I guess I’ve been treating running like it’s college: as
long as I accumulate miles on my legs, regardless of the frequency, I’ll be
able to move to the next level. Cs get degrees. Since I’ve run marathons, my
legs will remember that, and I can do any race without preparation.
Unfortunately, running is like most things you learn in
school: if you don’t use it, you lose it.
I ran the BAA 10K for the 3rd year in a row
yesterday. The heat was oppressive (but it always is at this race – why would
that be any different?). The hills on Comm Ave were rolling (but they always
are – how could that change?).
I clocked a 1:02:19. Not my worst, but definitely not my
best (especially when, in my head, I was going for a 55:00-er).
I sat at my post-race brunch, perplexed. I said to my
running partner/BFFL: “I feel like I’m in better shape than I was for the 2011
10K (when I ran a sub-hour), but for some reason, the clock says otherwise.”
To which Mr. Running Boots kept it real: “I think you were
running a lot more back then.”
Ugh.
He’s right.
Ugh.
I got home and looked at my running logs, and the proof of
my 1:02:19 stared back at me. Four mile weeks. Six mile weeks. Running twice a
week, if that. I can’t believe I even did it as fast as I did. (My legs are
also killing me today. After 6 miles. Six
miles. I used to run 14, 15 miles at a time. The shame.)
And just like my ability to conjugate –ar verbs in Spanish,
I’ve lost it.
The final event of the BAA Medley, the half marathon, is in
my crosshairs. I have 16 weeks to train up to that – 12 of formal training, and
4 to ramp me up to avoid blowing out my legs.
I really, really want to run a sub-2 hour half.
But I think I should also focus on something I’ve never
really been able to do: stick to the plan. Do all my homework. Ace all my
tests. Get an A.
On the syllabus this week: Running four days this week,
including a long run of four miles, for a total of 11 miles.
Class is in session.
