Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Day 72 - Gotta Feed the Machine

Today's scheduled run: 5 miles

Today's completed run: 5 miles
Pace: 8:24 avg

I tried something new today: running during the two hour break between my classes. I have class from 9-12 and 2-5 on Tuesdays, and all last semester I struggled with knowing what to do with that in-between. It's just enough time and yet not enough. Because I couldn't drag myself out of bed to get my miles in before class this morning, and I knew I wouldn't have time between my second class and small group, I ran during the two hour break. This was a good idea and the weather was wonderful, but there were a few problems.

Even though campus is only a 10 minute walk from my house, the two-hour window wasn't enough time to walk home, gear up, run, cool down, stretch properly, shower, eat, and then leave for another class. I did everything in urgency mode, except for the run, which suffered because I was SO hungry. This is normally my lunch hour, after all. You know... the hour where I eat. So, push comes to shove I can use this window, but I don't plan on making a habit of it.

I did start listening to a new sermon series today on Ecclesiastes out of a church in Dallas -- The Village Church. I know that doesn't seem like a great topic to run to, seeing as the book essentially proclaims that everything under the sun is the same and meaningless; but the first sermon was great, and I expect the others will be, too. The pastor is witty but also drives his points home well and with much wisdom. I'm sure I look goofy chuckling while running, but I'm okay with that. It's nice to be stimulating my brain and heart and thinking about important things rather than just listening to bad pop music.

I'm already thinking about this weekend's 20-miler, and I'm getting nervous. People told me to find a training partner for long runs, but no one wanted to join me in running the marathon, so I've gone without. I am a total extrovert; I can only stand being with myself for about an hour before I get a little weird. I guess I'll make several of those sermons my running partners that day...

1 comment:

  1. Leslie, I did my first midday run today, too! I tried the run-over-my-lunch-break thing. It actually worked pretty well for me, but my schedule isn't as rigid and I was only running 3 miles. I've tried running on an empty stomach before, and it never goes well for me either. I'm so proud of the awesome job you are doing with your training! Sorry you have to do 20 miles by yourself this weekend ... but think of how awesome that accomplishment will feel!!

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