Today is absolutely gorgeous!
So was yesterday. Luke and I left for a three-mile run at 11am and it was perfect.
Clear blue skies. Fresh air. Cool breeze.
The weather reminded me of San Diego.
MapMyRun called out my distance and time every half mile.
Damn that time!
Regardless of what I do, I just can’t seem to pick up my pace.
Reflecting in the shower, I realized that since I often run with Luke I have no clue what’s my ‘new’ regular pace time. Stupidly, I have been comparing current Natalie with the Natalie of three years ago.
The Natalie who weighed less, was in better physical (and mental) condition, got plenty of rest, etc.
I remember my best (fastest) half-marathon was the Flying Pig in Cincinnati. The course is notorious for its hills. So, during my training I removed all pressure from me by running without a watch. I ran the distance and if I finished it, then my goal was met.
Period.
I need to get back that. We all need to get back to that kind of thinking. There is nothing wrong with wanting to better ourselves and beat our PR (personal record), but there’s also value—freedom, some might say—in running without regard to time.
After all, just by committing ourselves to run a 15K we are already beating millions of people who don’t even bother to take a brisk walk after dinner or take the stairs vs. elevator or park at the far end of the parking lot.
We set a PR every day that we run.
That's the sentiment that I have! I actually prefer running WITHOUT any devices that tell me how fast I'm going. All I need is my heart rate to tell me how well I'm doing. If I'm burning fat, then I'm accomplishing my goal! I had a yoga teacher in college who said that just making it to your mat means that 75% of the work is already done. After I strap my kicks on and get outside I know I've already done the most important work...gotten myself on the road to health. :)
ReplyDeleteWell-said ladies. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't care much to know how fast I am going, but it really helps me to know how much distance I have covered.
The 5K I completed in December had no markers on the route and it was miserable not knowing how far I was from the finish line. I hope the Gasparilla race has mile markers. That motivates me to push forward and not want to quit.
I agree that I don't care too much about my time but I want to know how far I've gone. I like the little voice encouraging me every 1/2 mile. It does get a little depressing to know that I progressively slow the farther I run but at least I'm running!
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