fast and fun

Another running first: running fast!

For most new runners, it's easy to get caught up in the whole "slow and steady wins the race" mindset, never really pushing yourself for fear of not being able to finish the mileage goal you've set that day and worse, end up in total side-cramping, legs-buckling pain. Do either of these early on and you might just lose confidence in your running abilities all together.

So it's such a huge surprise when you find that you can push yourself to run like the wind, (cue Patrick Swayze.)

Tonight we ran laps running at the fastest speed we could for about a half mile, then the slowest we could for a half mile. We did about six of these laps, and I have to say, it made me feel like a track star. You get scared of those long strides as a new-to-the-sport distance runner, because they can mess up your pace, injure your legs, or just make you winded. So it's really nice to be able to take it full speed and not do any of those things, and in fact do just the opposite: run fast elegantly. (Picture Flo Jo in full '80s Olympic glory).

We even jogged back to the 91st street stretching spot instead of walked. (Now envision me brushing my shoulders off.)

Personal reminder: running every day, no days off, helps and makes this whole thing a lot easier. When you're tempted to take a day or two or three off, don't do it!