2nd most important piece of running equipment

Today I ran a five-mile race along the lakefront on the south side in Chicago. It was a good day. It was also my birthday, so it was great way to start out a new year of my life (ugh). I actually have done two races this week, with a neighborhood 5K this past sunday and then today’s five-miler.

The massive positives. In April, I ran an 8K (4.97 miles) race. It was the official start of the race season. My time wasn’t great for that race, but I was ok with that. It was my first time at the distance in a race. This despite having run 5Ks, 1/2 marathons and attempting a full marathon. It was also a bit warmer than I prefer for running in general. Though, making excuses shouldn’t be allowed. Anyway, today I shaved almost 2:30 off my five-mile finish time. That right there is huge. I went a slightly farther distance and I ran it faster.

I feel like I could have been even faster had it not been for a stretch of rocky gravel on the path. The gravel made my knee hurt a little bit so I was slowed down there. Another positive in this: overall my body feels good. I haven’t been pushing myself as much as I should due to injury fear. When I tore cartilage in my knee in 2006, it was on a five-mile run. So far, I have done a couple and am feeling good.

I am not fearing that I will get injured or that I am going to be in pain after doing a run longer than what I have already done. I am pretty sure this is because I am more conscious of what I am doing when I run as well as getting in some preventative yoga to help balance my body out. In any event, I am looking forward to next weekend’s long run to get ready for a 10-mile race over memorial day weekend. I will get to finish on the 50-yard line at Soldier Field and honestly cannot wait. If that goes well, then I feel like conquering the Chicago Marathon should be a piece of cake for me. At least that is what I am hoping on my road to eventually getting a BQ.