This workout officially kicks off my ultramarathon training. I have been running some big miles over the last couple of months, but all of them were performed at a moderate heart rate. By throwing in 20 hills the intensity level was raised a bit, so I have to consider this a hard session.
The weather was pretty rough, 24 degrees, winds kicking up at 25-30mph. When I was on the South Farms Road my right eyelid almost froze shut.
The hardest part of the run was when I ran hills 11-14. I was on mile 13 and my energy was dropping fast. When I started the hills I did not know how I was going to continue. This is the kind of feeling I love to have, it is a big reason for doing a medium\long run. I know I am going to feel this energy low many times during an ultra, so I have to learn to accept and embrace it, and keep on running, no matter how awful I feel.
I was pretty sure I was going to stop, but then I realized my ipod was playing slow, meditative music. I like listening to repetitive melodies when I am on the South Farms road, but it was having a bad effect when running the hills today. I changed the song to the main theme of Run Lola Run, and I immediately felt my energy return.
I was able to finish the hills, and then ran the final mile comfortably to Jimmy John's, where I got my usual sandwich. Walking home in the chill afternoon, eating my sandwich, feeling beat up, yet strong - a day well lived....
I like it when running inspires me to photograph. Sometimes I take my camera on the run and make pictures as I go along. Today I did not have my camera with me, but I was inspired to make a photograph post-run while I was soaking and massaging my legs in the tub.
After 15 miles & 20 Hills
