Let the running season begin! September Running

[yellow]

Crankin, reading your running posts over the last few years tells me you have a love-hate relationship with running like I have (had) with cycling. Maybe you just need to remove all expectations of structure, how you should feel, distance, pace, and just run or walk/run (in the woods)? I'd say it's not worth it to run if you don't like it (regardless of reason), but it seems to me (from the outside) that you do...but then you don't.

In my case, I finally just gave up on cycling. I have significant pain that we discovered this summer is due to femoral acetabular impingement and a torn labrum in the left hip. I miss cycling but I'm getting over it.

Have you tried a pro-con list for running? Or did it not help?

[skhill]

Bike Chick, that 9 minute mile is awesome!

Yesterday's run reminds me why I love this so much. Started out around 6:30 am, when it was still dark. But the moon was shining, and I could pick out Orion and 2 planets despite the city lights. About a mile down the road, I realized what felt so strange-- the cold dry air and the smell of wood fires spoke of fall, but the sounds were those of the summer insects. Kept on running, and saw dawn start to creep across the horizon. Ended up running further than I had intended, the changing colors on the clouds were so enthralling. 7 miles at a slow pace, with many smiles per mile.

[7rider]

I actually drove to run today.
Normally - unless I'm driving to my friend's house to run with her - I just do my solo runs out the front door of my house. I've got 2, 3, and 4 mile routes plotted. But I live in a hilly neighborhood, and I wasn't feeling the love for a hilly run. Plus, I have a flat tri in two weeks, and I wanted to get some flat running in. So...I drove to a parking lot of the MUT that parallels the road I bike commute on to work, and ran from there. I ran 2 miles back up the MUT - following the creek bed for its slightly uphill journey, then turned around and ran 2 miles back. So, 4 miles in about 46 minutes. I don't set the MUT on fire with my speed, but at least I was consistent.

[Crankin]

Yellow, you are right. I want to love running and in my head I picture myself being strong running, but once I get out there, it's mostly a no-go. And when i do run faster or further than usual, I pay for it for the next few days. I have some physical issues with cycling, too, but it never stops me from riding; in fact I can often achieve a good average for me when i start off feeling like crap. I really don't have any expectations of speed or mileage, though, when I run. It's just, with cycling, I had a steady improvement for a few years, until I realized I was driving myself nuts trying to get faster and now I am much more relaxed about it. But, I never had that ramp up with running. I had one spring and one fall where I steadily improved, but then either cycling or winter sports took over. It just pisses me off; I see others who look much more out of shape than me become "runners," and I just don't seem to have it.
What's a pro-con list? Pardon for being ignorant...

[OakLeaf]

@Crankin, I think what she meant is just to make a list of the pros and cons of running, for you; take a hard look at what you're getting from it vs. what it seems to take out of you, to help you decide whether you want to continue pushing at it. Sounds like a good idea to me.

I was feeling just super sore and tired today - partly from the last couple of days, partly I'm not sure why - so I gave the hypothetical magic 8-ball a shake for the first time in a while. It said to do the 9-mile loop that's the flattest run I get from home (something like 500 feet of climbing, give or take). It felt surprisingly good, right at a 10 minute pace. It was a perfect day for running, 70° and very dry.

I'll do the hilly 13 next week instead, and then start my taper - although it's hard for me to get excited about this half, I do have a time goal in mind.

[Crankin]

OK, I must have a severe lapse in my thinking there.
Oy.
I think the cons are winning.

[OakLeaf]

Well, FWIW my application is in for the Boston marathon. Odds of actually getting in are probably close to zero, but there are people who qualified by 55 seconds or less who are behind me in line, right?

If I don't get in I'll think harder about running Disney. There's still time to train for that one...