I was fairly pleased with the results today. I went out very slowly, as planned, and was able to keep running much longer than I was able to last week. I made it 53 minutes before I had to stop and if the route we were on didn't have so many long hills I think I would have made it farther.
The route was hilly. I knew the downhill parts would be a problem. I can manage on flats and going uphill, but the downhill portions were just putting too much pressure on my knee. It also didn't help that parts of the trail had snow and ice on it. Nothing like slick footing to make an injury that is centered on a muscle that provides stability kick in.
At the first stoppage, I walked for about 3 minutes until I was at the bottom of the hill and then was able to get back up to speed. I went for another 10-12 minutes before having to stop once again. By that time, I was facing a very steep hill and only a short distance from the start/finish area, so I walked it in the rest of the way.
The last hill before the end of the run.
I had wanted to get the whole 70 minutes, but was happy to get as far as I did. Hopefully, with continued stretching, foam rollering and cautious running I will keep increasing my time until I am able to do the full runs.
Before the run started, Nadine, one of our coaches, came forward and talked to us about her father. He had been diagnosed with one of the blood cancers a couple years ago and through some extremely painful stem cell therapy along with chemo and some harsh drugs had been able to kick the cancer into remission. Unfortunately, she got a call just yesterday that he has gone out of remission. It was heart-wrenching to see the toll that news was taking on Nadine and would be on her family. Today's run was dedicated to her father.
This one is for Nadine's father.
A fundraising update: With all of your help, I was able to hit a fundraising incentive level (very early too!) and got a swanky black hoodie with the Team in Training logo on it. The only way to get one is to hit that incentive level, so thanks and keep it up.
One thing I've been glad to avoid on the fundraising side of things is Chase. Chase is a stuffed animal that gets handed out to someone new each week that they have to carry around with them. It does serve as a good conversation starter from what people who have carried it have reported. I really don't want it and I'm thinking since I'm not having any fundraising issues that I might not "get" to carry Chase around. This week, the lucky victim is Suzanne, one of the runners in my mentor group. Good luck to her.
Suzanne and Chase.
Run stats: 1:16:48 min. | 5.92 miles | 12:58/mile average pace
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