Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Speed Demon

Okay, so I know I may not be SPEEDY compared to lots of other runners out there, but I am speedier than I WAS, and THAT is what matters!!

The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday
Source

This morning I had a tempo run on the calendar. 6 miles at 8:06 pace. Well, I have to say, when I first saw the pace I LAUGHED OUT-LOUD! Sure, I might be able to keep that pace for a mile (or go slightly faster during speed workouts if I am doing short distances like 800 meter repeats), but I "knew" I couldn't keep that pace for SIX miles.

We have been having a heat wave in Southern California for the last few days (in the triple digits... so bad that local bears are trying to cool off in neighborhood POOLS). Since we don't have A/C (haven't needed it in the 6+ years of living in Oceanside), we ended up sleeping on the floor in front of the box fan last night. I knew when I woke up at 4:45am and saw 80* and 80% humidity it would make for an EXTRA TOUGH tempo run.


My thoughts when I started, "As long as I can get my first mile at my tempo pace I will be happy... I mean, it's a goal to work towards, right?! I am sure when the temperatures drop and the humidity leaves I will speed up... Well, hopefully anyway...".

So, with my not so positive attitude I took off. I normally run my first mile too fast (darn you fresh legs and not being able to pace myself), which is what I did this morning. The first mile took 7:45. I looked at my Garmin and figured I wouldn't be able to keep it up, but at least one of the six miles would be at my tempo pace...

Even with the heat, humidity, lack of decent sleep, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP ALL SIX MILES UNDER 8:00 MILES! I was beside myself!! Sure, some of them I barely squeaked by (7:57 and 7:56), but I DID IT!

Yes, I have to run before the sun comes up to try to beat the heat...
And get the car back home before hubby needs it to go surf and to work :)

I was THRILLED to say the least. Especially because I have a goal to run my Turkey Trot 5-Miler on Thanksgiving under 40 minutes (which I thought was pushing it, but this morning my first 5 miles took 39:30) and I was nervous to even say the goal out loud, thinking there would be no way I would be able to hit it.

I wanted to make sure I got a picture (wasn't sure how the one in the dark
would turn out), so took one under one of the lamps in our condo complex when I got home...
I think the Shwings really helped me FLY!

This is terrible, I know, since I am ALL FOR POSITIVE THINKING, but I was totally expecting to be disappointed with today's run and tell Krissy I needed to reevaluate my goals... SHOOT DOGGY, MAYBE I JUST NEED TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF A LITTLE MORE!!

She believed she could so she DID
Source

Do you give yourself enough credit? 

7 comments:

Two Runners Travel said...

You have improved so much Carlee. On any given day, there will always be someone slower or faster but as long as you are happy with your progress that is what matters. Awesome job on that tempo run and yes, I think you are speedy!

Carlee McDot said...

Thanks so much We Run Disney ;) I am stoked with my progress (and am actually rather surprised at what I can do). Here's to more training and continuing to improve WHILE loving to run!

Angie said...

Awesome job! You are speedy in my book!

Carlee McDot said...

You are too kind Angie! As long as I am (slightly) speedier than yesterday, or last week, or last month, I am happy!

The Silent Assassin said...

Is doubt just horrible?! Sometimes runs and speedy ones at that come easier to most. I feel like I have to work harder than most. And just turning 41, i know at some point, it will get really hard to break sub 2's. But that's the kind of negativity we shouldn't have. Bottle up today and save it for your turkey trot so you can crush your 40 min goal C!!!!

Carlee McDot said...

I may not be able to run forever, Shane, but I can run TODAY, and that's what matters! ENJOYING THE JOURNEY!

KookyRunner said...

That's awesome! Even in not so ideal weather conditions, you killed it! Imagine how well you will do in November for the Turkey Trot! Congratulations!! :)