12 Current Running Truths

1. While I'm still a little bit freaked out about my first Ragnar leg (7.2 miles, 1743 feet of elevation gain) my training is helping me to de-freak. Running 7 uphill miles is just like running anything else: training for it = I can do this, right?
2. I should have listened to my gut and returned both pair of Gap running capris I bought. The mediums, while they fit my waist perfectly, were just too dang tight on my thighs. So I went with the large pair, which fit my legs perfectly but were just too dang big on my waist. I kept having to hoist them during my run today. Is it just me (well, yes, probably it is just me. And my enormous thighs) but is the Gap's newest demographic anyone with toothpick legs?
3. My Bondi headbands make me happy, especially the bright yellow one when I'm running around in the mountains.
4. I need to buy a new pair of running shoes. The maddening thing about this: the only part that's worn out is the spot right above my littlest toes, whose crooked joint rubs a hole right through my shoe.
5. My bunions are starting to bug me and I will probably have to have them fixed soon. But not until the fall; I don't want to miss an entire summer of running.
6. I was afraid that my winter running hiatus would strip me of the speed I gained while training for my marathon last summer. So far, it hasn't! (Remember, though: "speed" is relative. I'm still not very fast.)
7. I managed to squeeze in my first 2-a-day this week! As I've been trying to do this since February I'm not very impressed with myself. But I did feel awesome and, having done it once, know I can manage it again.
8. Part of conquering my first Ragnar leg is running lots of uphills. I decided that before the race I'm going to be able to run the entire paved length of Squaw Peak Road---uphill and down. (My last Ragnar leg? 7.0 downhill miles, with a net elevation loss of 1702 feet.) It's only 4.5 miles, but the elevation gain/loss is nearly identical (17-hundred-something).
9. Today I ran up Squaw Peak Road for roughly two miles. It took me nearly 24 minutes. I thought I would feel like dying but honesty I felt OK and could have kept going. I didn't because A---I didn't have time and B---I want to build up slowly.
10. Then I turned around and ran down in 13 1/2 minutes. Apparently I'm much faster on a downhill.
11. It will never stop making me happy to hear someone call me a bad ass runner. That happened today when I passed two dudes who were just getting out of their car at the spot where the road was closed (the sign on the gate said "road open on April 1." I guess the forest rangers missed that one.) One dude said "holy sh*#$*#!&, that girl is running up the road. She's insane!" and the other dude said "no, she's not insane, she's bad ass." Sweet!
12. It made me equally happy to be called a girl instead of a lady. Because the ultimate running fact is: what I'm trying to run away from is letting my body settle down and get old. That's right, I said it, I'm running away from old age. Think it will work?

Comments

[Pamela K.]

Just signed up for my first 5K and this post is keeping me motivated and positive. I've been nervous about it since #1-It's my first and #2 a friend talked me into it even though I feel like I'll not be quite ready in regards to training for it. But as someone told me, I'm running for myself and not anyone else so what have I got to lose. Right? That's awesome that guy called you a bada$$. You go girl!