Saturday: RUN

OH yes friends, today I rejoined my running group for reals.  I arrived at the park at 6:15 AM, secured a primo parking place, ran a few laps around the inner park loop while I waited on the group to show up.  I was ON IT.  I was early, I brought plenty of water, three extra jackets in case it was warmer or cooler when I arrived at the park, two grab the gold bars, some Dr. Pepper chapstick, my heart rate monitor -synced and receiving information (with Body Glide underneath so that it would not chafe, though it chafed anyway), and all of my athletic enthusiasm.  My short term preparation was meticulous, but I have to say that none of that really matters if your body is not prepared for the rigors of the 13 mile sprint.

I was grossly unprepared.  There have not been any long runs since my December 11th marathon and my speed and stamina were just not up to par.  NOW, normally this would not be any great crisis, but listen to my sad tale:

Our running group was at one time composed of a great variety of runners.  If you were feeling off your game or uber-chatty, you could drop back a little and run with a few runners that were slightly slower, or if you were trying to race you could run with a faster group.  There were many many options.  For whatever reason, the running group has lost a few members, a few members have formed other groups, and suddenly we are left with a very fast group (7:40 miles at least for most of a 13-20 mile run) and a very slow group (9:30 miles or slower for a 4-7 mile run).  So the slower group just really is not a workout that prepares me for competition and the fast group is hauling.

My strategy today was to go out with the fast group and fall back when I had to and try to run 8ish minute miles overall.  I held to my strategy, BUT it is painful to my ego when members of the fast group worry that I am running alone and fall back to run with me, all the while making cheerful comments that they need to rest a bit today, it is better if they have an easy run, and all sorts of kindnesses that are like a knife to my prideful heart.  I managed to average slightly over 8 minute miles, and I had some great conversation, albeit with a hint of mortification that my running companions pitied me.

13 miles, however, YAY for me !!!  I finished the run in dropping temperatures and driving sleet.  At home, I shoveled down two beet pancakes, two slices of french toast, two sausages, green tea and so much coffee.  So delicious, and I have missed that particular kind of appetite that comes after a long fast run.  It is nice to just start scarfing down food like a garbage disposal.

In other news, I had dinner at City House tonight with the fabulous and always enjoyable Daniel Tashian.  I tasted my first overt anchovy, meaning that is was not mashed up in Caesar dressing so that I did not know it was there.  Or is it sardines that are in Caesar dressing? Anyway, it was quite good and I learned all about the best kind to buy, and now beware anytime you dine at my house as there might be anchovies in your food.  Also, Daniel (the great!!!) told me some under the radar 30 Rock  jokes that I feel will make my favorite television show all the more meaningful.  It was a glorious evening!!