Saturday, August 18, 2007

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

I did Thursday's five-mile speed drill yesterday, which was a scheduled rest day. Wow, what a difference a day makes! I walked the first mile and was supposed to have walked the last, as well, but I was feeling so good that I only walked the last half-mile.

Because I'm not trying to break any records when I, ahem, "race," I took Wendy's offhand comment from Thursday's post to heart. She said speed drills would be so much more manageable if they were quarter- or half-mile intervals instead of those grueling full miles.

Also? I can only run full-tilt for a half mile. I then completely sputter out and have to jog or even, gasp!, walk to recover.

Also also? Y'all know I don't run fast. Nor do I time myself while I'm running. I just hit the stopwatch when I leave my car and hit it again when I get back.

I was supposed to do the two speedy miles at an 11:24 pace. So I figured if I did the entire five miles in 65 minutes – warm-up, cool-down, recovery intervals, oh my! – I would have covered the distance with a passing grade.

65:38.

And I felt great the whole time. That's what running is supposed to feel like!

I'm so grateful for days like that, especially after sucky days. It really does make me want to go again. And again.

Jennifer asked yesterday if I gain weight eating more than 1400 daily calories. I'm glad you asked. I gain weight eating more than 1200 daily calories, actually, but I'm throwing the extra 200 in there because I'm running more miles than I usually do while I'm training. My net calories yesterday ended up at about 700 – I ate 1268 and burned 574 [I counted the five miles as two running at 5 mph and three walking at 4 mph].

In AA we talk a lot about acceptance. I'm not ready to accept that this weight is where I'm supposed to be. But perhaps if I surrendered to it, I would break through whatever psychological barrier is keeping me here.

Or maybe I need therapy. Heh.

7 comments:

Mary Gee said...

That just doesn't sound like enough calories for an adult human being.

mehitabel said...

My new pedometer measures regular and aerobic steps, and also tells me how many calories I've burned with the walking. It's pretty sobering to see those numbers, especially when I upload the data to the computer. But, it's a start, and I do need to start somewhere!

Adam said...

Your doing great

Lori G. said...

I'm so glad you had a great run and a great day. The weather has to make you feel better to go out and run.

I don't know what to tell you about the calorie intake, exercise and losing weight. I wish I had some answers for you.

Unknown said...

i was really liking the whole jogging thing, when i was training for that 5K but now that its over, i'm finding my love for it to be disappearing... how do you stay motivated? i haven't done much running outside so maybe that would help - its just been too damn hot... or maybe i should move onto something else?

Pam said...

I love the way that you say that you can "only run full tilt for about half a mile". I wish I could! You're doing well.

ws said...

I think that comment was totally serious. great run and good to hear you enjoyed it. full mile intervals force me to pace better - for 1/4 or 1/2 mile intervals I can go 90% the whole time and not worry about pacing. When I go full-tilt on a full mile interval I usually start to suffer around 6/10 to 7/10 of a mile because I start at a pace that is really only reasonable for 1/2 miles or racing.