As my lungs get accustomed to this running thing again, my legs accept that it is the new normal. At least in theory. On my shorter runs, I’m doing well and everything feels great. But I do need to start getting longer runs in.
Most training schedules have runners do a long run every week. But due to my work schedule, doing a long run every weekend is impossible. I just can’t fit in an hours-long run while working Saturday and Sunday. So, I do a long run every other week and on the weeks I don’t do a long run, I make sure my runs are quality runs. So even if I’m not getting the distance every week, I’m getting good runs logged. It seems to work fine, but we’ll see how it translates in my races.
Apprehension is part of every runner’s character and it’s especially heightened when we’re returning to running from an extended injury, illness or other forced break.
“Can I still do this?” I ask myself.
I have the passion, it’s been inside me; stirring like a bubbling geyser, waiting, waiting to rise up. But, it achieve what I dream, that’s another thing.
Last Saturday, I went out on my long run. I planned on doing 10 to 13 miles. I wound up finishing 10.12 miles and I’m pleased with it. It was a warm day; in the 80s. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we usually get warm weather through the first week or two of October and then, all of a sudden, we’re in Fall.
This year was no different. Saturday was warm and Sunday was much cooler. I’m glad it was warm on Saturday. Even though I’m not that used to the warmer weather, I like it. And I know, once I move to a warmer climate, I’ll get used to it in no time.
It was also a big day for the city. Fleet Week happens in the second week of October and it’s a big deal for SF. The Bay Area has a long-standing history with the US Navy, seeing that the Bay is an incredible place for ships. The Blue Angels have an amazing air show over the bay and it is not to be missed!
I planned my run to end at the Marina Green, which is a terrific viewing area. Most of my run felt good. For nine miles, I ran the majority, with some walking breaks and a small break to eat a few chews and enjoy the beautiful views. The last mile was a just too tired to run, so I walked as quickly as I could.
I remembered exactly last year when I was training for a 50k I was going to do. It was on that day when my left hip started hurting. It didn’t stop hurting until I had it replaced. But that’s in the past and I look forward to many tough, but enjoyable long runs to come.