Waves of Regret (I should have gone for that run)!

It has only taken me five months to find this statement truly true.  Yes, before this morning there were a few times when I didn't run and I should have but I never really felt guilty about not going. Until today.

My alarm went off at 04:31 like always. I let it snooze a few times while I checked Facebook, my email and the weather on my phone like I always do. I changed into my running clothes and then went to the bathroom like I always do. But once I made it to the kitchen I just decided that I didn't want to go and started being really slow about half-assing getting ready for my run. Then, "Oops--it is too late to go.  Guess I will just have to sleep a bit on the couch until it is time to get ready for work." Which is exactly what I did, covered up with my favorite afghan and curled up with some pillows.  When I finally got up, that's when the waves of regret hit me. Yes, I should have run this morning. I was not running that late, and I could have even gone for 3 1/2 miles instead of the 4 I was planning.  That would have been better than the zero miles I actually went.

Maybe this evening I will head out for a short run. I can hit the hills and feel like I am doing double duty. But, I also have to run tomorrow morning and Thursday morning.  No races this weekend, but I really should work in my short recovery run to make sure my milage is increasing each week.  That's an easy run--as long as I actually get out and run. 

Never Again... Never Say Never (Win)

Today, on Facebook, there was a post with comments about what a certain runner (my mom) is thinking about when they run. So on tonight's run I collected a few thoughts that I will share with you now.

"Okay, the sun is finally setting, I think I will be okay if I head out now."

"Nope, should have brought sunglasses."

"Ugh, this light takes forever to change."

"Why are there so many cars?  I need to cross the street here instead of having crossed twice at that night."

"Hills suck."

"Hills are awesome!"

"Uh oh, why is there a police car just sitting there."

"BUNNIES!"

"Ouch, how did I pull that muscle?"

"Could I blow my nose with one of those dog poop bags?"

"I should take the short cut up the hill."

"When I blog about this later do I want to say that I took the short cut home?"

"Yay--time to walk and it happens to be when I am going up the hill."
"Do I know that person in that car?"

"So glad I didn't bring sunglasses, they would be falling off the top of my head by now."

"I am about half a mile from home, can go home now and still have gone a good distance."

"Love this song, who cares if I sing out loud for a bit while I am walking."

"When will I need to eat my almonds?"

"NICE STOP, Jerk!"

"My toes hurt."

"My hamstring hurts."

"My back hurts."

"How many people will be out of work tomorrow?"

"Do I really want to wear that shirt to school tomorrow?"

"I am going to rock that shirt tomorrow because I am doing half of a half-marathon tonight!"

"HEY Lady!  Share the road!"

"I am almost out of water. Can I get some at Circle K?"

"Going to walk through this running segment, I need a longer break."

"Almost there, one last running segment."

"Okay, one more running segment, with perfect form!"

"Awe man, just two tenths of a mile to go, I will run past my house to get that extra distance!"

"Thank you Endomondo! I love you! Please show me a personal best distance for something when I get home."

"I think I will do my blog post right when I get home."

As I sit at home fresh from my run (if "fresh" is really the way to describe it), I ice my hamstring and think about how I pushed through on this run with a few opportunities to go home sooner than I planned and with a pulled muscle in my leg it would have been a valid excuse for going home early. But I didn't. I figured it hurt already, it is going to hurt tomorrow, I might as well keep going! So I did.

I say "Never Again" because I much prefer my early morning runs to running in the evening. The sun wasn't to much of a problem because it was cool and eventually set, and it is always cooler running the canals anyway. But there were just so many cars. Twice, TWICE, there were cars that were not paying as much attention to me as I was to them and I could easily have been run over tonight!  But, since I didn't run yesterday, and I didn't run this morning; tonight was my only option to get out for a run. I at least felt safer on the streets with cars about than on the canal with no one around. Once it gets dark, that could be really creepy. 

Next weekend, get up early to run--I can always take a nap.

How To Set A PR (Win)

Last night, I went out for my first run in Yuma's series of city runs--The Zombie Run.

Based on how my last organized race went, I really didn't think I would be setting any goals because if it was too crowded it would really be hard to be consistent with my speed.  But that was really not a problem last night.  I also was running with the ten year old son of another teacher from my school. Luckily, he was the boost that I needed to make this goal!

I felt bad the first time I had to take a walk break. It seemed like we hadn't run very far, or for very long and that I can usually wait a bit longer when I am out on runs by myself. But I needed the break and we walked for a couple of minutes.  We kept up our running and walking until the Endomondo told us we had already gone one mile.  One mile in eleven minutes was all I heard! Really?!  I hadn't run a mile in eleven minutes in a long time!  The second mile of our 5k was 13 minutes, still a bit faster than my recent miles.  And the third mile--eleven minutes again!

During the run I was talking with my young running partner about how I was working on a goal time for this race, and since we were doing so well along the way we might be able to make my goal time!  When we heard the Endomondo give the time for the third mile as 36 minutes he shouted "We can make it" and we ran through the finish line in 37 minutes and 47 seconds.  Holy moly!  I just made my goal and shaved 2+ minutes of my time!  Yay--I finally can get my new Birkenstock sandals and have finally met a goal I've been working towards for a long time!

I figured out why we were so fast in this race. First, I didn't have much to talk with a ten year old about, so we were not distracted from running by our conversations.  Second, he's a faster runner than me and I was always trying to keep up with him when we were running.  I had to push myself to have longer strides and go just a bit farther before taking a walk break.  He was gracious about when I needed to walk and was excited to be doing the run anyways.

So, while I am out today getting my new sandals I have been waiting for, I also need to pick up a neat treat for my buddy since he did help me make my goal and was totally cool running with me even though we had to walk some too!