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The First 5K are the Hardest

For the first time this past weekend, I missed the long distance training (16K). As I’ve progressed in my training, I’ve recently come to realize that I can actually run 16K without passing out, and as such, have also become a bit more lax about the training regimen. So typically me – great start, not sure about the finish.

The other things impeding my run recently would be the weather (it has gotten humid and hot like what August should feel like), and the fact that more and more, I’m finding the first 5K to be the hardest to overcome. I’ve heard about this from the coaches as well, but for the first 30 minutes or so, it’s not easy to find my “groove”. I feel like my breathing is all out of sorts, and I tend to not find my pace just quite yet. Of course, most of my weekday runs last about 30 – 45 minutes, so it’s really hard to get motivated to go out in the mornings. One last thing that I forgot to mention – now that we’re past summer solstice, it’s actually getting darker at 6:30 in the morning. Why would I even bother?!

This morning I decided to make up for the lack of mileage and did a 10K. It felt weird going out by myself for any distance past 6K, and I really had to push myself to make it to the halfway mark when things began getting easier. Of course, I can’t do 10Ks every morning because I have to get to work at a decent hour and all, but hopefully I’ll squeeze in a few more of these in the coming weeks leading up to the actual race (in a month and 10 days!) to try to build up my stamina, too.

A year ago if you asked me about running 10K, I would’ve looked at you dubiously and reminded you that I almost died running 1K on the first day of bootcamp. Who’da thunk?

{ 4 comments… add one }
  • Tales From A Bar Stool Wednesday 19 August 2009, 00:06

    I envy anyone who runs. I have never been able to get into a running groove, and usually give up after a couple of months. Good on ya!

  • mango Wednesday 19 August 2009, 21:10

    We’ll see if I continue this trend first! Love your stories, btw!

  • The Anthology Wednesday 26 August 2009, 11:45

    Ah geez, now you’re making me feel like I should get off my arse and start running.

    Good for you, though, for training for something aaaaaand for getting up early to go running. How you do it, I have no idea.

    * Kelsey

  • VancityAllie Wednesday 26 August 2009, 18:06

    Hey Sandy, good on ya… I’ll admit, when we were in dorms together I never thought you’d be running a marathon!

    Holy cow… what a huge accomplishment. I could never EVER do that. I hate running :)

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