Hate-love relashionship with track.

You know how it is with long distance runners and track workouts – it’s insanely tough to make yourself go and do all this fast stuff and hard breathing, but it gives you a quick fix of satisfaction…well, usually, anyway.

Today was a 3x1M repeats inside a 9M run. My right shin slightly swelled up, but was gone by the time I started. The rain drizzled early on, but relaxed by the time I started. So here we go, first mile. Why does it feel that when you go towards headwind, it knocks you out, and when you have it tailing, you don’t feel the difference? First half of each track lap was very windy, and it continued to get stronger (the wind that is) as the time progressed, blowing away my hat on second repeat. 7:18. Difficult to make a quick leg turn over after all the miles (I logged 50 this week by the time track begun). I walk a lap and, as usual, give myself permission to bail at any point. I am already quite pleased with the time. Second – legs heavier, but I count laps and tell myself it’s the last interval. 7:12. Walk another lap, figuring if I should go for the last one or not get disappointed (just in case). Start on third, wind is not nice, legs are wobbly, I feel struggling and prepare for bad time. I go through 1000m and sneak a peek on my watch – 4:20, exactly where I was last year at this time doing 1000m repeats with Scott. Contemplate at stopping, but continue on. Last mile in 7:10. Wow! Each of intervals is 20 sec faster than same workout a month ago! So, there is a progress. Turn out to roads to cool down for 30 min, last mile almost dragging – felt so lousy. But satisfied nevertheless.

My hip joints are definitely adjusting to the new disposition as they hurt, and then my left shin – the bone itself this time – is aching, and I am not liking this particular pain. I guess when I run with full-blown compartment, the swelling prevents other parts of the legs to notice the work and pain, or to put pressure on them, kind of like cushion. Something to ponder on.

The weather for tomorrow is promised to be as miserable as always for John’s race. He just seems to have some ill relationship with the Guy upstairs, though people still love his races. He puts so much effort into each of them (not that any RD doesn’t), I am happy many more runners signed up than he originally was afraid of. Sweeping duty is awating me, lets have some fun!