Well, I'll start with an update on the last few days...I still don't feel great, but have been feeling better. My toes don't really hurt anymore, so they clearly were not broken. I'm barely interested in running, and I don't really feel like it. I was pretty restless on Thursday, so I decided I would go for a run anyway.
I didn't want to get caught in school traffic, so I decided to run my route in reverse (which was actually originally the way I mapped it), thereby going by the school earlier in the run, hopefully before dismissal.
As I got started, I was focusing on my arms. I saw an ad for the Scary Spice reality show where she was screaming at her husband to pump his arms when they were running. I focus on them off and on - I've never been a big arm pumper but whether it's effective or just a distraction, it does seem to help when I focus on it. Mid-way through my run, when I was still feeling pretty great, I worried I was going to have to attribute success to a Spice Girl. Just great.
Speaking of attributing success, I often run my "victory blog" through my head when I'm feeling good during the run. I probably should start typing them up, for humour's sake. It's different all the time.
I had a lot of U2 come up on the mp3 today. Had some Beatles come up, too. I put a few albums on since Husband is a big fan, and I really don't know much of their music. I can't stand it. I had to face that today as I kept skipping over Beatles songs. Then "All You Need Is Love" came on and I realized a little Beatles is alright. I love that song. I tried to tell myself I love running. I love it, I love it, I love it, I love everything about it, It's all I need to get through this, I just have to get through this. Just for today, I have to finish this run. I can make myself finish this run today and never have to worry about this again.
I was getting tired. I had to run slightly away from my house and I kept telling myself that I would not quit when I was closest to the house. I had to run farther away when I went around the post office block. I just kept telling myself I would not quit just because I was close to home. I had to keep going until I got on the long side street. Once I was on that street, it was all down hill. Away from home, yes, but downhill. And once I was on that street, it would be just as easy to finish the route than to turn and go home. I had to make it to the side street.
As I ran around the post office, I checked the time and I had been running for 25 minutes. I was a little shocked that it had been that long. I mean, I knew how far I had gone, and that I was going unbearably slow, but ideally, that would mean I only have about 10 minutes of running left to do. Wait, "only"? I cannot possibly run for 10 more minutes.
OK, this is the point where I am closest to home, this is where I quit (going the other direction) last run. I will not stop until I am going down the side street. Get mad. Get as mad as you would be if you quit right now. Get superstitious - I am somewhat convinced that if I ever finish the 5K, I will get a job offer immediately after...and I need a blooming job...
I made it on the side street. I had felt pretty good on this run. Not too hot, not too tired, not too thirsty, not too crampy, not too breathless, not too throat-burny. A little of all of those things - the stomach cramps were probably the most noticeable ailment, but it was low, not across my chest where I can't breathe. But I saw no possible way I could finish this stupid thing, so I made it to the next corner, and stopped, right as the clock ticked over to 28 minutes.
I turned to walk back home, and oh man, my legs were tired. I couldn't even believe how heavy they were. I haven't experienced anything quite like that. Maybe just from having not run much lately and then going actually a pretty decent distance today? I trudged slowly home, and sat down to rest (at home, although I almost had to sit on my neighbor's wall).
I think I'm going to have to go back to time being more important than distance in running. I don't know why it should make that much difference - after all, I always liked to know approximately how far I would be running when I was running for time. I had planned to finish the 5K and then do one run a week for distance, and two for time, but I'm not sure that is still my plan. It's incredibly obnoxious since I ran 28 minutes Thursday, but I think I want to add 5 minutes to each run for awhile. In theory, that should simultaneously have me completing the 5K in two runs anyway. I don't know if it will work, but I have to try something different.
After I sat for awhile, I stood up, and holy balls, my toes hurt!! I had completely forgotten about them while I was running! They must have been ok, but they were definitely sore after I had rested a bit.
Since it's Friday now, I can say the toes are ok, just a little tender, my legs are actually sore today, but I feel pretty good. I guess I'll go for 33 minutes tomorrow. Hmmm..33 is my lucky number.
Weather: 69, Cloudy, 10 mph wind (a little rough at times), 64% Humidity
Time: 2:30pm, Run 28 minutes
Distance: 3.52K (2.19m)
Elevation: +49/-39.8/net +9.2 ft
5K/10K: 40:55/1:26:29
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