I’m going to cover a couple different topics in this post- my identity as a runner, short-fast runs vs. long-slow runs, and being a bad ass just to be a bad ass.
All
of these topics have been floating around my head because of my
BIG IDEA for my long run this weekend.
Today, I’m going up to my hometown of Millersburg to take my grandma to
lunch. Since I love running the back roads of my hometown, I figured I’d do a
long run while I was there. I started thinking about my favorite routes, and
it just so happens, one of the most BAD ASS routes I run is up in Millersburg.
I
start from my parent’s house and run to the base of Berry Mountain. I run up the
mountain and back down the other side into Halifax. Then I run along the
mountain for a couple miles, back up and down the mountain (via a different
dirt road), and into Millersburg I end at my parent’s house. The entire
route is a little over 11 miles but it is very
challenging.
There
are a couple reasons I want to do this run.
First,
it’s the bad ass nature of it. Running up and down a mountain not once but
twice makes me feel like I can conquer
anything.
Second,
I want to get back into running actual long
runs, not “longish” runs, like I have
been doing. I had to prioritize the short-fast runs for my 10k training. It
will be nice to change things up and do some long-slow running just for the
pure enjoyment.
Third,
I miss the part of my runner identity that could just pull long, hilly runs out
of my ass whenever I wanted to because I was always trained for them. If my
memory serves me correctly, the longest run I did since Boston was an 18 miler
at the beginning of June and an 11 miler this past weekend. All of my other
runs were “longish”- as in, 8-10 flat miles. I miss the part of me that could run for hours.
It
may be stupid of me to think I can do this challenging run when I haven’t
trained on hills for months (besides my hill repeats last weekend, but that 40
minute workout doesn’t make me ready!), but I am going for it anyway! What’s
the worst that will happen? I have to walk some hills and feel like a loser?
Do
you have a route you run that is really bad ass?
Is
there something you feel like if you can't do it, you're missing part of your runner identity?
I feel like when I take several days off in a row, that I lose my runner identity (and fitness level, etc.). Foolish, I know.
ReplyDeleteI feel especially strong when I go for a trail run with my husband and can keep up.
Oh my! You will have to get over that one! :)
DeleteFlorida being flat as a pancake means that I never have any badass routes to run! We have a couple really giant bridges but that's about it. I think it's a great idea for you to go after something that will help make you feel strong again and able to accomplish it! I think you're always a badass though! I feel like I've lost some runner cried if I take a couple weeks Austin can't even complete 3 miles without a walk break.
ReplyDeleteYou guys have the humidity to deal with. You don't need hills on top of that!
DeleteYour long run sounds like a challenging one for sure!! I have no doubts that you can do it because I think you are a complete bad ass!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL thanks Kim! Oh and I DID it!
DeleteI like how your 11 milers are only "longish." That's hella long to me! :) If I need/need to feel like a bad ass I do the sand dunes near my house. I can always get up and down a lot faster than most people, and that means even beating high schoolers who are on football and basketball teams. I always walk away feeling confident!
ReplyDeleteRunning on sand, let alone dune is SUPER bad ass. I am humbled every time I try to run on the beach.
DeleteI already miss my long runs but I know I need this time to recover. :S When I read "Halifax" I was like, "What?!" I never knew there was another one anywhere in the world!
ReplyDeleteOh yes there is a Halifax and it is the hickiest place in all the land. Picture beat up pick up trucks and stuff like that!
DeleteUmmmm you just flat out WON a 10K! I think you need to change the title of this post to "I AM a badass and you wish were you were me but you're not so too bad for you!" :D
ReplyDeleteI hope you had an awesome lunch with your grandma!
lol thanks Kristina! I had an AWESOME run but Grandma forget I was coming (she is 85 and quite forgetful these days) so I had lunch with my parents instead (since gma already ate!) but then she came to my parent's house and the whole fam hung out. Great day!
DeleteYour run sounds great! I'm afraid of hill training. I know I need to start incorporating some hilly runs but living in FL makes that a bit of a challenge. There is one park in Davie, FL that has a few "man-made" hills I can try.
ReplyDeleteJust start small. Maybe first time out tell yourself you'll run up and down it twice. BOOM DONE! Next time, do it 3 times, etc.
Delete