successful first long run of marathon training
Let me recap the long runs that I had accomplished in the past two months:
11.5 miles on 11/29/08
8.4 miles on 1/1/09
...that is all.
Needless to say, I was full of doubt as I was getting ready for my 10 mile run this morning. I had barely done any running outside in the past two months. It was the coldest weather I had ever run in: -6, with a -15*F windchill. I hadn't run 10 miles since November. I hadn't done a decent long run in over three weeks.
The first mile was pretty bad. I felt sluggish and unable to move quickly. I wasn't sure if my muscles were freaking out from how cold is was, or if I was just struggling to maneuver in my multiple layers of clothing. Indeed, I got to the first mile marker, and my watch read 13 minutes and change.
Around mile two I ran past a lady who smiled laughingly at me and said, "It's COLD!". I thought that was a rather obvious statement, but when I looked down at my shoulders a few minutes lady, I realized that she was probably commenting because of the icicles of sweat that were starting to form on my fleece.
Most of the rest of the run was cake, which is usually how it goes for me. I started sipping fluids around 30 minutes, and I started eating my gummy lifesavers around 45. My water and iced tea were already getting cold, even though I filled them up with hot water. And my gummy lifesavers were frozen but edible. I started to get thirsty again around mile 7, but by that point my liquids were completely frozen.
With about two miles left, I was starting to get tired. I had just gone up a decent hill, and was about to go up one more, when I hit a patch of ice and fell on my ass. Multiple curse words were huffed. That was the only point in the run where I really felt like walking, but I scrambled up and ran on. Luckily I didn't hurt myself.
So to conclude, I completed my run! I'm proud of myself because this was sort of a trial: If I could do this 10 miler, I would go on with Higdon's intermediate II program. If not, I would do intermediate I. So onwards with the more difficult training program! Onwards with three twenty milers! Yahoo!
I should add that the most unsuccessful part of my run was pacing. Even with my first mile being 13-something, my pace averaged out to 10:43. My marathon goal pace is 10:18, so I guess I should have been running more slowly. I was aiming for somewhere between 11:00 and 11:30/mi.
I should also add what I wore, in case others have to go out in such cruddy weather:
- one pair tech socks
- one pair of crew cut cotton socks
- thick running tights
- lined windpants
- long-sleeved tech tee
- long-sleeved thermal
- fleece pull-over
- two pairs of cheapo knit gloves
- underarmour headband
- cheapo hat
- scarf
- sunglasses
plus my nathan speedbelt
I ended up taking off my cheapo hat and scarf after about two miles, but otherwise I don't feel like I was overdressed. I did start to feel a bit clammy, but I never overheated, and I definitely never felt freezing (except for my face). All things considered, I would still bring a hat and scarf, because otherwise the first few miles would just be toooo cold (read: go back home and get under a blanket).
I didn't wear my YakTrax because it hasn't snowed in a while and most of the bike paths were cleared well. The only trouble I got into was on those darn residential streets. I'm not sure if I would have preferred that I had worn them, even though I fell down. For most of the run, they seemed non-essential.
11.5 miles on 11/29/08
8.4 miles on 1/1/09
...that is all.
Needless to say, I was full of doubt as I was getting ready for my 10 mile run this morning. I had barely done any running outside in the past two months. It was the coldest weather I had ever run in: -6, with a -15*F windchill. I hadn't run 10 miles since November. I hadn't done a decent long run in over three weeks.
The first mile was pretty bad. I felt sluggish and unable to move quickly. I wasn't sure if my muscles were freaking out from how cold is was, or if I was just struggling to maneuver in my multiple layers of clothing. Indeed, I got to the first mile marker, and my watch read 13 minutes and change.
Around mile two I ran past a lady who smiled laughingly at me and said, "It's COLD!". I thought that was a rather obvious statement, but when I looked down at my shoulders a few minutes lady, I realized that she was probably commenting because of the icicles of sweat that were starting to form on my fleece.
Most of the rest of the run was cake, which is usually how it goes for me. I started sipping fluids around 30 minutes, and I started eating my gummy lifesavers around 45. My water and iced tea were already getting cold, even though I filled them up with hot water. And my gummy lifesavers were frozen but edible. I started to get thirsty again around mile 7, but by that point my liquids were completely frozen.
With about two miles left, I was starting to get tired. I had just gone up a decent hill, and was about to go up one more, when I hit a patch of ice and fell on my ass. Multiple curse words were huffed. That was the only point in the run where I really felt like walking, but I scrambled up and ran on. Luckily I didn't hurt myself.
So to conclude, I completed my run! I'm proud of myself because this was sort of a trial: If I could do this 10 miler, I would go on with Higdon's intermediate II program. If not, I would do intermediate I. So onwards with the more difficult training program! Onwards with three twenty milers! Yahoo!
I should add that the most unsuccessful part of my run was pacing. Even with my first mile being 13-something, my pace averaged out to 10:43. My marathon goal pace is 10:18, so I guess I should have been running more slowly. I was aiming for somewhere between 11:00 and 11:30/mi.
I should also add what I wore, in case others have to go out in such cruddy weather:
- one pair tech socks
- one pair of crew cut cotton socks
- thick running tights
- lined windpants
- long-sleeved tech tee
- long-sleeved thermal
- fleece pull-over
- two pairs of cheapo knit gloves
- underarmour headband
- cheapo hat
- scarf
- sunglasses
plus my nathan speedbelt
I ended up taking off my cheapo hat and scarf after about two miles, but otherwise I don't feel like I was overdressed. I did start to feel a bit clammy, but I never overheated, and I definitely never felt freezing (except for my face). All things considered, I would still bring a hat and scarf, because otherwise the first few miles would just be toooo cold (read: go back home and get under a blanket).
I didn't wear my YakTrax because it hasn't snowed in a while and most of the bike paths were cleared well. The only trouble I got into was on those darn residential streets. I'm not sure if I would have preferred that I had worn them, even though I fell down. For most of the run, they seemed non-essential.