10' easy, 5.3 mile tempo in 32:29 (16:24 / 16:05), 10' easyFunny story (well, to me). Today I had a supposed "6-mile" tempo scheduled at 5:45-5:55 pace. So, I headed out to my Dairy Queen loop, which I call "3 miles". I have to run all of my runs on a level surface (roads) until my foot regains its strength, so this loop is my favorite to run with the light traffic and nice scenery.
Anyhow, my last two days of training have been 60' (Mon.) and 65' + 8 x 100 m strides (Tue), pretty much at 7:30 pace. So, I was pretty anxious for today's "tempo". I was not sure what I could run since it is only my 3rd run back from injury and missing 12 days of training. So, in my craziness to get the workout done with, I set off from my house at about 3pm. It's 90-degrees and steaming. I am not feeling all that great, although my foot feels fantastic. After 10 minutes of jogging, I hit the loop, running strongly and controlled. I tell myself to relax and just run strongly. It is so hot I fear I may not finish one loop, let alone two loops, especially at the pace I am running, but I am truly going by feel (I have no mile markers on the course). I am running well and come across the first loop in 16:24, trying to figure out the math, but starting to think that
USATF's Running Routes GPS map was correct and my loop is closer to 2.66 miles. This does not really disappoint me, but I have now set my goal to finish a second loop, as strongly, if not faster. It is getting hotter by the minute. I continue chugging along, fighting the fatigue and the weakness in my left leg. I keep fighting and fighting, finally hitting the final straight to the finish, I know I have the run in the bag as my left leg acts up completely as soon as I am done. 32:29. That means I negative-split the run. Very positive. Now, did I run 32:29 for 6 miles? I don't think so deep inside (although I call my little brother to brag to him how fit I am already).
I continue my jog home and finally the guilt sets in after dinner and I drive out to the course in my car and my wife's Garmin. 2.65 miles. Oh well, that works out to about a 6:05 pace. Not too bad. I'll take it after 2 days of running. I am sunburnt and wasted, but at least I am training. My foot aches like crazy right now, but four Advil will do the trick again so I can be ready to run my 90' tomorrow morning before a day of work.
I can truly say that I love runs like today. Although I am nowhere near top shape, the effort I gave out there today on my "3-mile" loop is what I need to carry with me as the week's pass. It is so easy to run easily when one gets fit, but right now I have this drive, this desire, to hammer my body into shape, to put in the work, to not take short-cuts, to push myself harder and harder. Today's workout, in these conditions, is a workout I probably would not have run if fully fit and healthy. I probably would have 1) waited until it got cooler and the sun set and 2) would not have pushed so hard for a negative-split. So, I am proud of my effort today, even though I am relegated to a 6:05-pace-running-heatstroke-patient.
I'll take it.
Maybe I should have done this earlier, but our house is for sale in Webster, Texas. For more information, click here at HAR. I know, many of you evil people don't want our house to sell so we can move back to Houston, but that's the scenario if we do not sell, because we can no longer afford to live in Miami while paying a mortgage in Houston. This is our first home and a loving home, great for a family with a very large backyard and at 3/2 and over 1700 sq. feet, it's a great home. So, spread the word if you know of anyone looking for a home in the renowned CCISD school district and outside of Houston (25 miles SE) in quiet Webster (pop. 9,083).
