Training
Sunday, August 16, 2015
This morning I was out early to get my walk in before the heat hits. The days are shrinking; it was 7 when I left the house. In the middle of summer 6 was often my start time.
The half marathon I signed up for is September 20. I have pretty much accepted that I will be walking rather than running. I am okay with finishing last too. The worst part about finishing near the end is missing the fun when the faster people come in. If they were still holding the marathon, I could run in with some of those runners but last year was their last marathon. Apparently it was too expensive.
I need a coach, someone to tell me what to do each time I go out and maybe push me a little harder than I push myself. Because this desire to become a runner hit me later in life (age 68), I am often unsure what to expect. There isn't much information out there for older athletes. It is not my goal to work too hard - I want to run, not kill myself.
And so, for now, I mostly walk. When I sign up for events I sign to run so that I can run if I feel like it. It is my understanding that if you sign up to walk, you are not supposed to run at all.
Am I nervous about the half? You bet your boots I am nervous. Why am I doing it? I was looking for a significant way to celebrate turning 70 and this sounded like a good way. I like seeing stories about mature adults who are staying active. Maybe someday there will be one about me.
Back to this morning, I covered 6.6 miles in 2 hours. I walked on part of the Greenway I had never walked on before. Six ladies running together passed me and disappeared in the distance. I wonder how far they were going. I met one man running and another one on his bicycle. Two rabbits hopped into the bushes when they saw me coming. I remembered to wear insect repellent but the mosquitoes were still bad on my return trip. I decided that the shoes I was wearing today are the ones I will wear next month. All is well.
The half marathon I signed up for is September 20. I have pretty much accepted that I will be walking rather than running. I am okay with finishing last too. The worst part about finishing near the end is missing the fun when the faster people come in. If they were still holding the marathon, I could run in with some of those runners but last year was their last marathon. Apparently it was too expensive.
I need a coach, someone to tell me what to do each time I go out and maybe push me a little harder than I push myself. Because this desire to become a runner hit me later in life (age 68), I am often unsure what to expect. There isn't much information out there for older athletes. It is not my goal to work too hard - I want to run, not kill myself.
And so, for now, I mostly walk. When I sign up for events I sign to run so that I can run if I feel like it. It is my understanding that if you sign up to walk, you are not supposed to run at all.
Am I nervous about the half? You bet your boots I am nervous. Why am I doing it? I was looking for a significant way to celebrate turning 70 and this sounded like a good way. I like seeing stories about mature adults who are staying active. Maybe someday there will be one about me.
Back to this morning, I covered 6.6 miles in 2 hours. I walked on part of the Greenway I had never walked on before. Six ladies running together passed me and disappeared in the distance. I wonder how far they were going. I met one man running and another one on his bicycle. Two rabbits hopped into the bushes when they saw me coming. I remembered to wear insect repellent but the mosquitoes were still bad on my return trip. I decided that the shoes I was wearing today are the ones I will wear next month. All is well.
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