10 Mile Run (!!!)
Who: Alone
What: 10 Mile Run
Where: Schuylkill River Trail, Valley Forge start
When: Saturday
I’m really bad about posting on the weekends, aren’t I. Sorry about that. But here I am on Monday posting about my longest run to date, and the first double digit mileage.
First, the important thing. I did okay. 10 miles at a sub-9 pace. I believe the average was the 8:55 range.
But I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t challenging. More… after the jump.
This was not a group run. I sent out email asking if anyone doing intermediate wanted to meet up but didn’t get response. So my longest run was to be a solo run. And it turns out, an hour and a half out there running on a trail is plenty of time for your brain to do everything possible to you, from being encouraging to deciding that you stink at everything in the world.
It did not help that it was cold, and I swear it got colder as I was out there. Hey, here’s me dressed for the cold:
I was wearing two layers of compression gear there along with my earcovers, and it turned out to be just about perfect for low-to-mid-30s… except for my face. We’ll get to that.
By memory, because the lap data is in my watch and hasn’t been downloaded yet, I came out REALLY fast. Toooo fast. For the first two miles I kept thinking… “Slow down.” I was doing what I wanted by the third though… I wanted to try to stick around 9 minute miles so I was sure I’d finish.
This was an out and back, to the other side of Norristown for the 5 miles out. And on the way out, I kept thinking… “Well, I’m committed to x miles now.” Because that’s what an out and back is. So at 3 miles, I’m thinking… “Okay, well, now I have to do 6.” I kept doing this. I annoyed myself.
But I reached the 5 mile mark, turned around, and felt… surprisingly okay. 6 miles, and still felt fine. Same with 7. And I thought… “Okay, only a 5k left. Easy!”
Not easy. The final 3 were really tough. In mile 8, I walked for a bit. Just a bit. Started talking to myself. “What are you doing? Keep moving. Keep moving. This isn’t going to help you finish any sooner.” I plodded forward again. I think my laptime for that mile was mid-9s and I was falling apart.
The last mile was a blur. I somehow did finish. I think the already chilly temperature dropped while I was out there, and when I got back and tried to talk my face felt too cold and my lips wouldn’t properly form words.
But it was done! And the farthest run to date. And the first double-digit mileage run. Sure, when I know I have friends who are doing 18 miles or… gulp… 50 miles… it may not seem TOO far. In perspective. But it was a big deal to me.
One Response to “10 Mile Run (!!!)”
Therese - December 10, 2008
Are you kidding me? I remember every step of my first 10-mile run, the Broad Street Run 2004. I cried at the ending. I was actually fearful that I might die after running for that long. This is something to be really proud of, especially because you were alone. I was out at the same time, and that cold was no joke. You could do the half-marathon now, no problem. You know that, right? Wow, maybe I should listen to myself more often
I’m here for you, man. If you ever want to rap post-run, let me know.
Leave a Reply