![]() Life is funny sometimes. For the last two out of three runs, I have had either someone watching me to encourage me or I took along a novice runner (see picture) on a seven mile run. It has been three runs since I have written and each one has made me realize how much I love running, even when the workout kicked my butt. For starters, I finished my track workout on Monday. I don't know if it was because I was a beautiful track with a gorgeous view. If you ever have a chance to go to Happy Valley, run on Penn State's track; you have a view of Beaver Stadium and Mt. Nittany -- two of the most iconic spots in the valley. Or if because there were other people on the track I was trying to impress them, or maybe it was the person on the sidelines -- probably the biggest reason why I finished. But what matters, is I did it! I say that loosely however, I didn't do the all the 8x600 in the time that I wanted - under 2:50 for each 600m, but I completed them. For someone who hates track running and did close to six miles on it, I consider that a big W. I then proceeded to collapse on the grass hill right outside the track. Tuesday, as usual now, is my off day and I was able to have some fun around Happy Valley -- ahem bowling! Wednesday was supposed to be my first tempo run of the cycle. However, it was also the day I was leaving Happy Valley for I don't know how long. You know when you procrastinate leaving because you know it is hard to say goodbye? That is what happened Wednesday. I didn't want to leave because it was a perfect day in the Valley with a great person and friend, and who knows if I will be able to get back in the fall for a football game. Needless to say, I didn't get the six mile tempo run in. And that is how we got to 15 miles in a day. After driving 1,600 miles in the last month, spending only $207.33 in gas and starting this journey in Detroit, I have made it back to my home state of Connecticut. However, that left me with need to run twice today. The first run -- my tempo run consisted of a mile warm-up, a six mile tempo run and a mile cool-down. I was aiming for a 8:01 tempo pace -- the target I need for my BQ marathon time. However, I only averaged a 9:12 for my tempo miles. That puts me somewhere between a 4:00 and 4:15 marathon. I didn't hit the overall pace I wanted, but I did hit a 7:21 best pace. Two things happened on this run though. First, I got my runner's high for the first time in a week. I was feeling great and strong and invincible. Second, I realized that pacing is going to be a) the hardest part of my trying cycle and b) hardest part of Hartford. I feel great for the first half and even though my mental game is strong, I still slow down during the second part of the run. Ideally any runner wants to run negative splits. Pacing is going to become one of my main goals during this cycle. The second run, I invited my friend Nick along -- a 15 year-old novice runner -- never have done more than six miles in his life. We needed to do an "easy" seven miles for Thursday's workout. If you know me, you know I don't really invite a lot of people to run with me. I find my time to run as a way to escape, block out the rest of the world and really enjoy myself. Yet, after a hard first eight miles, I knew I was going to need some nudging to get through seven miles just four hours later. A few stops along the way and the two of us did seven miles in 1:16. Nothing impressive except that it got me to a total of 15 for the day -- making me feel elite for a) doing two-a-day and b) finishing both runs very strong. Nick asked me along the way why I do it? I said mostly because I can challenge myself both physically and mentally. It also allows me to suspend reality and we all need that sometimes. But the real truth is that as I start to "adult" I'm going to need something to keep me grounded and what better way than pounding pavement?
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Megan FloodMegan is 29 and a 14-time marathoner. She is hoping to Boston Qualify one day. She doesn't know exactly how this blogging will go, but she is giving it her best shot! Archives
June 2019
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Marathoning Megan