Rock Star

aka, A 15 K.

aka, I think I'm almost back.

In answer to the question, yes. It is crazy to get up earlyish and pay $25 to run 9ish miles in the freezing cold. But, it is fun (for me) to know that I'm slowly starting to get my pre-marathon speed back. My smart friend Dave once told me that you had to run fast to get fast (ie, speed work). I wasn't sure if I believed him, but I've been trying it and it seems, perhaps to be working. So, before the marathon I generally ran between 9 and 10 mpm. Since the marathon its been more liked between 10 and 11 mpm. Yesterday, I ran 9ish miles when I should have been on an 8 mile long run in preparation for a late January 1/2 marathon, which is to say that I wasn't rested or racing, per se. Yet my splits were: 10:10; 9:57 ;10:21 ;10:14; 9:59; 12:28 (bathroom) ;10:13 ;11:14 (walked up a hill that I couldn't bear to run up twice in one day); and 10:07. Most of those splits are much, much closer to 10 than any other number.

So, yeah, pretty much I'm a rock star;)

A few things, though. On mile 7, running up the hill, I really thought I was going to hurl. I think it was low blood sugar (I forgot my gels). I wonder if its weird that having nothing in my stomach makes me want to hurl? Yesterday, under my right knee cap hurt. Alot. Whenever I bent my leg. Its better today. But, I hope that this isn't a new ailment. A new sign of getting old. And today, my legs, or more specifically my IT Bands, especially the right one ARE SO SORE. Is it maybe not a good idea to run 9 miles (when you should be running 8) in the freezing cold and then, after brunch and driving home, crawl up in the bed for the rest of the day without stretching? I might be on to something there;) I think there is some foam rolling in my future!