This Running Life

Wow. It has been nearly a month since my last post. Sorry. I assumed an administrative position this year and am coaching my son’s soccer team. Time is short.

I am still on the track in week 6 of achilles recovery. I am up to running three laps before walking a lap. No pain, but knees and hips are getting reacquainted with running again. I returned to soccer refereeing last week and all went well. I have been reffing small-field games and have had no problems with the achilles. I’ll ref a high school (JV) game next week, and that’ll be my big test. Running for 70 minutes after 14 year old girls (that would sound horrible if it weren’t a soccer game!) will test my recovery.

I ordered my first set of running tights (Asics Myles Tights). They should be here in a few days. Never had “tights” and I am kind of nervous about wearing them. But given the time change and the fact that I run at 5:30 AM, no one should be able to see me in them! They were only 30 dollars. I feel this is another step in my immersion into “real runner” status. I figure that if you buy a set of tights, then you must be a runner. Here’s a question. What does one wear UNDER the tights. All my running shorts have liners, so undies have not been an issue for a while. I am NOT going commando! Help.

As the weather here in the Deep South turns cooler (44 degrees this morning) I find running easier and see that my heart rate is dropping. I did my first 3-lap interval this morning at sub-5K pace and at the completion of the third lap, my watch said my HR was 70% of max. Wow! In July (100 degrees, 99% humidity) 1/4 mile would have had my HR at 80-85%.

I have pretty much ruled out the St. Jude’s marathon or half. I am nowhere near ready for a 5K, much less 13.1 miles. That’s okay. I am freeing myself from the pressure of self-imposed deadlines. Enjoy the run, not the destination. That’s the new motto.