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too fast...

when you're me, and you're running, and you kind of have a feeling that you're going too fast, but you're not totally sure because last week you kinda went fast too, but felt totally capable of keeping up that kind of speed for the entire run, so you don't know if the burning sensation in your lungs is an okay thing, a good thing, or a really bad thing, and you've not even gone an entire mile yet, but your calves are twinging a little bit and you're capability for carrying on a conversation with your running partner has gone from slightly difficult to damn near impossible....you begin to wonder what the problem is, and then, when you hear your Garmin Mile Alert sound-off, and you look down and see

Mile One = 10:26

you kinda flip out a little.

okay. you kinda flip out a lot.

you then shoo away your running partner, in perhaps not the kindest of manners, because it has just occured to you, in those few seconds it took to read your watch, that if you keep going at the pace you're at, you will not only burn out before you finish the 6 miles you've planned for the day... you may very well get to enjoy, first hand, a near-death experience.

so then what do you do?

well, if you're me you...

run faster.

completely uncontrollably. you just... run faster. you tell yourself to slow down, you try and control your breathing, but at the next Garmin Mile Alert, when you read

Mile Two: 10:21

you realize your body is just not listening to a word your saying, so you, with complete sincerity, begin to wonder if there might just be something wrong with you.

because against all odds, mile 3 clocks in at...... 10:28. and that is just not right.

...
i promise you, i swear to you, i did everything i could, everything with-in my power to get myself to slow down.... i didn't WANT to be running that fast. i DONT run that fast. but my body was just. not. cooperating.

so, what were miles 3, 4, and 5 like?

oh, ya know... same deal. only in reverse.

my legs were heavy, my calves were screaming at me, and quite honestly, i just couldn't go. i began again... trying hard to maintain ANY sort of managable, continual, some-what steady pace.

yeah. not so much. my bod was just not having it. so i ran. and i ran... and i walked. i laughed a little, and then i ran a bit.

walked.

ran.

the last three miles looked something like this...

mile 4 11:32
mile 5 11:41
mile 6 11:44

and yet... after all of that? i STILL ran the damn thing in just over an hour.

6.14 miles/ 1:07:12/ 10:57 avg. pace

honest to god i dunno what's going on, but i've got a 10K next week, and lemme tell ya... i'm not just a little nervous.

after this morning?

i'm down right scared.

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Comments

DATE: 7:42 AM
Pfffft--you're gonna kick some ass!!! Show em what ya got!!!


DATE: 5:28 AM
rocket girl!! very exciting! now just turn the numbers around for next week!i have to go out and run the other way now.

DATE: 6:44 AM
Good for you!!! Keep pushing the envelope and you'll do great in your 10K!

DATE: 7:12 AM
Woo hoo!!!

DATE: 8:50 PM
fortune favors the bold.bet the farm, you're in KC, it's all farmland right?, change the blog to:lil miss rocket pants.


DATE: 9:40 AM
way to go, you are going to go far!!!!

DATE: 6:27 PM
Nice run, good for you, good luck in your 10k coming up. I am new to this blogging thing and really enjoy yours.

DATE: 3:53 PM
Rocket pants, I like it.Great run.The HRM is a good idea, I've just started to run with one.

DATE: 1:45 PM
one day soon you're going to race a sub hour 10k and then the shoe will be on the other foot, ms. speedypants.

DATE: 8:57 PM
You're totally awesome! Yor 10K is giong to be amazing, I'm anxious for you!! Keep it up!

DATE: 9:05 AM
Rocket pants, eh Bold? Is that a rocket in your pants or are you just happy to see her? ;)I love your posts. They always crack me up. :) Don't worry about your upcoming race. I'm sure you're gonna do just fine!


DATE: 1:38 PM
are you practicing "on your LEFT!" at all? i think you'll need it in your race.

DATE: 1:45 PM
Nice run... Even though you tailed off at the end, it was a great speed workout! Way to go! What's happening, you ask? You're getting faster! Awesome!

DATE: 7:02 AM
I don't want to jinx you but if this is the problem that has replaced your knee problems, you are getting stronger.

DATE: 6:24 PM
OMG how weird is that to have the same kind of running day! Keep it in check, sangre caliente ;)

DATE: 6:22 AM
A.M. - a couple suggestions that might help. First, if you have a heart rate monitor, use it. I've learned to run by heart rate. That way, I don't get caught up in speed. As my aerobic capacity improves, speed will follow. It also allows your body to set the pace. Rough day, go slower. Good day, go faster.Second, give yourself one day a week to "tear it up." That's your speed day. Run repeats, intervals, or tempo. Make it a shorter run so the pace doesn't kill you (think about your first three miles here). When you do long runs, talk to that running partner. Just talking should help slow you down.

DATE: 1:01 PM
You look pretty in your new picture...Race day psychology is always fun. You'll probably do a PR next week!


DATE: 4:48 PM
Just have a little faith that your body might know better than your mind. But still be careful. See where the week takes you.

DATE: 9:19 AM
Looking good, Miss Runner Pants! You're going to do awesome in the 10K!!

DATE: 11:40 AM
Go with it! You will do great~

DATE: 12:47 PM
Good luck in next week's run. Sometimes pacing yourself isn't all it's cracked up to be! :)

DATE: 9:07 AM
Wow... is this what I have to look forward to when I start my post-marathon training again? Damn... I hope so :) Way to go rocket pants (not sure if that would be a good nickname for a chick).Like the new profile pic, but I have to say, the last one captured your personality more :)

DATE: 7:59 AM
Pretty soon, your 5K's are going to be really solid! For next week, do what feels like a jog for the first half, then "Let 'er rip."And I like the new pix.


DATE: 8:05 AM
Laughin' out loud at this one, A. Maria. I know exactly how ya feel. The feet just wanna go and there's nothing you can do to stop them. :) Take it easy this week and get your sleep and you will be golden in the race.

blackjacks

blackjacks

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