Sunday, October 13, 2013

Realizations

58°,    NE 10,   80% H,   UV 0,    Dp 47°

This was my second time running the Selden Hills, this time, with the self appointed "Hillbillys". It so happened that today was 'newbie' day. And although I had run these hills before, I still felt like a newbie, because I had yet to meet the group.

I managed to get lost on the way there, so all those hillbillys had already left without me. There was, however, a gentleman waiting in the parking lot. A tall and lanky man with a friendly face. He was dressed in his red Selden Hills shirt. We exchanged pleasantries while waiting just a few minutes more to see if anyone else would show.

Even though I had my all my electronics, I didn't start any up.  The conversation was non-stop - mostly on his end. He asked me what he thought my pace would be, I told him anywhere between 10:30 and 9:30. He seemed good with that, and told me that we would run the entire course together. He explained some of the history, described the course, explained the philosophy of the group, and everything in between. I tried to be gabby, but I found it was wearing me out. I explained that I always run alone, so talking while running was not easy for me. He totally understood, and told me I did not have to participate in the conversation, but - he would keep talking anyway. He was awesome! What a great introduction into this hard running group!

The hills were just as challenging as before, and I had to walk several times. My guide and escort, K.C., slowed his pace down for me while I recovered. Only once he went on ahead, and that was to scout a dangerous section of the route that was blind to both drivers and runners, and he would wait for me at that crest.

It was nice to have him prepare me for each of the hills that were coming up.
"OK, this is the second to last, and then it's down hill and a right at the stop signs"
"OK, we get a decent break here, about a half mile of flat"
"And here's the halfway point, but now we've got to go up again for a mile and a half" - and so on.

I had asked him our time on the way back. He told me that we were about 31 minutes at mile 3, and we were 38 minutes out as the answer to my question.
I was surprised. It felt fast, but I thought it was because I had company, and that it was an illusion. I was really running these hills faster than I thought.

First important realization: In order to get faster, for me, I need to run with someone faster than myself. I let myself get away with too much slacking during training.

By the time we were about 2 miles out from the finish (10k) we had come up on two runners from the back of the pack of the original group that started about 6 minutes ahead of us. The woman was going to run in Brazil in a few weeks. Her longest run had been 4 miles - and it was her first run on the hills, too! She had an escort in the gentleman who was running with her, as well.  We ran together for about 400 meters until K.C. and I pulled away from them to continue on for yet MORE hills. At the end of the last hill, we had 1.2 miles of flat. It was a straight line back to the parking lot. Marty let the woman he was with finish at her own pace, and he caught up to us before the final quarter mile. As we turned right into the parking lot, K.C. mentions that we have 30 seconds to go to finish in exactly 60 minutes! We had to haul ass.

Ugh! I was exhausted! But, to the left - about 200 meters away, was a sea of red shirts, about 20 or so folks, waiting. And when they saw us break into a sprint, they must of realized we had a goal. The cheers and encouragement where amazing! I was genuinely moved.

So, Cow Harbor had just become a docile, familial pet.  Selden Hills is the untamed, relentless beast. And, running with a coach of sorts, it took me only 3 minutes more to harness the potential power in not only myself, but those hills as well.

Realization #2: Hills are your friend. In order to build endurance, besides cycling as cross training, hills can't be beat.

I met only a handful of the group. We were talking about fueling, how long it takes us to get to the hills from where we live, tackling the declines, etc. I was told they will be running every Wednesday at 4:30 pm and Sundays at 8:00 am.
I will try to get out there at least 2x a month. I have a feeling it might be 3. (But I'm still a little high from the morning!) Economically speaking, it took a quarter of a tank to get there and back. The good news is that gas prices are dropping. 4.09 for premium last week to 3.97 last night. How serendipitous! And now that I know the correct way to get there, I'll be shaving miles and time from the ride.

Realization #3: There is power in camaraderie. And THIS is coming from a self-proclaimed introvert.

No pictures, not much data. I had the sense to start Magellan up about 2 miles into the run. It's not as elegant as Runmeter's data, but I'll post the link nontheless.

Magellan Data

Hey. Did you hear about the new Garmin 620? It's coming soon.. and it looks AWESOME. I'll be trying that baby out, and maybe put the Magellan up for sale.




18 comments:

  1. It must be wonderful to have real hills that close! Houston is famous for many things, but among runners, mostly for being FLAT. I get some hill workouts of a sort by running the overpasses that cross the train tracks at the end of my street...one lap over and back is 1K, at a 4% grade; 10 repeats of that is a pretty decent little workout, I try to do it at least twice a month, but may up that to weekly as my marathon approaches.

    Thanks for your comments and support on my blog, I really appreciate them...it's nice to know I'm not sending my thoughts out into a vacuum!

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    1. That sounds like you found a great place to do the 'hills'!
      You're welcome. I enjoy your posts!

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  2. Running with others is a real nice change of pace. Before cow harbor, I ran the course twice with my neighbor who is slower than me, and it was relaxing and pleasurable to run at a comfortable pace and to try to encourage and push someone else to do better, which she did. Then I ran it with a friend who is faster than me and it was quite a challenge trying to keep up with him. It's nice to mix things up either way.

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    1. I believe I experienced a runner's high today too. They don't come very often, but when they do, I feel invincible. And incredibly brilliant. Then I'm not. Bleh,
      But I think I'm really going to enjoy this new adventure!

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  3. Does your Selden route take you along Mooney Pond Road? I lived there until I was 10. I enjoy your blog very much! Stay strong and have fun with those beastly hills!

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    1. Thank you, Karen! I'm just getting to know the hills, and I'm not quite sure of all the road names yet. Thanks for your kind words. I hope you continue to enjoy reading the blog!

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  4. I really appreciate hill work. Now, I feel that there are no hills that can phase me! Watch, that statement will bite me in the butt someday.

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    1. I think I agree with you! I hope I learn to love them. Let it bite you in the butt - it'll just make you go faster!

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  5. This sounds great! I love hill they are my favorite way to get faster and stronger. I miss my running partner. My husband has been sidelined with an injury!

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    1. Yes, I've been keeping tabs on your running without hubby. But you've been sticking to your plan and you've got got half coming up! So you have hills where you are?
      I wish your husband a speedy recovery!

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  6. I'm a bit of an introvert myself and likely would have the same problem with running and chatting at the same time. Anyway, you need to be able to breathe to talk and that would have been my biggest issue!!

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    1. I really know that I'm still a cardiovascular mess from running and trying to talk this weekend. But, it just really slams home what I need to work on. You can't improve what you aren't aware of! Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. Sounds like the perfect training ground for next year's Cow Harbor. I used to train regularly with better runners around Central Park's hillier parts. They would trot along at 8:30 a mile chatting like they were sitting on their living room sofa. I could only keep up if I kept my mouth shut!

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    1. That's exactly how I felt on Sunday. It's amazing, isn't it?

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  8. I secretly love hills, too. They break up the monotony of a run. I started my running career on the north shore and now that I moved south, the hilly terrain is what I miss most.

    The Hillbillies sound like a nice group. That's great that you found them!

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    1. I hope I learn to love the hills as much as I love the track! And so far the few people I've met from this group are great! You do still come out to the NS though, right?

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    2. Yes, I try to go up to my mother's to run a couple of times a month, if she's willing to watch the kids. Good luck on your 5k!

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    3. Thanks, A.. I thought I remember you describing a route just west of me. I'm still in awe of your last marathon time. How are you feeling today, I wonder?

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I appreciate you taking the time to read my musings! Thanks for commenting!