Runners: Open Thread
Posted by Carrie on 27 Jun 2009 | Tagged as: Fitness and Health
First, look what came in the mail!
I still think it’s funny that, before I knew I’d placed second in age group, I went back to the race site after they cleaned up, and nobody knew anything; when I asked about it, the people I asked were all, “Why, were you in contention to win?” It felt weird answering in the affirmative, so I just said, “Anything’s possible, I guess.”
Anything, indeed. 
So that was last Saturday, and today, I ran a much more relaxed ten miles in the company of a friend (Hi, Lorma!) who wanted to push her own pace. I had no problems slowing mine to match hers, because honestly? That’s an important skill, too. You can’t just blast through every training run as fast as you can and expect to improve; in fact, I’ve had real problems learning to slow down, which you’d think wouldn’t be a problem, but… 
It might be especially important now, when I’ve officially begun training for Marine Corps and I’ve also honestly and sincerely begun thinking about this. Hey, don’t look at me like that! It’s only 6 miles longer than a marathon! 
But even expanding the distance by that “small” amount, from what I’m reading, takes it into a realm where if I don’t slow myself down, the race will Slow Me Down anyway, and in ways that will be way less pleasant. Walking breaks aren’t unexpected in an ultra; in fact, they’re the norm.
Finding the balance between fast running and slow running will be an adventure in self-discipline this summer. To that end, I’ll be adapting my Tuesday runs into speed workouts, so I won’t feel the temptation to turn my long runs into them. Every run has a purpose, starting now. No more junk miles!
4 Comments »
on 27 Jun 2009 at 4:41 pm
Kate said …
So…
I’ll be down in a couple weeks…
For tri weekend…
I’m relaying because I’m not ready to get back to running yet…
but I’m coming BACK in the end of September to get a tri under my belt this year…
So, you wanna learn to swim by September or what?
(Stockard is a fine, fine steed. She’ll do well. You already know you can rock out the run with room to spare.)
Also? for the July 11-12 tri, volunteers are needed. Think about it…would be good to see you nonetheless…
on 28 Jun 2009 at 9:20 pm
wkh said …
huh wuh? did you just say you’re going into the marines?!
on 29 Jun 2009 at 4:56 am
Carrie said …
Marine Corps Marathon.
on 29 Jun 2009 at 9:11 am
Debra said …
Do the Ultra! You’ll love it! Okay, I can’t speak from the experience of doing one, mine isn’t till the end of August, but I have a friend who has done several. I crewed for her when she did FANS in Minneapolis the beginning of this month. She did the 24 hour run (they also have a 12 hour run and 12/24 hour walking). Miserable weather (she had two bouts of hypothermia we had to deal with) but lots of fun. I know that sounds weird but it was great. Totally different from a marathon. Everyone was so down to earth and the atmosphere is so different (in a GOOD way). She is on her way out to Badwater to crew for someone in the Ultra group here and then off to run the Vermont 100. The local Ultra people here started a yahoo group. It’s an international (web) group if you’re interested. There is some great info on salt intake,hydration, walk/run etc. A couple of the members are MDs. One of them is a kidney doc and he was on the US National Team 24 running team that went to Italy in May. http://blog.syracuse.com/east/2009/04/manlius_matt_chaffin_is_on_us.html
One of the members, Todd Baum, will be doing his third, I think it’s his third, Badwater run in a couple of weeks.
The name of the yahoo group, if you’re interested is, Ultrarunningmatters.