Finally, finally, finally I am able to really run again. It feels like forever, although I think it has only been about 8 weeks. I have been cross training a lot, but never felt like I could really risk more than 6 miles of running at a time. Yesterday, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and try a 20 miler (yes, my brain thinks it makes perfect sense to go from 6 to 20 – don’t try this at home).
I decided to do my 20 on a half-mile loop. I love loopy courses because I can just relax and run – no worries about traffic, distance, or fueling. I park my car on the loop and just run, stopping every 30 minutes to hydrate/fuel and change directions. Believe it or not, I find this the most relaxing way to run. It is almost like meditating; you just let your mind go and run. When you hit 20, you stop. Simple, right?
But, many people complain that it is waaaaaaaaaay too boring and that it would make them crazy. I think that is true for about the first two miles. Then something happens where you just get into a rhythm and your mind is free to wander where it will. You are never really taken out of the moment because there is rarely anything to worry about. Well, except maybe this…
I don’t know if you can read the sign behind me, but it says “Beware of Snakes” and has a nice little “snakey” picture on it. Yikes! So, yes, that was a little disconcerting at the beginning, especially when there were a few scattered branches on the path (okay, I may have jumped and screamed once or twice), but after awhile, I forgot about the snakes, and as the temperature reached 100, I knew I was safe. Snakes don’t like getting a tan.
After 20 miles, I knew it was time to replenish with some nectar of the gods, or as my kids call it, “Mom’s fuel from the Mothership.”
Today, Sunday, I needed to change it up a bit, so I headed out of the Valley and up to the mountain. I parked at the bottom of a 1/4 mile, 8% grade hill, and stared upwards. Hmmmm….maybe a 2 mile warm-up is a good idea, I thought. Eventually, though, I was forced to tackle the hill, giving me 10 miles worth of repeats for the morning. It felt great! There is no better feeling than flying down a mountain when you have been off for awhile. It makes you feel fast, and if you don’t fall (which I sometimes do), invincible. Awesome!
This afternoon, I hope to get in another (easy) run and then a swim. Yes, Starbucks will be involved somewhere.
Happy Running!
Mom, ultrarunner, four-time US 24 Hour National Team member, adventure athlete, food writer. Graduate of the Pro Cooking Program at the New School of Cooking, Los Angeles. Will run for food.
{ 4 comments }
Wow, quite a jump in training! I, too, have no problem doing the same circuit endless times and wonder about people who can’t stand it; they seem to love point to point courses that look exactly the same the whole way to me (e.g. the Chippewa Trail 50K goes past 50 indistinguishable ponds).
I am one of those who would die on a 0.5M loop. I do my long runs now on 5M loop, and 7 of them was the most I survived. I finally figured how to make it 8-miler, and life seems better for the future:)
I hate snakes. I love hill repeats. I can’t wait for temps dip under 100:)
First time reader here, wow! What I like, like, LIKE here is that you say “don’t try this at home”. It’s a silly line to like, but I think a lot of people read about other people’s training and think, “I could do that”. Obviously, YOU can, you’re an ultra marathoner. Me, no, probably wouldn’t be a good idea to whip out a 20 miler on a whim!
Anyway, interesting that you can do the 20 on a 1/2 mile loop. I’ve tried long runs on a 3 mile loop but didn’t do so well.
Hi Steena! Yes, I do some not-so-smart-things 🙂 But, prior to my injury, my base was about 140 miles per week, so the jump wasn’t as dramatic as it seems. During the 8 weeks I was injured, I cross-trained like a madwoman, so I really didn’t lose much fitness. My big concern was my hamstring – making sure it was truly healed and could take the pounding. If I had felt anything odd, I would have stopped. And then complained to anyone who would listen 🙂
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