Call it Serendipitous

This post is about a month late - been sitting in my drafts.

I stopped my long run short on Saturday (Run #51). Not one of my prouder moments, but a moment I've thought about and have accepted. I didn't stop because I physically couldn't run anymore, which to me, makes it a little better. At least I know my legs can still cover the distance. I stopped because I was incredibly nauseous. I don't know if I didn't eat or drink enough, but it was not going well. I was clocking all the trash cans as I was running in case I actually threw up. Once I hit 9 miles and knew I was getting close to Central Park, I decided that I'd stop at 10 miles. A 10-mile run can still be a success, even if it was supposed to be 16.3.

The one thing that helped me make this decision was knowing that it wasn't my furthest run ever. Like I mentioned with my 18.6-mile run, I felt like I was dying but I knew I couldn't stop because if I did, it was going to mess me up mentally when having to run further. In this case, I already knew I could run 16.3 miles. I've done it 3 times already. So, I decided to call it a quits.

I wasn't thrilled with my decision, but I knew it was the right one for me.

However, this did make me want to take this week's running seriously. I decided I would run Mon - Wed and I'd choose the longer of the options. I was thrilled to find out that my run options were 2 45-minute runs and a 5 miler.

All 3 of these runs were about positivity. I don't know what made Coach Bennett put 3 back-to-back appreciation style runs into this week, but I think that he knew that with 4 weeks until a Marathon, a runner needs some positive words. And after quitting my long run last week, I really needed these topics. It's like Coach is in my mind!

Anyway, I did my Monday and Tuesday runs on the Treadmill. I didn't pay attention to what the guided run was until it started. On Monday, "Another Thank You Run." On Tuesday, "A Whole Run." Both of these were 45-minute recovery runs.

I wish I could have the transcript to these guided runs. I also wish I could write down my thoughts while running because I was having so many. The "Thank you Run" is exactly what it sounds like (Run #52). Coach Bennett brings up different areas of running and life for you to think about your thankfulness for. For example, who are you thankful for that got you into running? What type of foods are you thankful for that help fuel your running? This run just has such a positive vibe to it that you can't help but feel happiness when completing it.

The "Whole Run" is with Andy from Headspace (Run #53). In this conversation, Coach Bennett is asking Andy how people connect their mind and body when running to be able to run "wholly." One of my favorite quotes, which I'll butcher, from this run was about motivation. Coach was asking about how someone finds motivation when they don't think they have it.

Andy quickly states that just by looking for motivation, you have already have it. To have that desire to find motivation shows that you are motivated to do something. He says to think about motivation like a blue sky. It is always there. Sometimes, it'll be covered with clouds or rain, but you know the sky hasn't disappeared. Motivation is being able to understand that just because you can't see it or feel it, you still know it's there.

I ran both of those runs well-ish. I was on the treadmill, which isn't where I thrive. I struggle to balance, and I hate looking at the distance or time, so I end up staring at a blank space on the wall the entire time. Also, I always start off too slow. Running on a treadmill always reminds me that you can very easily screw up your pace. I started at a 10'45 and ended around a 9'17 pace but still averaged around 9'58. While I know that I started increasing my pace pretty quickly, I still somehow spent too much time above 10'00 to really decrease my average. I wasn't disappointed, but I did make note of it. It reminded me of my half marathon a couple months ago. I started around a similar pace and very quickly realized there was no way to make up that much time to hit a PB. While I don't have to worry about this for the marathon, because I don't have a particular goal in mind, I will keep this in the back of my head for my next training cycle.

Anyway, for today, I knew I wanted to run fast (Run #54). I was thrilled to have a distance-based recovery run. They're so rare in this training plan. Technically, this was one of the few times I wasn't really listening to Coach's instructions while running. I felt great as soon as I started running and I knew I wanted a good pace. I figured I might as well push and as long as I don't start losing my breath or straining my legs, I keep going. I was praying to the world above that when I clicked stop on my watch that the pace would start with an 8. It wasn't that I was planning for it to be in the 8-minute time frame, but when I was running, I felt like I was cooking and I would've been shocked and a little terrified if I found out that the speed I was running at was a 9- or 10-minute pace. Luckily, I had nailed it. 5 miles at an 8'46 pace.

Clearly, I've been underestimating myself for some time. I obviously felt a little more tired than after my normal recovery runs, but I wasn't gasping for air. I felt fine and more importantly, successful.

The thing is though, while I now know I can run 5 miles at an 8'48 pace, I'm not going to start messing with my speed in the training. I'm too far in and I don't want to risk it. But at least now I know have some extra speed in my pocket.

Run #47 Wednesday, October 1st: 75 Minute Run - 6.94 Miles 10'48 Pace

Run #48: Thursday, October 2nd: 30 Minute Run - 3.11 Miles 9'39 Pace

Run #50: Friday, October 3rd: 25 Minute Run - 2.52 Miles 9'56 Pace

Run #51 Saturday, October 4th: 16 Mile Run --> 10 Miles 10'26 Pace

Run #52 Monday, October 6th: 45 Minute Run - 4.57 Miles 9'51 Pace

Run #53: Tuesday, October 7th: 45 Minute Run - 4.67 Miles 9'38 Pace

Run #54: Wednesday, October 8th: 5 Mile Run - 8'46 Pace