Running With Jack

This morning I woke up at 5 a.m. and just about rolled over and went back to sleep. But then I remembered I have a marathon in two weeks, so dragged myself out of bed. After finishing my morning routine and eating a little breakfast I suited up, grabbed my stuff that I laid out the night before and drove to the trailhead of my running club. I wasn’t sure if my knee was up to running hills, so decided to stick to the flatlands.

I really didn’t have a specific goal in mind, as I was not sure if my knee was recovered enough for a really long run. I decided to try to run at least two 11K loops and see how I felt. I started out at an easy pace, running the first 5K in 31 minutes. My body was stiff and achy, we had to move our office at work the last couple days and this left me sore enough to want to go home after 5K! I resisted the temptation and kept going, finishing the 11K loop in around 1:11:00, much slower than I would normally run a flat course.

I stopped at my car and filled up my water bottle, grabbed a clifshot, my MP3 player and headed out for the second loop. My body was stiff like a board, I popped a couple aspirin and turned up the music. I loosened up again as I dropped back into my groove, my pace was slow, but consistent – I really didn’t give a hoot how fast (or slow) I was running, I just wanted to get through it.

After what seemed like an eternity I finished the second 11K loop and again stopped at my car to resupply. I stretched a bit then plodded back out again hoping to add a few more kilometers before I collapsed. As I fell into my groove again I decided to keeping going and see if I could finish an 8K loop, which would give me a total of 30K. About halfway around my MP3 battery died, which upset me and kept my mind occupied as I put a couple more kilometers behind me. Finally I realized that I only had about 10 minutes to go, so did my best to pick up the pace back to the car.

I arrived pooped, but highly satisfied. However, as I started stretching I started doing the math and realized that 30K was only 18.6 miles. For some insane reason this just rubbed me the run way and next thing I knew I was out running an out and back to bring me up to 32K for my 20 miles. I figured if I am going to be all achy and sore, it might as well be for 20 miles, right!

Anyway, my knee didn’t bother me at all for the entire run, I know it is still healing and slowing me down some, but it isn’t stopping me. Bring on the marathon, I’m ready!