I got up on Saturday and joined the mothers forum for another one of their weekly runs. Last week I wrote a post about getting left behind after less than half a mile because the runners who came that week were so much faster than I am. This week, it was two mothers who are STILL faster than I am, but a little bit closer to my pace. It was great, because their conversational pace (and they were making an effort to run slow so I could stay with them longer) was under a 10 minute pace, which is pushing it for me. (My fastest 5k pace was a 9:34 pace on a completely flat course, and it was NOT EASY.)
I was able to hang onto them for the first mile and a half, and then rest for a minute, and rejoin them for another three quarters of a mile before dropping my pace down. I finished close enough to their finish time that one of the runners ran back to run me in (also, she’s kind of the nicest person ever, so might have waited even if I’d been several minutes back).
Overall, it meant that I ran four miles in sub ten minute pace. That’s not something I’ve EVER done outside of a race setting, and it’s faster than my previous attempts at keeping up with the forum.
Keeping up with them as long as I can is helping me get faster. When I run by myself, I naturally ease into a slightly slower pace because I’m not trying to stay right behind someone. I’d have to look at my Garmin every thirty seconds and speed up to run a sub-ten minute pace without the help of a pacer like the mothers forum runners.
Saturday pleases me for a couple reasons.
1. I really didn’t want to get out of my warm cozy bed and go for a run before breakfast, but I did anyway. (Thanks to the encouragement of my sometimes overly cheerful and optimistic husband.)
2. I have run with the group enough times to see myself actually getting faster… I’m cutting seconds off, and little by little, my pace is improving. Not only do I get to chat a little with other mothers, it’s helping my running, too. Love it.
And you will continue to improve your times the more you run with them! Doesn’t it feel great to know you’re making such good progress? Well done you 🙂
I’ve thought about running with a group, but it doesn’t sound like fun to me. I don’t want to talk while I’m running. And I’m afraid it will be awkward like when people are running slower just for you and/or waiting on you. Although, I have now experienced while talking on the phone with my dad while I ran (he did most all the talking) it really did take my mind off of the run entirely! I mean I hardly even noticed the hill I had to run up I was so focused on the conversation.
That’s why I’ve also considered some podcasts. Are there any free podcasts and if so which ones do you listen to?
It’s all about knowing what works for you – but giving something new is worth a try, so don’t rule group running out 🙂 I don’t always (I never) talk… but I listen and am extra motivated.
In the meantime, there are tons of free podcasts out there! My neighbor and another blogger, Abby Glassenberg, is big into listening to podcasts while she crafts. She recently published a great post with a list of twenty suggestions with information about each one. Check it out on her blog at While She Naps!