Galloping into October

By | October 7, 2018

I feel like it should be a different title since the race from which it takes its name won’t even make it into this Wrap due to weekend travel, but it’s perfect.

I’m in a couple of places about this 10K, which I signed up for even when I was feeling meh about the ten miler. It’s not the same course as the Mini 10K which game me agita earlier this summer, but rather the course on which I ran my first ever 10K. Ish. The start is in a different spot, but the course is within Central Park. I kept both of those, my lack of recent hill work and Sunday’s frustration in mind as I tried to think of a goal. I was also hoping that hating the 10K coming off a five miler would be different to hating it coming off a ten miler and some short runs during the week, but I wasn’t sure. Goal verdict? Shoot for 1:10:00 and finish smiling with a priority on the latter.

Currently reading: Chas Newkey-Burden’s Running: Cheaper Than Therapy and loving it. Less narrative, more compilation of stories.

Before I get into the Wrap, a laugh from last week:

“Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late”

Yeah, can’t not think of Jimmy Buffet there. Luckily I’m not (yet) an over forty victim of fate 🙂 Proudly rocking a buff Liz gave me from her run club. and yes, I absolutely spotted the photographer for that thumbs up.

On to the wrap with Wendy and Holly:

  • I missed a Monday: I pretty much knew this. Wouldn’t trade a Will & Grace panel for any workout, and to be honest I was pretty damn sore and needed a physical and mental day off.
  • Tuesday: I knew I couldn’t run. My right achilles was still sore but I really wanted the foam roll so I headed to the gym and after a slow and steady row, I had a really solid stretching session and light kettlebell workout. Also did the row without music as prep for possibly having to do that with new watch. Baby steps.
  • Wednesday: absolutely beautiful fall day. I just wanted a shakeout run so I hit the lower loop in Central Park and gee, did I go out a little fast? Amazing to see how much I’ve progressed over that loop. It’s a fairly accurate measure too unlike the East River path whose terrain has changed a lot due to construction. The run felt good, my achilles didn’t hurt anymore and aside from going out too fast I felt strong.

Yes? YES!

  • Thursday: Office run group is still two strong so our de-facto coach asked me what I wanted to do. We opted for the same as last week (minus a wrong-turn detour) just a smidgen faster. These runs are super helpful for me in I’m trying to keep pace with a faster runner. He knows what I can do and will go just a little faster to push me and I love this.  It’s also helpful in teaching me how to run and talk and understand what a conversational pace is. I don’t know if this is comfortably hard or tempo, or neither. But it felt good to push through my comfort zone, recover my pace after Cat Hill and figure this all out. He’s run 19 marathons and said he won’t offer unsolicited advice but is happy to answer any questions I have if I decide to run New York. He’s already eluding to my training and while I haven’t committed, I am leaning yes.
  • Friday: off. Didn’t even get step goal. Worked late
  • Saturday: 10K. Woke up feeling slightly under the weather. Not enough not to run, but enough to say probably not my best day and I took it a little easier. Verdict? A damn good time despite two walk breaks. Lesson learned. ETA: first time I can recall, NYRR and my watch matched exactly. Of course watch gives better pace as I didn’t run tangents.
  • Sunday: Albany, apple picking. Might find a morning run. If I do I’ll pick it up next week.

Weekly Plan:

  • Monday: holiday Monday, run
  • Tuesday: off, theater tickets
  • Wednesday: run or cross train
  • Thursday: office run group
  • Friday: off or cross train

23 thoughts on “Galloping into October

  1. Lisa

    Looks like you had a good week! I’d say you did great with resting when you needed it and pushing a little harder when you could. Glad the 10k went well!

    Reply
  2. Coco

    Your “office run club” sounds great. It’s great to have someone who can slightly push your pace when you want to. And company is always great motivation!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      It really is
      And we’ve expanded somewhat this last six months so when it’s more of us, it’s a great way to get to know people outside the office setting. One woman’s other half even joined us, which was fun

      Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Thank you!
      The link is the (free) livestream. Definitely worth watching if you get a chance. Good silly fun.

      Reply
  3. Wendy

    I’m so glad to hear the 10k went well in spite of your misgivings. You just never know what a run will bring, right?

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yep. ANy given Sunday, race edition.
      Because I do so few Central Park 10Ks and even fewer on this course it’s hard to judge. Decided I’m happy even if it wasn’t a PR.

      Reply
  4. Janelle @ Run With No Regrets

    Sorry about your achilles pain, but great job with your workouts! You’re reminding me how beneficial it is to run with someone else who can help step up your pace. I miss my running buddies, but it’ll be a while before I’m ready to join them again!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I didn’t think I’d like group running at first — but then I found two perfect groups. The former has gone the way Meetups often do, although we try to catch up on occasion. The work group has been fairly steady in varying amounts of participants. I hope you’re able to rejoin yours once wedding/foot stress passed.
      And thanks! Not sure why it flared as it wasn’t many hills, and didn’t flare on hills this weekend so hoping just a random one

      Reply
  5. Deborah Brooks

    Sounds like your running coach is giving you lots of great advice on pacing. I have never run a race in NY. I will be there in Nov I should see if there is one going one that week. Congrats on your 10K!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yes! I just replied to your comment on Darlene’s post. Let me know when you’re here. Can research for you – and happy to meet up

      Reply
  6. Kimberly Hatting

    You mentioned running a loop at Central Park…do you run it often? That may be a great gauge as you progress with your training. I have a 1-mile loop I sometimes run on the college campus nearby (like, 3-5 loops if I just want to run without needing to think about street crossings). Periodically, I time myself on the laps to see how my speed/pacing is progressing…it’s fun to see how much faster I can sometimes run them with little-to-no effort in comparison to the start of my training cycle.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      That’s why I love the lower loop of Central Park. No construction, no rerouting. It’s a weird distance (~`1.7 ish) but it’s an excellent barometer. I should time the laps, thanks for that idea!
      I used to do it more when I ran the reservoir loop, but haven’t done that one in a while as I get bored with multiple loops. I think I will as a baseline when my new watch arrives and then monthly or so. Part of the reason I can’t wait for the new toy, way more advanced metrics.
      Thank you!

      Reply
  7. HoHo Runs

    I’m glad your Achilles pain didn’t last! That’s a hard issue to resolve when it takes hold. I enjoyed running with a group of ladies last winter who were all a bit faster than me. I truly felt like I was dying, but I pushed harder on long runs than I would normally. I like your pirate look! Thanks for linking.

    Reply
  8. Chocolaterunsjudy

    It’s wonderful to have a partner that pushes you but not too much.

    I actually love the 10k distance. Not a lot of them up here, but I am running one sat. 🙂 It should be a good prep for my upcoming half!

    Reply
        1. cari Post author

          I hate hillsl, but I’m trying not to. Look forward to reading your recap

          Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I don’t think there’s going to be a full recap, unfortunately. Nothing ended up standing out to me, but there’s a brief thought at the start of the upcoming Wrap

      Reply
  9. Liz Dexter

    A great week and I love what a sensible runner you are, pushing where it’s warranted, resting when you need to. I really like going out with faster folk for that little boost.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Oops missed yours. I agree. Faster runners is like a little engine

      Reply

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