I no longer run races or workouts. I either finish or do a particular thing, as there is usually a lot of walking during the event.
The bribe worked. I gave myself permission to go to Paul’s for a doughnut if I finished my usual 10-mile route. Unfortunately, they were out of chocolate-covered. I had to settle for a chocolate-covered-with-nuts. From my past posts, you should know that Paul’s uses chocolate cake frosting on their doughnuts, not that chocolate-dipped glaze.
Originally, I had planned to go to Paul’s last Tuesday. I took my car to Sheehy for 60,000-mile maintenance. If the job was going to be less than 3 hours, I would have walked to Paul’s and back. They estimated more than 3 hours, so I ran the five miles home and picked up my car later. The chocolate frosting taste lingered.
They’re probably 400 calories each, so I go only a few times per year.
January 17 must be the day many New Year’s resolutions fail, as the line in the store was in mid-year form, and by 10:30 am, they had already run out of chocolate-covered rings. Too, I only encountered a few walkers during my journey.
I got up at 5:30 am, wanting to get out the door to be back in time to hit Paul’s by 10:30. My temperature was a little higher than normal, but my blood pressure was low.
As the sun was coming up, there was a red sky on the horizon warning of the coming storm. My cell phone only indicated a 30% chance of rain. The temperature was in the mid-30s. I dressed to stay warm while walking, hoping the rain wouldn’t be severe.
After doing 30 pace jogs with walking breaks, I started alternating 120-pace walks and 90-pace runs. Doing math produces negative thoughts for most and is not best when running. Counting paces is a form of math. I was not impacted. The only change in routine was not walking downhill or running up a steep hill.
From my house, I can cut through Pratt and St Clair Brooks Parks on the Belmont Ferry Farm Trail, cross the Falmouth Bridge to a Heritage Trail loop. I ran down the switchbacks and walked back up on my return.
Crossing the Falmouth Bridge, there was a dead goose in the gutter. It must have impacted a car while flying across the bridge. Don’t birds always know how to avoid cars?
Around mile 6.5, a light rain started. Heading through the woods, it sounded like sleet.
By mile 8.5, my back started hurting. I concentrated on keeping my head up and shoulders back, and the pain went away.
My total time was 84 minutes of walking and 59 minutes of running. I kept my heart rate down, averaging 114 bpm and peaking at 127 bpm.
This adventure was my first longer than 6 miles since the Blue Gray Half-Marathon. My last 6-mile run was not good, leading to PVCs and a hospital visit in the following days.
The day after my 10-mile trek, my temperature is still above normal, my blood pressure is lower, and my heart is in normal sinus rhythm. Keeping my heart rate down may have been the difference. I’m doing better than the goose.
The Dahlgren Trail half-marathon is in two weeks. I need to register. The race has a 3-hour and 30-minute time limit. Keeping up today’s routine will yield a 3-hour and 15-minute finish time. Maybe I’ll do a pizza bribe.