But write about it I must. When last we visited, I had completed week 3 of my 12-week training program to prep for my first 5K. I was hitting my pace time targets and was pretty pumped. This was about mid-May.
Now, there's no question I'm in better shape -- I've shed over 11 pounds since starting this blog -- and I can now run 5 miles without feeling like I'm about to die.
So what gives?
All I can think of is, it's the heat. There's no question running in the heat is much tougher. I remember early posts where I note how chilly it is and how that made the running easier. We'll, now that temps have risen to even hotter than normal in these parts this summer (30 days or so of triple-digit heat), there's no doubt the heat -- and Saturday for sure, the humidity -- has taken a toll on my times.
Of course, yesterday morning, the day of Vern's No Frills 5K, it actually rained before the race and thus it was even more humid than normal. How cruel, because it hasn't rained hardly at all this summer. Ah, so what. I entered the race, got my little runner's bib, pinned it on and finished. So, according to the late running guru Dr. George Sheehan, I've now officially made the transition from jogger to runner (the difference being a completed entry form).
What's more, I ran into friend and work colleague Emsud Horozovic at the race. To know Emsud is to love him. An always-cheerful Bosnian, Emsud is the City's official "tree hugger," i.e., arborist. He always addresses me as "Sir William" (Seer Veelyam! in his Slavic accent). I don't know why he calls me that but how can you not love someone who addresses you like royalty? He passed me early in the race (I secretly hoped my superior training program would have me passing him later in the race) and he finished three minutes before I did (nope!). We chatted for a while afterward. I can see us running on the Brushy Creek Regional Trail together on Saturdays since he lives close to it, too. Like me, he prefers crushed granite to pavement to run on.
For a people watcher like me, the race was absolutely fascinating. All shapes and sizes, ages and ability levels. You could pick out the serious runners pretty easily (no shirts, no body fat), there were a few heavyset folks and everything in between. I was surprised by the handful of kids -- nearly all of whom whipped me, but good. An 11-year-old girl finished in 24.14 for crying out loud!
What really irked me (and will propel future training efforts) is the folks who looked like they weren't in as good as shape as me who beat me -- easily. There were the two pear-shaped guys who ran shirtless and finished in the top 20-30. I wonder how fast they could go if they gave up the beer? And there was one particular woman who looked like she was in her late 30s, maybe early 40s, who, judging by the size of her, ah, lower body, looked like she hadn't missed many desserts over the years. I was behind her as we walked from the parking lot to the registration desk. There was no way in hell I would have guessed she would finish ahead of me. She did, and by a bunch.
Being humbled is always a good thing for me, so I obviously had a great experience at the race. I'm motivated to keep on truckin', to gradually build to greater distances. This running is my veins now. It feels so good to finish a run. It also feels good to have my slacks fitting so loose (some dress shirts, too).
I can only hope my times improve once it cools off this fall. Until then, I'll keep on, slow and steady. Just hopefully not always this slow.
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