Hurdles

I heard that some of the guys from my running club ran on this closed trail to run a six mile course. It had been a year since I had gone on that trail but didn’t have fond memories. I decided that maybe it’s ok if this group was running it. Not ok at all. I ended up with about 13 bad chigger bites. I also found out — a little too late — that some of the other runners got chiggers too.

Last Sunday we celebrated the belated birthday of one runner and the actual birthday of another (nobody else knew it was his birthday) after the run. I found the celebration in the middle of my run, so I stopped and shared greetings with everyone while skipping the sparkly and cupcakes.

After I took off on my own I came to a bridge across a little feeder stream. I was shocked to find some 30ish year old guy laying prone across the bridge. On either side of the bridge there was a little tiny bit of unmanicured ground which I wasn’t going to jump down to if I didn’t have to.

Slowly I approached this man and saw his chest moving in his relaxed slumber. There was enough room that I could easily step over him.

EXCUSE ME!

Oh, I’m sorry…I didn’t want to bother you…

*Glares*

I just stepped over so I could continue on my run. You might move…

No! You step and walk on the ground.

At this point I turned around and started to leave. The guy had stood up and was wanting a confrontation. YOU GOD#$%@ RUNNERS THINK YOU RULE THE WORLD! echoes after me.

Geez. I don’t know why I have to have such odd experiences when I run, but it makes for pretty interesting stories so I shouldn’t complain.

I ran a seven mile loop today, so that I can stay in shape for the 50K in January. It wasn’t so good. I started off strong enough with an 8:16 mile, but I fell off that pace quickly. I was far too sweaty for it being 55 degrees and couldn’t handle running any of the hills. I walked a little than then would tempo run a little stronger than normal between the walks. By the time I was at my last two miles, I was able to run it the rest of the way at a much quicker pace than normal. It’s just a little weird that I had such a bad start.

I don’t know what is wrong with me this weekend but I can’t run. I woke up this morning and went out to the park. My hope was that I would have a better run this yesterday.

Just to give you an idea of my pace, I typically will run a 7 mile trail in about 1:03 to 1:05. Yesterday, I had to stop and walk numerous times and finished in 1:18. That’s an extra minute or so for each mile! Not good…

Today I had the group to run with so I knew that my time might be a little better. There were about 7 who showed up to run. With the people there there was one other guy who is training for a 50K and he can beat me. Everyone else runs with a slower pace.

We took off and I turned onto the first little trail that goes for a 1/4 mile. Only one of my friends turned to run that with me. She and I made fun of the others for taking a short cut at the very beginning of the run. That put us about a tenth of a mile or more behind everyone. This meant that I didn’t see the other guy training for the rest of the run.

I was terribly weak on this run but not as bad as yesterday. I stopped to walk a couple times, yet I finished in 1:08. It wasn’t a good run but it wasn’t the worst. I need to shake out of this slump!

My biggest running weakness is stopping to walk. It doesn’t matter if I’m just going to run a quick two miles or a long 12 miles, I will stop and walk. I know that it’s a mental hurdle but it’s one that has been with me for a few years now. I’m not sure what the deal is because I used to always keep in motion and finish strong, but I don’t do that anymore.

Today was one of the first times that I have changed that with a really strong run. I did stop but it was only to retie my shoes. Not only did I finish the run strong but I went into my apartment workout center and ran another two miles on the treadmill.

When I started my run, I was a little frustrated with myself because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to run a long run. My goal was to make today my weekly long run, but I had to change for a few reasons. I started the run so late that it would be dark by the end, I didn’t dress properly with the cold coming at nightfall, and I realized my chest was more congested than I anticipated. Instead of a long run, I made it a fairly quick four miles. Then I ran two more on the treadmill.

I guess six miles and breaking a mental block isn’t too shabby.