I got stuck in the San Francisco airport Friday night. My flight home was supposed to leave at 7:30 (and land in Portland at 9:30), but it was canceled. Then the replacement flight was delayed. Again. And again. We didn’t leave the bay area until about 1am, and I didn’t crawl into my bed at home until three.
When my alarm went off at 6am, I groaned. “I don’t want to run this morning,” I told Kris. “I’m tired. I’m exhausted.” I hit the snooze button and pulled the covers over my head.
But I couldn’t fall back asleep.
I was thinking about how well I’ve been doing with my marathon training. Last year, I only did the weekend training runs, and I usually did the longest option. This year, I’ve been doing the midweek runs, too, and I’m only doing the shortest options on the weekend. I’m being cautious and methodical.
If I continued to sleep, how would I feel? I knew that I’d be upset with myself. The scheduled run for Saturday was six miles on trails through Portland’s Forest Park. Last year, this was my favorite run. And I was reluctant to begin missing workouts so early in the season. Where would that lead?
So I pulled myself out of bed. In a foggy haze, I pulled on my exercise clothes, hopped into the car, and headed for northwest Portland. “I can’t do this,” I thought to myself. “I’m exhausted.”
The temperature at the run site was about 40 degrees, though, and that quickly woke me up. Plus, I fell into the front of the 4:30 pace group, where I was able to chat with old friends. Laura, last year’s group leader, ran beside me. Kim and Rachel (also from last year’s 4:30 group) ran in front of us. And in front of them was Ryan, another member from last year who is now the group leader.
As we tromped slowly along the slick and mucky Wildwood Trail, the five of us talked. I don’t know these people outside of our weekend runs, but I feel a sort of kinship with them. We’re together every Saturday. As we ran and talked (and slipped on the mud), my mind became clearer. My tired body relaxed and did what I asked of it.
In the end, I finished the six miles. My muscles hurt afterward, and I napped most of Saturday afternoon, but I did the run. This was great physically, but more than anything, it felt like a mental victory. I felt like I’d reached some key point in my commitment to fitness.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
BRAVO! It always feels so good to run. I have some challenges coming up for my training season this year, where work will keep me up late the night before our weekend runs. I have to remember this when I’m hit with it.
Wow, good for you. Personally, I KNOW I would have gone back to sleep for another hour or two, and then tried to get my workout in later. But I don’t have a group of people to run with, so my schedule’s more flexible. That can be both good and bad.
4:30 pace group? Seems a bit fast, LoL….
I’m sure I’m not seeing what it’s for…..
harm (#3)
The 4:30 pace group is aiming to complete the marathon in 4 hour 30 minutes. We actually train at about 12 minute miles — or 15 when we’re on wet, muddy trails.
Ah, that makes more sense. Thanks, JD.