Rounding out the end of Week 3

To finish out my training for my "Official Week 3" of my marathon training program, I ran a 7 mile run. Huzzah!

It was interesting... I actually hit what I feel like was my first real "zone" while running. I've always had those points where suddenly the running isn't "hard" anymore, or I finally don't want to stop, lol... but today I actually found myself in a ZONE! I was running on the trail, at about 2.5 miles in, and I found myself truly feeling like I was "falling." It was that sensation where I wasn't moving myself forward anymore, I was just "falling" forward. I was running faster, and all I was thinking about was "up, up, up, up" with each strike of my foot. The air was moving past me so quickly, it was a constant breeze... it was just AMAZING! I was concerned that perhaps I was pushing myself too hard. I mean, surely, I shouldn't be going this fast. But I checked my heart rate monitor, and sure enough, I was still beating along at a consistent 158 bpm! I know it was a true "zone" because this lasted me for a full mile (roughly 10 minutes). It felt incredible!

The other good thing of note, is that I really didn't hurt anywhere during this run. I had a vague phantom pain for about 3 minutes in one of my shins, so I focused really hard on the POSE technique (not doing heel-strikes) and the pain went away! Very exciting. :)

The big thing I'm still fighting though is my mind at the start of a run. I intimidate myself with the upcoming distance. I want to turn back around and not do it. If I'm thinking this way on a 7-mile run... how the HECK am I supposed to convince myself to do 26.2 miles?!? I just have stay focused on the day by day though. Next week my long run is only 8 miles. I already ran 7... I can run 8. 26.2 is a long time away!! :)

Signed,
Your-in-the-zone-runner,
Kelly


COUNTDOWN TO MARATHON: 90 days!!!!