Slow, But Steadier

We ran eight miles on a flat course. I wanted to see if I could run that far without long walking breaks, so Steph set up to run 10 minutes and walk 1. It was supposed to simulate a race, figuring that I would walk through the water stations that would occur around every mile mark. It became an experiment to test my improvement and likelihood of finishing the Cherry Blossom within the time allotment.

The course was the NCR Trail, an old railroad that had become a biker's and runner's 'paradise' for the easy nature of the flat gravel course. Apparently if you take it out some 20 miles in a single direction, you can run right into Pennsylvania. Winter made the woods surrounding the path see-through; if I had strength to use my imagination, I'm sure my mind would have made a breathtaking landscape. As it was, the distance did enough to take my breath away.

Steph parked the car in the middle of our course. We ran two miles south, turned around and ran back to the car. We put in a true water and strecthing break at the half way point. Then, we ran two miles north, turned around and ran back to the car.

My Observations:

• During mile two and three my thigh and foot started to tingle on my left side, feeling a little bit like that leg was falling asleep.
• By mile three, I had developed blisters on the arches of both feet. I also got strangely fatigued and wanted to stop. Instead, we ran at a slow pace.
• By mile four, I was wishing we were at mile eight (big surprise!). I turned on the timer on my IPod to clock ten minutes.
• Steph talked to me for about four miles, but it must get awfully boring to have a one-sided conversation for 45 minutes.
• Steph said mile five was probably long. The trees got in the way of her GPS signal on her Garmin.
• Miles six and seven were quiet. We were in Gunpowder State Park and there weren't many people around. I liked the sound of our feet hitting the trail in sync.
• During miles five - seven, when I got tired, I checked my timer to see how much longer I had to push before I could walk. It was around 5:38 each time.
• With one mile left, I told Steph to run ahead. It can only be called an act of love to run that slow for that long. Her last mile was completed in less than eight minutes.
  
• During mile eight, the pain of my blistered feet surpassed the pain I normally feel breathing with tired lungs and chest muscles. I was beyond gleeful to know in the car were bagels, fruit snacks, kashi bars coated in chocolate, water, and a comfortable seat. The only marker that overtook that was Steph yelling out that I could stop. I had done it... and it didn't kill me... and with six more weeks of training to go, I was well within the time limit to finish the Cherry Blossom. All good things.

Yesterday I doubted my improvement. This run wasn't easy, and I wonder if eight miles will ever be. But, in this roller coaster experience that running has become for me, today I can see subtle progress from where I once was.

Eight Mile Run Lap Splits:
Mile 1: 10:02
Mile 2: 10:47
Mile 3: 12:03
Mile 4: 11:01
Mile 5: 12:17
Mile 6: 11:49
Mile 7: 11:54
Mile 8: 11:39

But, I also realize I am not where I want to be.

Time: 91 minutes
Place: NCR Trail
Weather: 30s
Distance: 8 miles
Feeling: Oy vey! I'm going to be sore!
Overall grade: C