Running addict
I’ve started running on a full tank of enthusiasm. Since the start of May I have already run a 5 mile race and a 5K race. I was able to beat my personal record for the 5K earlier this month, but I’m hoping better it on the 31st. My current best is 27 minutes, 27 seconds. The race was a horrible morning to run; 40 degrees and winds steady at 20 mph gusting up to 30-40 mph. The thing that saved me was that I knew this race was only going last less than 30 minutes. The course of the race was a loop and the first half was against the wind. I figured that it was good to get the tough part of the race over at the beginning. Unfortunately, the wind decided to shift and the last half of the race was run with a cross wind so it was difficult just to stay on the road. I’m hoping Sunday will be better weather and allow me achieve my goal of running the 5K under 25 minutes.
I’ve grown to enjoy running outside rather than in the basement on the treadmill. Once I got going outside, I found that my old Timex GPS had crapped out on me. I discovered this during my runs when the GPS would just turn off. To me the GPS was a prerequisite to running outside. I need to be able to measure my progress and the GPS allowed me to instantaneously see my pace and distance. I would complete my run and then immediately log the distance and the time it took me to track my mileage. Without knowing these metrics for my runs, I was lost. I picked up a Garmin Forerunner 305 and found this to be leaps and bounds over my old GPS unit. The Forerunner hooked up to the computer and allowed me to automatically upload my information to Running Ahead. I no long have to enter things by hand but just click the mouse a couple times.
I’ve made the crazy decision and signed up for the Twin Cities Marathon this October. I thought that I wouldn’t run another marathon soon, but as I started running races I remembers how much fun the first 18 miles of the 2004 marathon had been. Again, I’m looking to improve on my previous time and am developing a training plan based on my current running time. I’ve been running anywhere between 25 and 30 miles for the past month or so. This morning I did a 12 mile run before work and felt like I could just keep going. The biggest challenge I’m facing is understanding what my limits are. I’m testing the waters with a speed workout or race each week. It seems with each workout I finish, I still feel that I have some left in the tank. Once I get this figured out, I’ll be able to set my goal time for the marathon. Until then, I’ll just slowly increase my speed until I can’t go anymore.
