Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Eyes Wide Shut Part Deux

....would you take a look at that!?

My neighbor(ing)hood isn't so "boring" when all my lovely neighbors have their Christmas lights up! It gives me some visual stimulation and makes me less inclined to run with my eyes closed, which apparently, after reading all your comments, I am not the only one who frequently closes my eyes while running. Thank goodness! It's good to know I'm not , er....weird(er than I feared).

This evening, once again in the rain-but much cooler this time, I got in a good 3.5 mile fartlek run. I enjoy fartleking around my neighborhood. It helps me mix it up a bit. I can run fast to the end of a cul-de-sac then slow to the stop sign, then fast up the small hill, then slow to the seconds white mail box, then fast to the end of the street and back to the big bush that rips my legs if I get too close, then slow to the house with the dog that bit me once, then fast....and you get the point. It really helps to pass the time and makes my run less ho-hum. Not to mention fartlek runs are a very valuable part of training and can be done on the sidewalks or streets. Getting your heart rate up and letting it fall again is an important part of building cardiovascular strength, endurance, and anaerobic threshold-which means, ideally and eventually, you can workout/run harder for longer periods of time. I was surprised to look down and see my pace, during my speed up, at a 7:10 min/mile pace. I of course wouldn't hold this pace long, maybe 400 yds. Even though a fartlek run may seem simple and fun and done only to pass the time and mix things up, this is considered a hard day in your running schedule, like speed work, and should be followed by an easy day of running or rest. So tomorrow I'll do a nice, easy run. I think I'll be ready for my 10K this weekend, the Green Baret Jingle Jog!

That's right, I registered for my first 10k since the Tacoma City 10k in 2008. This was the day before Mother's Day and the day before The Hub's deployed to Iraq. I pushed LB in the stroller and it was one of the toughest races I can recall. Not to mention The Hubs took first in his age group....that stings. It didn't sting at the time but it stings now...I want to win first in my age group.I would like to promise a PR this weekend but since my previous 10k time is 56:32 (9:05 min/mile pace) I'm not sure I've got that in me right now. Plus I believe the route is quite hilly, not Tacoma hilly, is significantly hillier than my little neighborhood. I'm excited nonetheless to see how I do and to get a more recent 10k on the books.

I really like the 10k race distance. I don't know why I don't do more of them. What race distance do you like but have little experience racing?


17 comments:

  1. i like 10ks a lot too and 5 milers...but what i've noticed in my area is you can find SO MANY 5ks and several half marathons, but very few 10ks. Exactly 1 a year is all i've found so far for 10ks. I did get two 5 mile races in this year though. I'm not a long distance runner so those ARE my long races...but i like 'em. I bet you'll do great!
    runner_girl5k at yahoo dot com

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  2. Good luck! I hardly ever see 10ks advertised, either. Not that I would enter one, still seems too long for me.

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  3. Good luck! You are training hard too! Hope you get a PR! 10k's are great!!

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  4. I like the 10k's too. It's probably my favorite race distance. I've only competed in two but I plan to run in a whole lot more. My PR is also 56:something :) Hopefully I can beat it one day.

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  5. I'm not sure why but I really dislike the 10km distance. I like half marathons.

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  6. The lights make running in the dark sooo much more enjoyable! How can it not put you in a good mood?

    Good luck at the 10K! Woot!!

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  7. Yay for you!! I'm glad to see you're back at it consistantly! Told you it would come eventually!!

    Christmas lights definitely make my runs more fun right now too!!

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