Sunday, April 17, 2011

Getting AERO while running

Bar none, today's run was the most difficult I have EVER done!  Not only did weather gods conspire against me, but I've never run 30km before and that alone made it very difficult.  In fact, I'm typing in compression wear, hoping to regain use of my legs in the morning.  OK, I'm exaggerating...not about my attire...I can still walk, but my legs sure are sore.

Today's weather was about as nasty as it could get for April and I knew I'd have to self motivate for me to get out and do anything.  I spent yesterday burning cedar logs in the forest and downed branches from winter storms and as it was raining 2/3 of the day, I thought it would be more fun to play pyro than to run in the rain and cold.

Winds today were 40km/h with gusts to 70km/h (25-45 mph) and when into a headwind, my pace slowed to a crawl and my heart rate shot up.  It was seriously like running hills - so bad that I would get sometimes blown sideways!!  All I could think about was trying to get as aero as possible.  Sounds stupid, I know.  And it didn't work anyway.

There were a few times today that I wanted to bail and the excuses started coming pretty easily.  Thankfully I shut them down before they festered too much in my head and ruined any chance at running happiness I'd be able to muster.  To keep motivated, I thought of 2 things:  1) several blog buddies who have shown time and again that you NEVER bail because of conditions; 2) the fact that my first marathon in 6 weeks is NOT going to get shorter just because I don't feel like running that far.  Giddyup because there's no giving up!!

I have to give special props to my other half today as she was in waiting mode while I went and ran 3 hours.  She kept the girls busy by doing a craft that my oldest had received at her birthday party this week - that's another story...6 eight year old girls over for a slumber party on Friday night....ouch!  Anyway, today my 2 girls made designs on porcelain cups or something and by the time I got back, there were even fresh baked chocolate chip cookies on cooling racks, calling me the second I walked in the door.  3 hours of running gives you the hungers!!

As I sit here in my compression wear, knees sore, calves and hamstrings sore, I wonder how I'm going to run this week at all.  I'm hoping to wake up clear and fresh in the morning, but I doubt that will happen.  At least I can maybe loosen up while swimming tomorrow night.  But for now, I'm beat!



3 comments:

  1. hey

    I know exactly how you feel. My runs are up over 30 km and my body feels beat up.

    take an ice bath immediately after your long run for 20 minutes. drink something hot while your in the tub. it will make all the differences in the world.

    Props for not bailing. i ran sunday as well

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  2. Way to go! Congrats for completing your long run. One day I hope to HTFU, too, and do 30K runs in wind and rain.

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  3. Ugh, those winds sound like the winds at my race, nice job pushing through it

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