Run 92, 2008

Today I decided I would try to run again, but slower. I also decided to wear my newer runners. And of course I wore my wrap around tensor knee braces. These are just some sort of thick black stretchy fabric with velcro closures. Anyway, I started out slow because I had promised myself to until I healed up more. It turned out better than I hoped. Although I was pretty nervous and pessimistic (I refused to look at my timer as much), I found I was running a 7 minute pace when I checked at the 2 km point. I backed off a little, or so I thought, until I came out of the woods and back onto the road with 4 km to go.

I battled really hard not to run faster, fearing if I did my knee would crap out again. But with the end in sight I sped up a bit so that I finished in 1:17:54 for a 7:05 pace.

Anyone who has been reading my running posts knows the trouble I have been having with my knee and/or IT Band. I really did not expect to be able to run today but I went out anyway because from experience I found out that it doesn’t matter how you feel before a run, it makes absolutely no difference to the results. Some days I feel great and struggle to finish – if I finish at all. Some days I feel like I’m on death’s door and couldn’t possible run 500 meters, let alone 11,000 meters only to find I set a PR and feel great (once I’ve warmed up). But most days, how you feel is an accurate reflection on how you will do.

The message here is that however bleak the situation might seem, you will never know until you try. I’m glad I ran today because I did very well and came out without injury. I expected to run an 8:00 or an 8:30 pace, but did much better. Now when I run again this Sunday, I will also aim for an 8:00 or 8:30 pace. Because I know better than to believe today’s results. I have to stay slow for a while. Maybe for a long while.

Now I am looking at the Calgary Marathon next spring. I will have to work out a training plan.