LRM Training Run #1

Miles Trained to Date: 3

5:45 AM came very quickly. It was 39 degrees outside. I headed out about 6 AM into the darkness. It occurred to me while I was out there that, while both my shoes and running hat are reflective white, my apparel was similar to that of Sydney Bristow (you Alias fans will know that that means). Note to self: purchase light-colored warm running clothes, or at least ones with reflective stripes.

I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive about doing the run. While I was very excited to get back to it, I also knew that once I started there would be no turning back. Maybe I'd grown to like the "lazyness" of not training! Ha. Regardless, the run was GREAT. It felt so good to be out there. I didn't have any problems. Piece of cake! One of my concerns was "What if I get out there and it's difficult all of a sudden?"

I went a bit faster than I was supposed to. My training program says to do easy runs at 12:43 - 13:13 per mile. That seems like a crawl! I did try to go as slow as possible, though. My pace was 11:53. The total time was 35:37 for 3 miles exactly. My average heart rate was 168 beats per minute which is perfect for me. It's in that range that I could run forever.

The irony of the run is that in June 2006 I ran a 5K (which is only 0.1 mile longer than this run) in about the same time -- but in June 2006 it was my all-out-effort. Today it was "trying to go slow." So I've improved! Hooray!