I really challenged myself this morning; I ran from my house in Solana Beach to work in Carlsbad. While I mainly told myself that it would just be a nice long run, deep down I knew that I was testing my fitness and seeing if I stood a chance to run an hour-and-a-half, half marathon come April. Starting off I felt unstoppable; much like you would feel anytime you are preparing for a challenge (whether it is a marathon race or a run at the beach on your lunch- again, thanks guys). I had certain points picked out to check my watch and get a feel for my pace. Within thirty minutes I was already running through Cardiff. I was on pace for one hell of a run!
Getting prepared for a run like this I had to make the run much less intimidating; Solana, Encinitas, Leucadia, College Hill, work. All I had to do was run from point to point. This stop sign, that light; couple hills, you got this, E. I had some jelly beans in the little pocket of my running tights and my iPod to keep me distracted. I was chugging along, waving at passer bys, enjoying the view….
…and then i got hit with lack of motivation. I am not sure what to attribute it to; the mini streets where cars don’t think about pedestrians, bikers and traffic trying to share lanes with me, or just fear that I still might not make a good time it if I kept this same pace. I contemplated calling co-workers to come pick me up; I stopped at stoplights just to stop (most runners run lights when they can); and worst of all began thinking about this performance in a marathon, let alone a half!
By the time I got within two miles of work, I had managed to re-energize myself to make it up the mile-long College Hill. Arriving at work, fatigued and disappointed, I had clocked the same damn half-marathon time that I have been running for years; STILL unable to break it. Walking into the office, I had the admiration of co-workers to lift my spirits and to take the run positively. As many of yesterday’s team members approached to talk of sore muscles and lactic acid, I immediately smiled as I knew in a matter of minutes I would have those same complaints….
… at lunch, Tyler asked; “So you think you’ll ever run from your new place in PB?”
… Wonder what the title of that blog post will be…