I hit the path around Boathouse Row yesterday for a good 1:50 run. It was the first time since IMLP that I wore my HR monitor, and it might have been the first time I've had a GU since the big dance as well. As for the HR, I had been purposely not wearing it at first because I wanted to get away from the numbers. Then, during XC season, I realized I was consistently running at a much higher HR than I normally would. I have read a lot about 'junk miles' and the 'dead zone', when your HR isn't low enough to build that aerobic engine efficiently, but isn't high enough to make it a worthwhile effort... So, figuring I was putting in a lot of junk, I stopped charting the data. Very scientific of me, right? Well as I suspected, the pace at which I have become "comfortable" running, is right in that dead zone. I'm still not quite sure if it matters though, because I'm doing so much less volume this year... I feel like training at a lower HR is really beneficial when you get lots of time there... I don't know. Either way, I used the HR strap, and it slowed me down a bit, helped me stay in check.
As I ran I couldn't help think about this half marathon I have coming up in just over 2 weeks. I've never run a straight half marathon before. On the one hand I want to take it out full throttle! It's ONLY a 13.1 mile race, right? I consistently put in longer training runs than that... On the other hand, it's NOT a 5k where I can just push, push, push, and hold on for dear life. As such, I have no idea what I can or will do. I guess I have an idea, but the not knowing is I think what draws me to these endurance sports so much. I love that I don't know what I can do! I can't wait to decide on a plan of attack, put it into play, and then see what comes of it. There are decisive moments in a race when you just say "hell, I'm going for it! Let's see what's left!", and I LOVE those moments! It's so exciting!
I hope that being relatively new to endurance sports isn't what keeps this feeling alive for me. I hope as I get older and have already raced many different distances they don't start to lose their allure... And I don't think they will.
Still a bit of stress coming down from work this week, so I'm doing my best to stay on top of everything. After a presentation tomorrow, I should be able to cruise through the rest of the week. And then TWO weeks of spring break! Followed by my first race of 2012...
Happy training.
Do great work.
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