Dark Morning Runs

Ed -

If you read that title wrong it's just gross.

What I was actually referring to was the fact that as winter approaches it gets darker, and stays darker throughout my morning training runs.  And I kind of like it.

I don't know why.  There are moments where a shadow is scary, and others where the very real dog or deer is suddenly out in the road near me, unhappy that I came along to bother them.  My guess is they just got scared, too.

"Dude! What the hell!!  It's one of those ugly bald things!  Run!  Lunge at it first then run!!!"

I've learned that a very stern and loud "NO!!" while thrusting a pointing finger at it will stop most dogs in their tracks.   Regardless, any encounter like that drives the heart rate through the roof for a few minutes.

And, still, I like running in the dark.

I guess because I feel alone and it's quiet.  Most of my days are very crowded and loud.  Sure the better portion of that is self inflicted, and I like being around people.  But that hour or so before anyone else is up is really nice.

It also helps me focus on what I'm trying to accomplish in my workout.

Yesterday I did my short hill workout.  8 repeats up a .21 of a mile steep hill.  With no distractions and little visibility I feel really fast when I push off and start up the incline.  I also can focus on how I feel throughout each repeat.  Like at what point I feel my quads begin to burn and the acid start to flood my blood stream.  Maybe that's all in my head, but I can tell the fatigue factor moves lower and lower down the hill with each repetition and I like it.  Makes me surge to the top and get deep into that muscle pain that feels so good.

It's not just you, that sounded kinky.

Today's run was another hard day that I decided to put back to back with the hill workout.  Normally, I try and rotate hard days with either rest or an easy run, but I feel like I haven't pushed myself much the last couple of months and I'm losing some speed.

So on tired legs today I did a mock race as a variation of a tempo run.  I set out to do 5 miles, but I would attack the first two miles like I would a 5K race.

Attacked turned out to be a strong term.

My first half mile was 3:24 and I was aiming to be at 3:15.  I have lost some speed.  Still I pushed knowing I hadn't warmed up at all so that was going to be the toughest feeling half in this run.  A moment later I felt better and looser and lengthened my stride out.  Hit the first mile right at 6:44 though.  Slower than I wanted it to be, but not bad.  I kept on pushing and felt like I was really struggling, telling myself there was no way I could do this for 3.1 and that bothered me since I should totally be able to do this for that distance.

As I angled down the incline that would bring me to the two mile mark I pushed a little harder and in a couple of moments I started to gag.

"I can't puke.  Wuss!!"

And I also couldn't slow down.  That's even more of a wuss move.

I got myself together and finished those first two miles in 13:28.  Breathing really hard.

From there I continued on with my 5 mile loop and wrapped the whole thing up in 39:44.

Being alone and in the dark allowed me to focus on the process I was pushing through that first mile after my fast two.  Flushing out the lactic acid in my muscles.  Resting while running.

"Getting stronger," I said to myself.  "Getting faster."

And no one had to see me look like a ragged, old man in the process.