Perspective

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last post about the Around the Bay 5k.

Let’s be honest though – 45 min for 5k is not a great time, not even a good time. It’s way, way slower than  average. 35 min is average. 30 minutes is pretty good, less than 30 minutes, for a casual runner, is excellent.

I’m not fooling myself here. Most people, including me, can walk 5k in just about an hour. My fastest time to run (jog) 5k is 42:29 min.

Considering less than 9 months ago I could barely run 60 seconds without collapsing, running 10 mins at a stretch 4 times (without collapsing) is not too shabby. And consider how sick I was all Fall/Winter and only trained for 3 weeks for this race, and it was the hardest course I’ve ever done – it’s not a bad time for me and my abilities so far. But in the grand scheme of “running” - it’s not too impressive. All in the perspective I guess.

I’ve decided to make it a goal to complete 5k under 40 minutes by the Resolution Run, December 21, 2012. What does it take to get there? Like anything else in life – practice, repetition, practice, repetition. To run better, you have to run.  Of course, it will also be easier when I’m lighter!

At last night’s running clinic we finished off our last set of 2/1 – run two minutes, walk one minute – and it was hard. I really, really struggled last night. I am never going to be the fastest in the pack, but I can usually keep up and hold my own. By the 4^th interval I was really really struggling and falling behind. By the last interval I was a good 100 m behind everyone else.  It’s not competitive or a race, so that’s not my issue, my issue is – what the heck was wrong with me last night?

Sometimes I have bad runs, but I can figure out why – not hydrated, physically or mentally tired, shoes hurt – blah blah.  But last night, I felt good but just couldn’t seem to get a good pace and keep it, my legs felt like they weighed a ton.

Friday nights we move to 3/1 – keep your fingers crossed that they don’t have to send a search party for me when they realise I’m not with them back at the store!

Leigh and I are going to throw in a Monday night run too.  When I did C25K, we did 4 workouts a week and I think it helped a lot in terms of endurance.

My friend Melissa, is trying to talk me into doing the Yonge Street 10k and I am almost convinced.

What’s holding me back?

·         I’ve never done more than 5k and as I’ve mentioned, I’m not GOOD at 5k yet.

·         It would be the first of three weeks of races.

·         It’s on a Sunday and I’d have to work the next day.

·         Entrance fee – although individual races are reasonable – it adds up quickly when you start to do multiple ones.

·         I’m terrified of failing. Not sure what failing means in this context though – when I can’t run anymore I can surely walk the rest of the way and still finish – I am pretty sure I can’t do 10/1 for the entire 10k.

On the plus side?

·         Melissa and I run at about the same pace and it is fun to have someone cheering you on during the race. We can always push each other when needed and we know each other very well so we know each other’s strengths.

·         The route is a gentle downhill slope the entire way.

·         The medal is so cute. I really want one. 

Jury is still out…I’ll keep you posted.

In other health news – I am still going along, counting calories and carbs. I am managing to stay under my calorie goal but I’m finding it really hard to get back down to 35 grams of carbs per day. I’m holding around 45-50 most days but not giving up on it. Fluids are great – about 120 oz a day of which 100 oz is plain water. I never drank this much plain water until Allan’s challenge so I have to thank him for introducing me to that.

My doctor changed my thyroid meds about three weeks ago and I am feeling like maybe it’s too low now. I am finding myself feeling sluggish and lethargic  more often again and waking up tired and that is always a sure sign that my thyroid is off, plus I am always cold lately. The other night I slept in socks and gloves. Anyway, I’m getting blood work done again in two weeks, if there’s anything weird, she’ll call me – she’s an amazing doctor.

Now that I re-read this post, it COULD be the thyroid issue that caused me to feel so crappy during the run…I’ll see how the next few weeks go and wait for the bloodwork.