It was 50% great ...

Monday's run that is. I started strong and felt fantastic through the first three intervals ... then 4 hit. Yes, H-I-T and it sucked wet twinkies. Interval four is usually a difficult one so it came as no surprise. What was a surprise was how wonderful I'd felt during the first three. I was worried about this run because I'd only ran once the previous week and to say that run was hell is an understatment! On top of that, J, being the totally committed friend that she is, chose to run without me last week. lol. Keep in mind that she's a stronger runner than I am and I missed two days last week. It's fair to say I was facing a few demons as I began my run on Monday.

It might also be important to further substantiate my fear by sharing another detail - we changed our interval time. Being committed to running as we are, we're on a scheduled program so that we adjust out run/walk time weekly (sort of). Our recovery walk had been at 5 minutes and we reduced it to 3.5.

Run 1.5/walk 3.5 for eight intervals. Sounds easy - sounds being the operative word!

With my last run being five days prior, I started out this run expecting to feel awful and to my amazement felt great! I felt like I was floating on air ... I could almost say I loved running ... then my bubble burst ... I hit interval four. I pushed thru knowing it meant I was half way through this run. I was consoled when J shared she'd was feeling the same way. We kept on and decided to loop back the last to intervals and found interval 7 to be as awe inspiring as the first three had been. We were thrilled! As we walked through our cool down we talked about how great four of the intervals had felt - feeling strong 50% of the time - I'll take that!!!

Note: we ran the trail at the park


Then There Was Day Two

I forgot to mention - in addition to the above noted change in time, we have also decided that we will run M,T, Th,S which means we will be running two days in a row once a week - plus adding an extra day. Go us. Saturdays will be our long run day, we'll be adding approximately 10% more distance each week to that day. So, back to day two of this week. This run was at the Greeway which is a beautiful place to run. I'm finding it's also more difficult and I think it's because it's asphalt opposed to the trail at the park. We've concluded that we need to run on asphalt since all the races, er, runs we'll be participating in will be on asphalt. So off we went.

It started out way different than the day before. We were hating it, in fact we both considered, though didn't admit to one another until interval four, that quitting during interval two had been a real consideration. I absolutely did NOT think I was going to make it. I was disappointed at how bad I felt and as I was sulking in my misery it occurred to me that perhaps the reason I felt so bad was because I was running for the second day in a row, which I hadn't done (in years). I also wondered if running on the asphalt was making a difference. To console myself I decided both of those reason were why I felt so bad. I trudged on. I was soooooooooo relived to hear J was feeling as bad as I was. However, really she wasn't - or - she just more committed than I am because I quit after a minute on our last interval, I just couldn't run another step. She went on and I have to say, is still running faster than I am. Even pushing the stroller - GO J!!!

I will say, in keeping with the 50%, once warmed up, three of the intervals felt ok yesterday (not exactly half, but close enough). I'm looking forward to tomorrow's run and to see how I feel. I'm hoping we run at the park because after two bad runs at the greenway, as beautiful as it is, I now dread it. Hmmm, makes me think that's exactly where we should go.

After thought: as 'bad' as a run may feel it's still a run -- therefore an accomplishment -- so I guess there really are no 'bad runs'. keep smiling ...