Two Weeks Of Long Runs

Ooops... I blame my 5th college reunion for my tardiness. So two weeks, let's recap, shall we?

We left off on October 13th, and the week that followed was just crazy. I got pulled onto a project at work, and made a last minute trip to Boston on Thursday. My flight back to NYC got cancelled Thursday night, which was a huge problem since I was scheduled to fly to my College Homecoming Friday morning. And let me tell you... the folks at US Airways couldn't be any less concerned. They couldn't understand the reason why I had two separate reservations (business trip + personal trip), and why I couldn't fly from Boston to NYC on Friday morning... land in NYC at 7:15 in LGA, go home and pack for the weekend, and make it to JFK for a 10:00 flight. The customer service rep told me she had never been to NYC, but she thought that the transition was doable. Um, yeah. So we ended up driving back from Boston late Thursday night so I could make my flight on Friday.

Thank goodness it was worth it! :)

Can we go back, please?

My long run for the week got pushed back until I recovered... which ended up being on Tuesday. It was a tough run, but I moved up to 3 miles! Average pace was just under 9 min/mile, which felt challenging!

And now let's fast-forward through a crazy work week to this week's long run! 

4 MILES.  The first 1.5 miles were rough... and a reminder to eat breakfast a bit earlier. But I find the first mile or two of a run always the hardest, which has been challenging getting back to running since you don't have much time for the run to feel good when it's only 2.5 miles.

So finally, a run that was long enough to hate the first 1.5 miles and love the last 2.5. Getting back into running shape is TOUGH. Thank goodness I have a 'cut back' week this week... the Dash to the Finish 5K!

Sunday Long Run + Week Recap

This weekend was the perfect fall weekend, and I couldn't have had a more perfect 'long run' (why I call it a long run) today. The weather was perfect- a little 'chilly' for non-runners in the shade, but nice and toasty in the sun. Central Park was bursting with people- I've never seen so many bikers, walkers, and runners before! And, as other bloggers have already pointed out, the bright orange NYC marathon signs are now out in full force.

I don't know if it was the weather, the marathon signs, or a sign that my pelvis is finally healing, but I felt AMAZING on my run today. I felt in control, HAPPY, and PAIN FREE. One of those runs that boosts your spirits way beyond the typical 'runners high.'

I ran 2.6 blissful miles in the park, and even tackled Cat Hill today. That climb wasn't so blissful, but it felt great to leave the flat comfort of the reservoir to be back out in the 'real' park. And holy moly, I couldn't believe my splits--- 8:18? Could you tell I was excited to be out there?! I doubt I could hold that pace for much longer than 2 miles, but it was a huge confidence booster to see that number (which is just two seconds off my pace for the last 1/2 marathon before my injury).

I have my last physical therapy appointment tomorrow-- eek! I'm very nervous not to have that support anymore, but I'm taking a calendar with me so I can write down my long run mileage each week. The last thing I want to do is jump back in too quickly and end up hurt again. 

Now to this week's workouts-- better than last week, but still falling victim to being a bit lazy...

Monday: Spinning

Tuesday: Rest Day

Wednesday: 1st personal training session + jogging

Thursday: Ooops... rest day

Friday: Run 2 miles

Saturday: 40 minute swim

Sunday: Run 2.6 miles + Body Conditioning class at Equinox

I'm headed down south for my college reunion on Friday, so my goal for the week is: physical therapy on Monday followed by a workout Tuesday-Friday. That way, I can feel better about my return to college ;)

Sunday Long Run

What's a long run? Before getting injured, a Sunday long run was typically 10+ miles. Now, as I start again at zero, it's hard not to 'compete' with myself and think about what I used to be able to run without breaking a (proverbial) sweat.

But as I was out on my run this morning-- the longest since March-- I decided that I needed to start being excited about my current long runs and my progress back to health. So I'll be posting details of my long runs every week... because mileage is all relative ;)

Today's long run... 2.6 miles! I've been sticking to the reservoir since it's nice and flat, but today I had brunch plans on the west side, and what better way to work up an appetite but to run there? It was a little drizzly, a lot humid, and by the end of the run I was sucking wind. I blame the overzealous pace on Grete's Great Gallop--- I was running counter-clockwise to the race, and my competitive spirit flared up! But happy to report that I didn't feel any pain, just a little discomfort at the end of the run. I have been getting little 'twinges' of pain/discomfort after every run, but after stretching, foam rolling, and attacking my hip/glutes with a lacrosse ball, the pain disappears. 

Running was followed by a large biscuit at Jacob's Pickles... which was totally not necessarily after a 2.6 mile run, but definitely yummy ;)