Running with Rosie

[enitharmon]

After Sunday's debacle I sought advice fron the denizens of the Runners World web forums. This afternoon I put into effect what I had learned.

I started at my usual point on the corkscrew bridge. And then I went really slowly. Like, shuffling at not much more than walking pace (actually doing something like 13-minute miles). And I plodded on like that for thirty minutes, and then stopped. Well, I didn't stop, I just walked the rest of the way home.

It was very comfortable. Not once did I feel puffed, although I was breathing hard by the end. Nor did I feel at any point that I really needed to stop. From the point where today's 30 minutes came to a natural end it took me six-and-a-half minutes to walk to the place where last Friday's 30 minutes took me to. I felt I was well within my capacity and could co on.

But I also feel cheated. Worse, I feel I cheated myself. I copped out, I didn't test myself. I was found wanting. But maybe that's the paradigm for my life in general. And maybe, just maybe, this is the right way to go to build up to greater things.

Comments

[loopy1.livejournal.com]

I've heard that if you want to go faster you start by going slower. Maybe it's allowing your body to build up the stamina without pushing it too hard, so that when you do try going faster again the stamina is there for you.