Recovery Run ~ with a new running group

GASP!

Yes, it’s true ~ I had a new group of running partners this morning. Due to some schedule conflicts, I wasn’t able to hook up with Lisa as I had hoped, so I hesitantly prepared myself for a solo recovery run.

It’s amazing the friends that end up coming out of the woodwork on an early, cold morning when one is preparing to run alone ~ especially following a lousy race and a subsequent week of vacation from running.

So I headed out with my buddies: Mr. Lazy, Mr. Headache, Miss Cramps, Mr. Paranoia, Miss Resolve ~ and of course, Mr. Garmin.

Mr. Lazy gave me grief while I was laying in bed, continually snoozing the alarm and waiting for the sun to come up. We argued quite a bit, and he protested loudly as I headed downstairs to get ready. He whined and complained while I was stretching ~ which took quite a while as my muscles were as tight as they could possibly be ~ so I finally put him in his place. FINE, I told him ~ stay home. I am going running.

The rest of us headed out in to the cool 29 degree temps. As you can imagine, my legs were heavy for the first mile while I drug the remaining running buddies along with me. Miss Cramps was complaining from the start and refused to be quiet. (I am thinking that maybe Mendy left her in my car after last Sunday???) I was counting on the Advil that I had taken earlier (to rid myself of Mr. Headache) to also appease her complaints. She was persistent ~ but I was more.

Mr. Paranoia made himself known with each and every step I took, and perpetuated the vivid recollection of the wicked leg cramps I faced last Sunday. I tried to block him out with the fantastic music on my iPod, but he could not be swayed.

Mr. Garmin was apparently just as exhausted from RNR last Sunday as I was, and he bailed on me just before our first mile was completed. It was a blessing, actually ~ as he tends to put a lot of pressure on me, and it was good just to be out running this morning and not worrying about time or pace. I had planned to follow my typical 5 mile route, so the fact that Mr. G needed more recovery time wasn’t a deterrent.

So we trucked on ~ by the second mile, I had kicked Miss Cramps to the curb. She was not allowed to ruin a good recovery run.

Mr. Paranoia held tight for quite a while. It wasn’t until just after mile 2, with my legs feeling FANTASTIC and my mind feeling even better ~ that I was able to bid him a farewell with the help of Miss Resolve, who had been relatively quiet up to that point. There was no reason for me to be paranoid about cramping. I was out for a nice, leisurely run and I felt GREAT! Miss Resolve reminded me of what I am capable of, and of how far I have come as a runner. She talked me into running the full 2.5 miles to the turnaround point, without walk breaks. Miss Resolve said there was no reason to hurry and to enjoy the run. I really like Miss Resolve.

So I ran ~ slow as slow can be ~ the full 5 miles without walk breaks. I stopped at the 4 mile point to stretch my calves as my right one was starting to feel a little tight….. and then Miss Resolve and I headed home ~ me, with the biggest smile on my face :)

It’s really hard to find good running “buddies,” especially on a morning like today. While I prefer my REAL buddies from the TRC, I think a recovery run with the group at hand this morning was especially beneficial. It taught me who my enablers are, and how selective I should be with who I allow in my brain to run with me. I LOVE RUNNING.


Recovery Run

Distance: 5 miles
Time: As long as it took to cover the distance without walking
Average pace: slow and steady