… certainly wasn’t expecting this! Couldn’t believe my splits, never felt I was running hard/fast. My only self complaint/criticism is that I was feeling so good throughout, I wanted to keep this going for 8-10K, but suddenly at 4.5K knew it wouldn’t happen. At that point, it was either push hard for 6, or shut it down at 5. I chose the latter. But, turning it into a positive, wanted to do another 2K at a slower pace; was looking at 5:30 – 6:00. Again not feeling stressed, surprised myself with splits of 4:55 and 4:51! Sweet!
A new PR (Garmin PR) … beats yesterday’s time by a minute. I think it’s my 3rd fastest ever. I rarely run 5Ks. The 1st time I did last year, I stopped the clock at 22:02 and was pleased enough – although I did run it again to better it. I know I’d rather run 4Ks … or run through 5 kilometers and stop at 8K, or 10K. I know running hard up the hill to stop the clock isn’t my favourite thing – I’d rather push hard up the hill, and then know my run is flat for the next few kilometers. I’m happy w/ today’s time – I love running 4:30s – 4:25s … but right now this is my distance limit doing so. I remember last year carrying that pace for 8K, 10K. Looking back, I see I was a streaky runner; I’d run fast times for days straight, then suddenly wouldn’t be able to match them. In fact, I PRed my 8K runs on back to back days. Almost identical times too … and that’s what I’m talking about when I say carrying my speed, my 8K record run, I ran the final 4K in 17:42 … negative splits. But for the most part, all the kilometers would be run very evenly. I don’t have the stamina right now. That’s why today’s run was good, is important to me – I really have no interest whittling down today’s time by much – I really want to run this pace farther. I want to run this, and then run it AGAIN continuously for a solid 10K time.
Today’s date. Love playing with numbers – changing the way you look at things.
My first run in five days, I’ve been fighting a cold/flu thingie, but I woke-up determined to give it a try. I really didn’t know what to expect, and my goal was to complete my 8K, not paying attention to my time (too much – sick or not, I’m still anal, lol), and about 3 kilometers in, felt I’d be able to accomplish it. Ten minutes later, I seriously began thinking of running a 10K, but, I would make that decision as I neared home. I always feels it’s better to think of it in advance, at least that way, I’m prepared mentally to continue. And, I did … another 47 minute 10K, almost identical to my run on November 12th. My 5K splits were equal – actually, I was 2 seconds faster on the backend. By all rights, I shouldn’t have been able to achieve this! I’m sick, missed so many days of training, yet I amaze myself. As I said in my previous post, if I were to achieve 47 minutes in an official 10K, I’d be very pleased. Today, I say it again!
My first run in over a week! Eight days exactly … last run was Sept. 28th … I never miss more than one day (ok, maybe missed two consecutive days once or twice, but that’s it), so to be outta running commission so long tells ya how I felt. I’m still on antibiotics, and I have to go back next week for my “medical procedure” (is all I’m gonna say ’bout that), and I’ve been feeling so dragged down, so faint, so tired – now, I’m not sure if it’s the infection, or all these meds making me weak? I didn’t know what to expect today, and when I started running, after only 100m my legs felt like rubber, but I persisted. Imagine my surprise, hearing my 5:00 minute audio cue, and I was further along my route than 99% of my previous first calls! And my 2K time was my 3rd fastest ever! Don’t misunderstand, I was still weak … truth be told, I was reaching into my pocket, fumbling with my phone, and inadvertently hit stop on RunKeeper – I was planning on at least reaching the 3K mark before I stopped, so I was a bit premature, lol. Good enough!
I stood there, admiring my accomplishment (I’m still in awe, when taking everything into consideration. Plus it was very humid – my glasses were fogged up, lol). I then turned around, and jogged home – comfortably, but at a steady. A nice to be back 5K run … and it was plenty … oh, and on top of everything – I had a bird in the oven … a practice Thanksgiving turkey, and I didn’t want to be out too long ‘ncase it needed tending to, lol!
Not that July, or August weren’t filled with good runs – they were. Seems like in September, I kicked it up a notch, and was particularly good. I set five PRs during the month … all within a nineteen day span! Plenty chuffed with myself!
… ok, so I ran it today – Saturday the 14th … just doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it, lol?! Is only my second time running the distance, I vowed not to after my setting such a fast time in late July. Today, figured it was mine for the taking. And it was … shaved 18 seconds off my record. WOW! I see that I’ve PRed four distances in September … and only half the month has elapsed. Today, it just so happens, also officially marks four months of danistrulytherunningman as well. WOW again … yep, lots has happened during these past four months!
Running & Beer Drinking! Is there anything better? God, I love you both, lol!
