Thursday, March 11, 2010

Running update: supertitioning like a pro. That's something.

So, I feel like I should tell you that I am, at this moment, writing this post from the sun-warmed comfort of my back patio.

Because HI THANK YOU WEATHER it has stopped raining for one godforsaken second. YAY.

So, obviously, when given the opportunity to work from home on a sunshiny afternoon that's not soaked in rain and misery, I took of my heels (even though they're the hottest), put on flip-flops (which are patently not the hottest because they're dirty and worn out) and dragged the laptop and cell phone out to the back .40 for some quality time under the bright shiny ball.

I'm sorry to keep rubbing it in, but the heat from the sun has dulled my senses to the point where I no longer know when I've gone too far.


In other self-congratulatory fun and at great risk of totally jinxing myself, I will tell you that I've managed FOUR sub-24 interval runs in a row which makes me want to high-five myself like a total ass and now I've developed one of those pro athlete-style superstitions (even though I can't even remotely be considered a pro anything) that revolves around my running attire having to be a certain way in order to Keep The Streak Alive.

And, by running attire, you certainly know that I mean my new running top which, as a good friend would say, is The Most.

While it may be The Most in some ways, it is also The Least in other ways, which is how it has become, in my mind, the source of my sub-24 interval running powers.

Like, I finish my runs in The Least number of minutes and seconds when I wear this top. And I get The Least amount of annoying comments about the chilly temps because of the skin-shielding power of its tiny short sleeves when I wear this top. And I sweat The Least of all my sleeve-having tops when I wear this top.

And that's the most The Least things I can think of. Because,well, we're all confused by that last paragraph.

Anyway, I now have a cozy little gross superstition to work into my pre-run repertoire and, while I have been running faster, I'm still pretty slow and I now have to worry about one more time-consuming thing before I can get my ass out the door and that is determining the status of The Top.

Is it clean? OK, no.
If it's not clean, is it at least not gross enough smelling YET that I can bear to be inside of it for 23:XX (awesomely fast) minutes and seconds? OK, maybe if I hold my head just so and don't, say, try to wipe my nose on the inside of the collar.
Let's go.

Do you see how gross this newly discovered superstition has made me? I'm disgusted by my own self. But I don't get down about it. Ho no. I just look at my last four interval times, smile proudly and then high-five myself, thus negating any self-pride I might have reclaimed by reviewing my interval times.

*Sigh*

Of course, there is the other issue of The Top to contend with, and one that can keep me entertained for the whole of a sub-24 run - Shouldn't I just get another top so that I am not running in a sweaty snot rag?

But, my mind being the fresh hot mess that we all know it to be, sends me round and round in the "What if I buy another short-sleevey top just in time for it to become officially tank-top season thus rendering the purchase superfluous and, well, it would mean more shit in my overflowing workout drawer of clothes. What if that?"

Like I've said before, it's a mess in my head. And also I won't be buying another top. I'll just be hauling Bubba's clothes out of the washer so that I can get down with some The Top washing before Saturday. Problem solved. Though I wish I'd solved it during one of those runs because that would have made them productive rather than torturous.

Back to the good news though - it's sunny, I've hit FOUR (4)(!) sub-24 interval runs in a row and my poor, helpless Virtual Partner is totally wasting away in my dust to the tune of an average 9:15 pace.

And while my shortish long run of the weekend (7 miles) wasn't in the Virtual Murder category (which would be sub-9:59), I did score a 10:13 pace, which by my standards is pretty good. In fact, it's the fastest pace I've managed on my shortish long runs since I've gotten back in the habit of wearing the Garmin while I'm out.

Remember, my goal is to sub-60 10K in April, so I do have some work to do (specifically, I need to run a sub-10 minute mile pace for 6.2 miles), but we're close. And this weekend I'll do 8, though I expect I'll be wearing my favorite tank-top for the occasion since it MAY get into the 60s around here.

6 comments:

  1. Hmmm...even if you worry that tank-top weather is right around the corner, buying another shirt really won't hurt as time will turn and the weather change again at some point.

    Good for you in making a plan and working it to meet your goals.

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  2. You always make me laugh. Even when I'm having a crappy day.

    A sub-60 10K is sooo doable for you.

    And thanks for sending your rain our way. Not. It's supposed to rain for the next few days with possibly flash flooding. Yippee. i guess no running for me ...

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  3. Okay, this doesn't have much to do with your post. I can only try to relate it by saying that your post is about running, and you like to listen to music while you run. So, I'm sending you my latest fabulous music find - the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack. Now, I'm not really sure that you can call it a soundtrack, because apparently almost none of the music is in the movie (this was told to me by my daughter who is currently as obsessed with the soundtrack as I am, and who actually saw the movie). It's such a deal, too. $9.99 for 18 tracks! With bands like Wolfmother, Plain White T's, 3oh!3, Shinedown, Franz Ferdinand - you just can't go wrong. Well, of course, you could go horribly wrong. But you won't. Go ahead. Try it. ;)

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  4. My superstition is not to run. If I run, I collapse in a sad, oxygen-deprived heap of sweaty pathos. Children point and laugh. Old ladies in walkers pass me. Someone calls the paramedics because they think I've died on their lawn and, hey, they don't even allow dog poop on their lawn, let alone a dead sweaty woman.

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  5. your goal making prowess is awesome! :) Can't wait to hear how well these races go.

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  6. In the bag, that sub-60 10K. High five yourself!

    A few things:

    1. Wow those green heels!

    2. I clicked on your running shirt link even though I had already seen it and it says Recommended Use: Trail running, hiking, backpacking, climbing, spring skiing And I totally read it as 'spring cleaning.' Ha. Tell me, how is your Epic Fast Running Shirt for cleaning toilets?

    Superstitions are fun. An old housemate didn't wash his ski socks though. And, he'd hang them over the fucking heater to dry every night. Now, that's a GROSS superstition. You're doing just fine.

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[2013 update: You can't comment as an anonymous person anymore. Too many douchebags were leaving bullshit SPAM comments and my inbox was getting flooded, but if you're here to comment in a real way like a real person, go to it.]

Look at you commenting, that's fun.

So, here's the thing with commenting, unless you have an email address associated with your own profile, your comment will still post, but I won't have an email address with which to reply to you personally.

Sucks, right?

Anyway, to remedy this, I usually come back to my posts and post replies in the comment field with you.

But, if you ever want to email me directly to talk about pumpkins or shoes or what it's like to spend a good part of your day Swiffering - shoot me an email to finnyknitsATgmailDOTcom.

Cheers.