W4D3: Intimidated

Today, I decided to do my Week 4 Day 3 run at Shelley Lake.  It was just under 70 degrees outside, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  It was cool in the shade, semi-warm in the sun, and a slight breeze kept the somewhat pollinated air moving.

The jogging part was not bad, but there are way more hills and inclines on the Shelley Lake trail than there are in my neighborhood, so I could feel myself tiring more quickly today.  There was a time--at the end of the first 5-min interval--where I seriously considered slowing to a walk.  My legs were tired, and I was having trouble keeping my breathing steady.  I felt myself slow, then I told myself not to quit.  I picked up the pace again, got 3 steps farther, and the cue to start walking sounded.  R-e-l-i-e-f!!!  It was as though my whole body sagged, but I kept walking, and after about 30 seconds, I felt my energy and stamina return.

I have never walked/run the trail at Shelley Lake, so I had no idea what to expect.  I looked it up online before I left work and found out that the paved trail is a little over 2 miles.  Unfortunately, there are options to the trail to make it longer/shorter as you prefer, but I have no idea the difference in distance when the short route is taken.  I took the short route today.  I'm not sure exactly where the mile markers are measured, but my session ended just after I passed the 1.75 marker.  I walked the last quarter of a mile to my car.  It took me about 35 minutes to walk/jog the entire length of the lake, and I stopped for a few minutes to stretch my calves on my way back to the car.

I was a little intimidated at first by the distance around the lake, but I made it!  Lots of people were on the trail, and lots of people passed me.  On the other hand, I passed a few people, too.  (Nevermind their age or pace...)

I think I will start Week 5 the day after tomorrow, but I will do it in my neighborhood.  Two days after that, I will venture back out to Shelley Lake and see how it goes.  There's an 8-minute run interval in the Week 5 curriculum, and I'm hoping that my body adjusts to that as it has adjusted to all the previous increased intervals.

I wonder how you're supposed to increase your speed once your body has become accustomed to the impact of running...