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Monday, July 25, 2011

I Need to get Faster so I can go Farther

I'm trying to remain patient with my return to running and not compare or judge myself for how slow I'm going or how short a distance I'm covering.  But, it sure would be an advantage to be faster so that in the time I have, I could cover more miles!

Tonight, it was 8 pm before I had the chance to get out for a run, and while that's not terrible, darkness falls at about 8:30 here in the summer, and I don't love being out after dark (and yet am not bother by pre-dawn darkness -- weird, right?); plus, a storm was/is rolling in and it was beginning to lightning off in the distance.  With 30 minutes, I really can only go a little more than 2 miles.

So, that's what I got done: 2 miles + a smidgen (which is a highly technical term for measuring distance) and that took me almost 25 minutes.

It's hard to get past my sense that 3 miles should be a minimum distance, but I also know that some running is better than no running.  Right now, I just need to be happy with what I can get done!

12 comments:

MNFirefly said...

I feel you on the distance issue. I am taking whatever I can get right now. The speed will come back. Just give it time. Your patience will be rewarded.

lee said...

Keep at it, you'll get your endurance back. I know how you feel though. I just sort of slacked off for the past couple of months and now anything more than 3 miles is a long (and difficult) run. It does come back though.

Amber said...

I'm totally feeling you on this one, too. I'm trying to get over that I'm running 30 minutes but not 3 miles, but it SUCKS! I keep telling myself that this is the hard part, getting started to running 3 with no walk breaks - once I get up to that point regularly, the rest falls into place. Or at least it did the last time! Also, we're trying to come back in the heat of the summer. That makes it harder now but we'll reap the rewards in speed when it cools down!

Unknown said...

coming back each time after my knee treatments takes time to build up speed and endurance, so I know what you are going through from that perspective. Keep at it.

Robin said...

Yes, this! I am finally starting to get some of my speed back and can usually knock out a 3 miler in about 30-32 minutes but it took me a while to get back to that (basically because my running has been sporadic ever since I had Eva). You are doing great by keeping at it. You'll be faster before you know it!

StephanieC said...

This is the ONE and ONLY reason i am dreading having a child.

Marlene said...

Night time dark is definitely different than morning dark!

Krissy said...

I hear you on that one. When your used to what your "norm" was it is so hard to think you are really doing enough at the start of a long break like this. I just give you so much credit going out at 8pm! It is just so hard to find motivation that late in the day for myself, good for you!

N.D. said...

I know how you feel but you know how it goes. You'll forget about this in between time - in no time!

Carolina John said...

You'll get the distance back. It's not that far off now.

Wes said...

yea, you're gonna get to 3 miles in no time. I'd wait for it to get a bit cooler too :-)

Julie D said...

My latest training program has a lot of "jog 30 minutes" or "jog 40 minutes," and I love those because I CAN go more slowly without killing myself (out of shape at this point, so any help is welcome).