RUN 10 miles in 1:32, 9:13m/m pace
BIKE COMMUTE 6.4 miles
I woke up to the house alarm chirping for a power outage. This was kinda cool, all the streetlights out and the house quiet. I fixed my pre run meal under flashlight and realized I like the softer light in the kitchen that early. I was probably the only person enjoying this power outage. I delayed my run start a bit, thinking that although running without streetlights was different, it probably wasn't altogether safe where I run.
The next TJM episode wasn't on iTunes yet, but I did find it on the webpage and figured out how to play it for today's run. Yippee!! Otherwise..what would I have done? The only one I haven't listened to yet is the Bonus episode for CF's 200 miler. I was saving that for the end :)
"..it's the first thing I want to do when I go traveling...it's that idea that you never know what's around the corner or what's next". Scott
Wonderful quote for today! With so much going on in my life in the next three weeks, I really don't know what's around the corner for me, but this is a good reminder that not knowing can be a positive thing, not something to fear.
Today I followed my favorite TGP, around MoBot, then back again route. There was only one hang-up. For some reason I stopped the Garmin at a water fountain in TGP at 1hr and 6.6 miles. Usually I let Autopause handle this, so when I started up again I didn't even think about restarting it. So it wasn't until about a mile later I realized I hadn't heard the 7 mile beep...and SH!T....now what? My mind rambled at this --- do I use MapMyRun later to fill in the distance...how would I calculate my time...do I run back to get an accurate measurement, then fill in later....do I run my route back exactly so there's no guessing....it's surprising how much this bothered me. So much in fact, that I couldn't follow the podcast conversation for the next 10 mins. I decided to re-trace my route back carefully, then add on later from MapMyRun.
But as I got close to the house, I realized I wanted the Garmin to say "10.00" not some random number like 9.1 that I'd add a guesstimate onto later. So I continued running until it beeped for 10 miles. I figured that the 100 miler I was training for wasn't going to be exactly 100 miles either. Admittedly I did later go to MapMyRun to measure my lost distance -- 0.9 miles.
And lo and behold, the OT100 race is 100.9 miles!
IT'S A SIGN! I'm ready to sign up! Gonna do it later today, I'll post when I do it.
To conclude my Ten Jun Miles series, here are 10 things I learned:
1. This wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I was certain that I'd be hurting by day 5 or 6, instead it wasn't until today when my right knee started up a vague ache. And I'm not as tired, physically or mentally, as I expected.
2. What I did outside of running made a difference. The first few days I didn't focus on post run hydration and sleeping. Once I committed to 8 hours of sleep a night and drinking a full liter of water with my BCAA and glutamine supplements I noticed that I recovered faster. One measure was how easy my post-run bike commute to work felt. Even today felt zippy-fresh. However, my constant stomach upset did impact my running, in the first few days when the symptoms were the worst I had my slowest 10 milers.
3. My pre-run nutrition is more flexible than I thought. I started with 0.5c egg whites, banana, and teaspoon of coconut oil -- my standard pre run brekkie. On a few days I tried some potato, some ground beef, an orange, or more coconut oil -- and didn't notice a difference. This was important to me because I want to know how food I can tolerate in my stomach for upcoming races.
4. In-run nutrition does make a difference. I stuck to my schedule of 50 minutes, so roughly halfway through each run I'd eat half a powerbar or a gel. And unlike other recent 10 milers, I didn't start to slow at the end due to declining energy. And powerbars are much more satisfying than a gel.
5. What I do in mile 40 will impact what happens in subsequent miles. This is one of TV's running rules: what you do NOW will directly impact your run in 30 minutes. So if you eat or drink now, you'll feel better later. So if I feel a blister coming on in run #4, I should stop and fix it not give myself the usual "HTFU and run". I should stop and see what I can do, because this booger of a blister hurt for the next 6 runs.
6. Ten miles ain't all that far, until you need to map an in-town route. Ugh, all the little turns, stops, waits, intersections, cars, road garbage... really the only benefit sometimes is that having to hop over broken sidewalks and curbs kinda simulates an urban trail. Eh, not really. Give me a trail or a park any day.
7. I love seeing other runners! Even though I ran alone for most of these, I was usually passing by other runners, cyclists, walkers, dogs, and hikers. I almost always give a smile and a "good morning!" and perk up getting a similar response. I figure I'm having fun running, so they are too. And most are! But boooooooo to those who ignore me or avert their eyes or find something just too interesting on their smart phone as I pass by. Really people, we're outdoors in the sun and it's gorgeous and you could at least acknowledge my presence.
8. Running is a great way to meet non-runners too. Especially on days I just wore compression socks and running clothes to work. Even on normal-clothes days, people ask about my running and racing, and I love talking about it. I also like encouraging the non-runners to do what they can or enjoy, and steer them away from comparing my running goals to their running dreams. I like to think I inspire at least a few, but in reality I probably scare them.
9. I'm not all that different, and I'm missing out so much, and I need to branch out more. Listening to the TJM podcast woke me up to how my fears, trepidations, problems, and hopes for running aren't all that different from other runners. They voiced the same things I'm thinking about: nutrition, DNFs, injury and illness. And they are doing more fun runs like pacing friends, volunteering, and non-training races. I rarely do anything like that and I'd like to. And by not being on the social media I'm missing out on so much news about friends and races and events. It's got me thinking I should over come that fear and at least give it a try. Haha, in #8 I said I like to encourage other people to try new things, and here I'm the one needing the encouragement!!
10. Run Gently Out There. I've found the source of my running quotes list, and now I'm out to get this book! That list was an inspiration for the Bee's Rules For Happiness, wow wonder if someday I'll write a book and other people will have the those hanging over their desk as inspiration?
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