10/16/11
13 miles / 1:48:55 / 8:23 avg pace
I ran last Friday and didn’t even blog about it. Who cares, right? Yes, but I want this blog to be an honest look at my running. I was too frustrated and pissed off to even mention Friday’s run. I set out to run 13 miles and ended up with 9 at a slow 9:24 average pace. I never cut a long run short. I can run through blood, freezing temps, boiling hot temps but I never cut a run short. So I was clearly PO’d enough to call it quits.
Friday’s run basically went like this: 9:00 pace (normally my LSD pace) felt labored. Maybe I needed to warm-up? Nope. After 5 miles, I passed my car and was ready to throw in the towel. But I didn’t. Two miles later I was officially DONE and turned around and headed back to my car. I was more frustrated than anything. What the hell was going on?
As I posted earlier this week, I’ve been having trouble breathing when running. It just feels way more labored then it should. I’ve already mulled over the possibility that I’m completely out of shape but I realize that is irrational and just plain crazy. The more I thought about it the more I kept thinking it was my asthma. My asthma is never an issue anymore, due to some incredible medications that keep it under control. But I got a cold a few weeks ago and it started drifting into my chest which is never good for my asthma.
I took Saturday as a mental health day from running. And vowed to come back strong on Sunday.
I used my inhaler pre-run on Sunday (I did the same on Friday). I generally use it pre-run when I’m sick or when it’s very cold out. I was determined to make this a good run. I started out at MP (8:30), dropped the pace slightly, and then stayed consistent. I felt great and my breathing was right where it should be. Ah, redemption tastes so sweet 🙂
It’s funny that I finished right around my half marathon PR. I’m now ready for the Philly Half. Bring it.
Got any redemption runs this weekend to brag about? I have to give a shout out to Kara and Alyssa for going sub-4:00 at the Baltimore Marathon yesterday. Way to go ladies!
Thanks for the shout out!
We all have bad run days and if you can’t breathe, there is no shame in cutting a run short. I had those days back when the smoke was in town!
You are awesome for mentioning us! Thanks!
Cutting runs short is frustrating, no matter how good of a reason you have. My asthma is usually well controlled too, but, like you, when I get sick it gets out of control and breathing is difficult. So glad you got your redemption.
I am curious about your pacing – in your journey to BQ, did paces that were once difficult come to feel like an average training pace? Based on your beginning marathon times, I am guessing that 9:00 miles were not your usual long run pace (no offense!)
No offense taken! Yes, that is exactly what happened. Last year when I got my sub-4:00, my MP was 9:00. This past May, it was 8:45. And, for my most recent marathon, MP was 8:30. To me, it was much easier to mentally tackle BQing by taking baby steps.
Ummm no redemption for me this morning. Yes I barely PR-ed at the half but I wanted to die the whole time and thought I could go about 3 minutes faster overall. I also got a sinus infection at the end of this week and did not sleep at all last night…so I guess I can’t be too upset huh??
You PR’d though despite being sick! Celebrate that!
That’s a fabulous long run and if you can run your PR in practice, then in a race you should crush it. And you have a lot of time btwn now and philly to get some speedwork and stuff in!
A cold/virus can definitely cause an asthma exacerbation so that was probably it.
I still don’t know how all you guys do your long runs so fast! I think I do mine around 9-10min pace unless I’m giving some specific task (eg: this many miles at MP, stuff like that). I think I am weird though.
Nice run! You are going to kill the Philly half! I was happy to run 7 miles yesterday. The pace was nothing special, but I felt almost normal for the first time after the debacle known as Steamtown…
Also your iron could be low. I once had a similar problem and when I started taking a good multivitamin w/iron it made all the difference.
my sister has asthma and it never gives her problems, but just last week she had to go to the doctor for it! Her doc said there are tons of new allergens that is aggravating it for a lot of people. Maybe that was it? Glad you had a great redemption run – those are the best 🙂
What a great pace for a long run. I’m amazed!!!! Especially just coming off a marathon where you BQ-ed for Boston. Wow. You just get faster and faster… You are totally going to PR in Philly!!!!