I’m not a professional barefoot runner (simply because no one has offered to pay me. yet.) but I got to thinking that I am sort of experienced at this barefoot running business. I ran barefoot on the beach in Florida once for about a mile. And I regularly run the recycling out to the curb barefoot, even in the winter. I also find that I’m often running in my dreams (and it feels like I’m running through molasses I might add) … and of course given that I am barefoot when I sleep, that surely counts for something in the barefoot running department, right?
2010 started an awful lot like 2009 started: with a 7.5 mile road race first thing on New Years Day. Except unlike last year, I waited until the very last minute to decide whether or not to run this race.
The decision was made at about 8 AM on 1/1/2010 when my running friend Shawn called to first yell at me for still being asleep and then to continue our debate from the day before on why we should or should not run. He was just getting over a cold. I had just run 5 miles the day before. The weather was ok and the park where the race was held was a nice place to run. Pros and cons, hems and haws, we eventually decided to go for it.
Yesterday during a grocery store excursion I was very excited to see young coconuts in produce! I haven’t seen them in ages and when I spotted three of them all in a row, I very happily played Eeny Meeny Miny Moe Get in the Cart and Let’s Go.
My-Mother-Says-You-Are-The-Very-Best-One.
With my sweet little young coconut in hand, I got to thinking that coconut water is really good after a hard work out. What a great reason to get out there and bust my ass first thing this morning, wouldn’t you agree?
It is wet and miserable out this morning. I had planned to go to the gym but I got wrapped up in something I was working on and before I knew it my time to exercise was fading fast. I knew it would be quicker to just run outside here, but the cold and wind and rain made it less than appealing. I sucked it up, put on my running tights and my rain coat and headed out for a 4 mile run.
Up and at’em at 6:30 this morning, I got up to hit the huge hotel gym first thing.
(I made those people sign release waivers to be in the blog. Not.)
Look! I got to do a track work out this morning!
The fitness center I use in the winter is this small, decrepit hole of a gym. It’s very close to home and it meets my needs so I don’t really care, but when I get to use these state of the art treadmills it feels like such a treat!
I’m going to spoil the ending by jumping ahead and saying right at the start that today was probably one of the best runs of my entire life.
The day started at 4:55 AM when I woke up a half hour before my alarm was supposed to go off. I slept like a rock and felt great when I woke up. I called Shawn at 5:30 to make sure he was awake and moving around.
Shawn and I went over our strategy last night, but I was still feeling unsure about our approach this morning. Fast at the beginning? If so, how fast? Save it all for the end? How much do I hold back? Maintain a steady pace throughout?
As part of my very loose half marathon training plan (i.e., getting in one long run a week between 7 – 10 miles) I had a long run on tap for today.
My running buddy Shawn said he was up for going long today so he came out to run with me. Waiting for him to arrive, I enjoyed a plum snowman.
Watch them disappear.
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Like magic! I think there was about a 15 second lapse between each of those photos. I’m a plum eating machine!
It’s race day!
I got up and made myself a glass of green juice for some pre-race fuel. I use to eat a bagel or oatmeal before races but now I’m a green believer.
I couldn’t decide if I wanted coffee before the race or not. By the time I decided I did want a cup I didn’t have enough time to make a pot. I stopped on the way and got a small coffee from a coffee shop with a little half and half.
My morning run got pushed back to HOT o’clock due to Zak working late and these little ones who insist on calling me mom being up early.
So instead of getting my jog on, I got my juice on.
Behold the Tower of Juice.
When the man finally rose from his slumber I got a move on headed out for what was to be a totally hot run. 5.89 in 48 minutes. It’s a good thing I don’t have testicles because I definitely would have sweated them off today.
This morning’s run had a purpose: Go pick up the car.
The car was in the shop yesterday and was ready last night, but we didn’t get a chance to pick it up so I decided I’d just run down and get it this morning since it’s only 2+ miles away.
I disregarded the No iPod Left Behind Act and did a warm up loop though my neighborhood and then ran what I would call my 5K pace to the shop.
follow along!
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