Yesterday I went out for my first day of Week 4 pre-training. I was so excited to get out after spending a few days in bed from the stomach flu, but once I was out there and finished my first 20 minute set, my stomach had ideas of its own. So while I couldn’t really call yesterday a run-day, I truly believe that I did a personal best getting to the toilet in time!
Well, today was a different day.
Distance: 9.15km Time: 1:10 Pace: 7’39 kCal: 927 Heart: 138/158 RPE: 6 Type: 2x20min
I woke up just before sunrise – my favorite part of the day.
I slowly moved around pulling out a clean set of running clothes (a big thanks to my wife for doing the laundry the day before). With fresh smelling clothes and the orange-red fingers of morning’s welcome, I went off to the Walnut Creek Reservoir. To keep strengthening my skeletal system and to avoid any injuries as a non-runner, my goal was simple… two 20 minute runs at a comfortable pace.
When I first arrived there weren’t too many people. But then only a few minutes later, the other runner-regulars started showing up. I missed Zen Master, an Asian gentleman in his (late?) 60s that is there every single day at sunrise. The fact that I missed him meant that I was a later than usual (spent too much time enjoying my clean clothes, I guess). I also didn’t see my friend with his two little dogs. They’re such good motivators to get me going when I see all three of them running together (and those tiny little dog feet passing by in a blur)!
Marathon Man was there, running his relaxing, ever Kso quiet and soothing pace. I saw him go around twice before loosing him up the back exit the to reservoir. Hmmm… one day, at the end of all this, I know that I can eventually be like him. Then there was Speedy, a thin 6-foot powerhouse that probably runs a 4-minute mile and the Doctor, who usually runs in the same direction I do. I can always tell when the Doctor is going to overtake me by the sound of his foot strike. Today, both of them were running in the same direction. As they passed me, I saw the slow wave of their hands in a silent g’day or acknowledgment that only runners share.
A few minutes later, I was alone once again, with only my own thoughts and the rhythmic breathing that relaxes my mind. Did I look at my watch? Naw… I just knew that my time wasn’t up yet, so I kept thinking of how nice it was to be outside and simply enjoyed my runs.
My mind was somewhere else and time went by…
Before I knew it, my runs were complete and I was walking my cool-down. The funny thing is that I don’t even really remember that much about my run, only that I felt very… peaceful.
Was I a little out of breath? Yes.
Was my knee bothering me? Not that much.
Did I feel as though I could take on the world?
Definitely!
