09/15/08 - 09/21/08
Week Total: 30.4
Memories of "raindrops keep falling on my head", soft raindrops gently touching my face for more than four hours, sensing the nice smell of wet soil, wet bark, and wet leaves that start to change their color. All these provided me with more than two hundred delightful minutes... Last week, my long run was under a sunny and warmy day with blue skies. This week, under a rainy and coldy day with grey skies. No difference at all.
Being alive and well, sensing nature in its different manifestations, sensing my feet pounding on the ground, having the opportunity of just doing it.... No complains, "cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin', because I'm free, nothin's worryin' me. "Saturday 21st was that typical Seattle autumn day, constant temperature throughout the day of 52F/11C, constant greyness, and constant soft showers. To run at 9am was going to be the same than at 12, than at 3pm. So I snoozed in the morning, rested in my bed for a good while, and at 11 am I decided it was time to go. A very long run was ahead of me...
I follow the intervals and tempo for the Furman advanced plan, but for the long run, I sum the mileage for both, beginners and advanced plans, divide by two and establish that distance as the minimum distance I should run. This gives me something to push for.
Last week the beginners called for 12 miles and the advanced for 18, so my goal was 15: I ran 16. This week the beginners plan called for 13 miles and the advance for 20, so my goal was 16.5. I ran the whole 20-miler.
I cried when I was feet away of my finish line as if I was about to break the ribbon. I felt so accomplished for the challenge. The challenge of running for more than four hours wet, with my wet breath thermo, my wet head, my wet face, my wet hands, my wet socks, and my wet shoes.
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
6 comments:
Lizzie-Lee - how fabulous are you? Well done and how amazing to run more than you need to - I never manage that... Running in drizzle is not so bad is it? I don't mind it...
Keep on enjoying. And well done!
Sounds like some fantastic running! Way to do the 20!
I agree; you're fabulous!
And the photos are gorgeous. I have never been to the northwest US. It looks wonderful!
LL, great results. Glad you enjoyed such an excellent feat.
Nice job on the 20-miler! Esp. in that cold and rain. The marathon I ran in WA (Olympia) had similar drizzly weather but it actually felt fine once I got going. Lovely pictures!
BTW, I have marathons left to do in WY, NM, ND, OK, MN, WI, WV, DE, CT, RI, VT, NH and ME. NH and ME will be done in a couple weeks, though.
Dear Lizzie - I couldn't find your e-mail address so I'll just post this as a comment and it will get to you. Yes I have been doing 1 mile running, 1 minute walking - starting this straight away not waiting until I'm tired. I find that my pace when running is faster - closer to 9 / 9:30 minute mile than my usual 10 / 10:30 minute mile and that it is very consistent. Moreover I always use my first minute to stretch which I never did before which is good practise as well.... I really woudl recommend it - it has definitely speeded me up and I have heard other runners say the same thing. Good luck and let me know how you get on!
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