This may be the single best run I’ve had since I boarded TheRunningTrain. Sure, I PRed, but it was much more than that. I felt very strong throughout, even when I finished … normally I feel so winded, completely spent. Not today! I ran the first 5K in 22:57, I brought home the final 5K in 22:14! Are you f’ing kidding me? To put that in perspective; my 5K PR is 22:02. Honestly, I know having my RunKeeper set providing audio cues every minute helped. During that second half, I was determined to keep my pace at 220m per call … and I did. In fact, often covering 230m, even 240m occasionally … and anytime/every time I achieved those distances … I dug deeper, giving it all I had for the following minute, feeding off the accomplishment of my previous minute … you know what I mean? Yep, def has to be my greatest effort to date! Now … where’s my beer?!
… I cracked the seventeen and a half minute barrier, bettering the old record by 14 seconds, quite the margin considering I’ve been running fast 4ks like crazy lately. Plus, this PR comes on the heels of my impressive Saturday 5K …
Ok, so technically NOT an official, organized one. Hey, I tried signing up for the JAZZ RUN in the Beaches tomorrow, but they were sold out. Fuck it – I’ll run my own 5K TODAY!!
Quickie Recap:
I run 8K daily – EVERYDAY … and usually I run two 4Ks wanting a great 4K PR time – and as I’ve mentioned before it’s a circular route, and the halfway point is the perfect spot to stop my RunKeeper app. At times, I run the 8K without breaking it into two separate runs, and 10K occasionally – even 12K too, bottom line, I travel well past 5 kilometers every single day, but I’ve never hit start/stop for the 5K distance?!?! I know, weird eh, lol?! Now, I knew (roughly) what I was capable of by looking at my strong 8K runs, and of course, at all of those fast 4k times I’ve put down. I figured I could go sub 18 minutes for the four, tack on another four and a half minutes for the fifth kilometer, and I’d be sitting chilly on a quick 22:30 5K – and I’d def be chuffed as fuck with that!
Today’s Run:
Started like I always try to – like a bat outta hell … and as typical, I began questioning how well/fast I was traveling/feeling, lol! After my 15 minute audio cue, I knew I was flying … after 20 minutes, I was at 4.53 kilometers … HOLY CUBAN CIGAR SMOKES BATMAN – 470 meters more, and I hit STOP on my app … twentytwominutes&twoseconds … I couldn’t fucking believe it … I STILL can’t believe it – 22:02!! Not only did I exceed expectations, I blew them away by a huge margin! And knowing myself, and especially not wanting to disappoint myself … I don’t know if I can ever run a 5K again, lol!
… talkin’ ’bout bloggers – running bloggers specifically … who run 5K (or 10K) races, and INSIST on converting the distances to miles when blogging ’bout it all?! Love reading your stories, but it’s VERY annoying … either 5K (or 10K) … THAT’S IT … nuff said!!
A few thoughts, a few numbers. I obliterated my previous 8K record by a whopping 1 minute & 12 seconds. That’s a HUGE improvement! I think because I’m usually trying for a great halfway split (4K), or a fast 10K time, neglecting running as hard as I can trying to improve on my 8K time … but today I did. Maybe it has something to do with my Saturday runs, lately they’ve all been PR’s. Funny, it wasn’t till later (at home, after my shower) that I thought to myself I could have annihilated my previous 10K PR as well (sub 46 minutes was def attainable), but like I said, I can only attempt one record at a time, and I’m happy I accomplished this one. I was at 4K in 17:50 (only 5 seconds slower than my fastest time), and I finished (the second 4K) in 18:37 – a very fast time in itself. And, I’ve never run (or timed) a 5K race … but adding my first five kilometers totals 22:26 … for those who have finished a 5K run, lemme know what you think – please (and thanks)!
I think was really amazes me, is my continual improvement. Whenever I achieve a new benchmark, I say to myself, “that’s it, that’s the best I can do” … and I mean it, but you know what? It never is, I eventually do better, and it seems like leaps and bounds better!
Also, I should provide a bit of background. I’ve never been a runner. I’ve never considered myself a runner. I’m a 50 year old dude who recently decided to take up running. I’ve also started to become smarter about what I put into my body – I’m talking healthier eats, if it’s beneficial – I’m eating/drinking it! Uhm, I know my body weight, my BMI (21.8) has worked in my favour (oh, and that’s another story … that was through hard work as well), perhaps providing me with a bit of a head-start. Also, my youthful athletic prowess shouldn’t be discounted, despite the great distance separating the what was, and what is, I still know the most important part of what makes a top athlete is … NEVER SAY QUIT … above and beyond everything else, THIS is it! And it’s still a part of me, who I am … Intestinal Fortitude y’all!! But, I’m curious, and for those runners who may read this, REAL runners (hardcore runners) … I would love any thoughts/insight/opinions you may have on my progression/my accomplishments to date … and on anything I should/need to do to keep advancing further … muchas gracias!
danistrulytheman 