Random Jogger

This morning, I had a great 10 mile run with my usual running partner, and two newbies!  Renee and I were very excited for this even if they were just going to be with us the first 20 minutes.  One of the newbies just got back into running in general, and the other runner is just coming back after an injury.  We decided to run the flight line on base since it was pretty much flat, and it was paved.  I didn’t need any unstable ground on the trails by my house to irritate my ankle.

I was so nervous about this run because of my ankle, but it didn’t hurt after my test run on Thursday so I was cleared by my PT.  Of course, she only wanted me to run 8 miles, but she also said to run based on how I felt.  Mohaha.  Considering this run was supposed to be a 16 miler, I think that 10 was a nice compromise with my ankle.   

We started off at a 9:15 min/mile pace, then settled into a 9:30 pace for the first two miles.  Then, the newbies turned around, and it was just Renee and I.  We stayed at the 9:30 pace until mile 6 chatting about the week’s events and her birthday party for that night.  Then we slowly started picking up the pace.  We were grooving at about a 8:15-8:30 pace for the next 2 and a half miles, and then back up to a 9:15 min/mile pace for the next mile or so.  It felt great to get a little tempo run in there especially since my PT forbid me from doing any speed work for the last two weeks. 

Then, we spotted another runner a quarter of a mile ahead of us at the 9.25 mile mark.  We started picking up speed.  Renee and I were both thinking the same thing:  We NEED to beat him.  Of course, this poor guy had no idea what we were doing.  He was just out for a leisurely Saturday morning jog.  I’m guessing that he was running at a 10 min/mile pace?  One foot in front of the other, faster and faster.  My left hip flexor was screaming at me, but I picked up the pace even more.  My breathing became more labored, as I tried to relax my face at this very uncomfortable speed.  We were practically foaming at the mouth, hungry for competition.  The jogger kept getting closer and closer.  Then, he started picking up his pace.  So, we picked up our pace.  It felt so good to just run all out after not really running for 2 weeks.  I wanted this.  I wanted it badly.  We passed that guy, and at the 10 mile mark we were both doubled over almost puking and breathing hard.  I told Renee to keep walking, so we could cool down.  The guy just passed us jogging at his normal pace giving us a funny look.  Poor thing, he didn’t know he was included in our training session! 

So thanks, random jogger, for making us work for it at the end!

For your viewing entertainment (mostly to prove to my hubs that I have been icing my ankle the best way, since I’m sure he doubts it!), I made a video after I got home of me icing my ankle.  Please don’t pay any attention to the fact that I have no makeup on, and I have a halo of frizzy hair surrounding my head!   Here you go!

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