To be sure, I worked out harder and longer than ever before. I pushed my limits and improved, both strength wise and cardiovascular wise.
After the holidays, though, when the treats of the season started to show up in places other than my mouth, I decided that it was time for a jump start.
A running jump start.
My coach, Ashley, gave in to my request to lace back up, but fortunately for me, he limited my time in the sneaks to ten minutes: 5 walking, 5 running, 3 times a week.
This week is my first week back offnrunning. Today I ran for the third time. My total run time for the week is 15 minutes.
Epic? Not hardly. But had I been left to my own devices, I probably would have started out with running a mile, three times a week. In my mind, based on my former, normal 7.5 mile outings, this is chump change. It is also the most common mistake that runners coming back to the sport make: too much, too fast. On top of the 30 minute AT intervals on Thursday and my 3x5 minute "full gas" intervals this morning, not to mention the several endurance rides, 15 minutes of running was just what the doctor ordered.
Was it fun? I guess. It was hard to tell after only 5 minutes. Next week I'm thinking I'll get to stretch my legs a little more. The goal is to be able to return to the trails once or twice a week for a nice out and back jog.
And as for getting in the way of cycling, I think that my outlook on this also needs to have a dose of flexibility. Duathlons wouldn't exist if the two were incompatible. And all of those friends who insisted I buy a road bike all those months ago? I met them all running. They do both. They are stronger riders than I am. Why can't I do both, too? Especially since I don't plan on doing sprints or tempo runs or hill repeats. I just want to jog along, chatting it up with my outing mates.
So here is my formal re-announcement of lacing up and hitting the pavement. I am back offnrunning in GSO.
Woohoo! :)
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