It has been a really long time since I have contributed to this blog, but here we are.
I developed a love/hate relationship with running for a while.
I
love
love
love running,
but it was hurting me on and off, so I think it took on a bit of a fear.
I got away from it, other than trying to get in a run at least once a week, or maybe once a month.
I trained up for the OBX half marathon in 2017, I guess out of necessity. A friend asked me to help her pace the 2:30 runners. So we trained and did it. It was nice to train with others and increase my mileage. We got to run with a first time half marathoner for many of the runs, too. I remembered that I like running with people, and especially with people who are shooting for a new goal.
The next spring, we paced the Flying Pirate, an April race. I hate training in cold weather, but I did it. Then race day was hot and I tanked at the end, with the hills and dirty sandy rocky last miles. I think I might have hated running again.
2018 OBX half again. We paced, finished right on schedule without anyone in our group. Oh well.
2019 Flying Pirate again.
same.
exact.
thing.
Suck it up for the cold training miles, deal with hot weather on race day.
Maybe I don't hate running, just that race. At the finish, I said I wouldn't do it again. A few days later, I reconsidered. I really don't want that thing to be able to say it beat me.
we'll see....
So here I am in August, afraid to say it, but maybe training for a full marathon. A friend in the area was not able to take advantage of the local marathon training group because nobody in the group runs her pace or run/walk splits... I couldn't handle the idea that she would have to train by herself. So I offered to share some miles with her. My original intent was to just join in for the last half of her training runs, but last week, I pulled off 10.5 miles with her, on accident.
And I felt so good!
Because we ran slowly, with good walk intervals, I was able to run farther than I had since that miserable Flying Pirate. I usually run 6 miles at a time; I just did 4.5 more than usual, and I was almost giddy! I didn't hurt, and my body and brain were so happy.
and my knee didn't scream at me.
didn't even whine, really.
This past weekend, Amy ran 13.1 for her training run, and I did 12 of the miles with her. Knee ok. So excited for me. So excited for her. She just did a half marathon for training. That is so huge. The half marathon was previously her ultimate goal, but now we're just halfway. I hope that I can get to 26.2 again, with her. If I can build the mileage, I want to accompany her on this exciting journey.
Amy, thank you for helping me reacquaint myself with my old friend, distance running.
