. Done? No. Damn. Keep it going. Worked on some bilateral breathing, worked on balance, worked on strong high elbows.
12 laps. Done yet? YES!
So in the end, I'm sitting here probably still dehydrated and planning my 12 miler tomorrow morning. (Recover!). I'm somewhat disappointed that I ran indoors like a wimp, but at the same time proud that I overcame that judgement to run. It was a much of a challenge to make myself run indoors!
No comments:
Post a Comment