Don't know what I mean by THOSE runs? That's okay - I'm happy to elaborate.
They're the Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket of runs.
The sort of run that gets us runners addicted to spending hours sweating and panting and hurting.
They're as elusive as a unicorn next to a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
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They're the magic runs. Where you can push yourself and can just keep going. Where you're strong. Invincible. Unstoppable - except when you're crossing the road. Road safety is important even when you're feeling like a superhero.
It shouldn't have been a great run. I'd done my long run only the day before so my legs weren't the freshest. And I'd walked up the mountain with #1 husband and the dogs earlier that day. And it was warmer than I like - but I've been toying with entering a December race so thought that running in the heat would be good training.
It was going to be an easy run. And I really did have all intentions of keeping it easy. But when the magic happens, who am I to throw it all back in the face of the running Gods? The first couple of kilometres felt so good that when I hit the hills on Hillside Tce., I just kept running at the same pace. And of course my legs could feel the effort by the top of each of the rises and my lungs were burning but the down-hills took care of that.
I kept expecting to die. But as each kilometre ticked over I had enough in the tank to promise myself another at this pace and then I'd ease back if I was feeling done. But I never had to keep that promise. Twelve kilometres done in just over an hour and my last kilometre split at 4:37.
Pain has never felt so good.
I wanted to blog about it right away but decided that in my endorphin-riddled state that it would probably be a little over the top. Too evangelical. Too gushy. Too running-crazed.
But it seems that over twelve hours haven't blunted how good that run felt. There still may be a few extra endorphins pumping around my body - and I'm not complaining. But it's left me wondering - how long until I get another run like that?
I'm struggling to believe such a thing exists.... (As a hater-of-running!) ;-)
ReplyDeleteLeave it to you to mention Willy Wonka. The moment you said Golden Ticket I wanted a chocolate bar. It's Pavlovian.
ReplyDeleteit's 07h30 in the morning and I have half a chocolate in my office draw...
ReplyDeleteSorry magic runs: Runs maybe often, but it's about those magic races that it really matters!!! And i've been lucky... I've had a marathon and a half when I was invinceable!
Gawd you look fit! It almost makes me want to start running. You look fantastic Char! I don't like chocolate so that's one thing in a non-runner's favour I guess.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous. Now that biking is ending I need to fall in love with running more. I could use a great run. And did you do anything with #2 husband later?
ReplyDeleteYay for magical runs!!!
ReplyDeleteThose are the best runs! And yes, that feeling can last for hours. I'm glad you had it and hope another is just around the corner for you.
ReplyDeleteYay!! (I knew that by "one of THOSE runs," you either meant this kind, or, y'know, the *other* kind.)
ReplyDeleteOh, yum! I am happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI would so run if there was unicorns at the end of it!! Sounds like you had a blast!! Would have loved to read the post straight after!!
ReplyDeleteps I used cut up red snakes in my rocky road, it worked quite well!! Although I don't know why I tortured myself, there is leftovers and I am trying to be healthy this month in the lead up to party month!!
WooHoo - love this!! I always love reading/hearing about "those" runs from other people because it is what keeps all of us running!
ReplyDeleteWhile I will never know this high you speak of (arse meeting back of head when I even attempt anything above a brisk walk) today I finally started back walking after the operationfromhell and OMG I feel so much better and if you asked me a year ago if I would have said something crazy like I WANTED to walk on my treadmill I would have slapped you around the head. SO I kinda sorta understand this post in a roundabout kinda way.
ReplyDeleteYAY YOU!
So happy for you you had such a great run. Although I'm not the experienced runner as you are I've had a few of those in the past and yes, that's when you know why you started running in the first place and it makes up for all the bad runs.
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