Running Blind

Okay so maybe "running extremely near sighted" would be a more appropriate title :)

My contacts were bothering me on the bike rides this weekend so I didn't want to risk irritating my eyes and opted for no contacts during my swim yesterday, none for my walk/jog with David last night, and none for the run tonight. I attempted to run in my glasses but they are not designed for running and kept sliding down my nose. So I was hitting the track with less than perfect vision tonight.

Only 4 of us showed tonight and all of us either raced this weekend, rode long, or were planning on racing this weekend. So we opted for mile repeats. The warm up felt forced to me so I thought for sure I was going to be pretty slow. I figured I would aim for 10k pace or around 7:15s. I was pleasantly surprised when the first mile came in at 6:52 comfortably. Not too shabby! Perhaps we can hold this tonight. Second mile 6:50. Nice and steady almost every 400 was right on. Feeling really geeked now since this was my 5k pace this weekend and this did not feel forced at all tonight. Third mile 6:52. Awesome. Fourth mile picked it up just a notch for a 6:39. I will take it! With the 2 mile warm up and mile cool down I got in 7.75 miles tonight.

I am getting tired of being the only one at my pace on the track. Tonight I was the only girl to boot. I am hoping to find someone right around my pace and get them to the track so we can feed off of each other. Right now I just have to push myself and try not to fall too far behind the speedsters.

The rain held off until our mile cool down and then it misted lightly on us. Enough to make the ride home chilly. I have the space heater going right now. The sun peaked out for a few minutes on the drive home so maybe I will be able to catch an hour of sunlight tomorrow for a bike ride. We'll see!

16 comments:

Trisaratops said...

Great splits! Hey, maybe I can run mile repeats with you? Um, yeah, or maybe not. :) I'd be good for one mile at that pace...and then you'd have to carry me. :) ha ha Maybe someday!

Habeela said...

Man, you're tired of being the only one in your pace and you run 7:15s?! Does this mean everybody is faster than you?

I only dream of running that pace! Maybe one day...when I'm all grown up. :)

E-Speed said...

habeela, Most of the guys are much faster than me. For instance while I was doing 6:50 miles tonight the guys were running 5:50. The girls that run about the same pace as me haven't been to the track since last October. The others on the track are just a little slower than me so I just have to run my own workout. It's okay but sometimes it gets old!

Backofpack said...

I imagine it is hard to find someone at that kind of a pace! You are speedy.

qcmier said...

Hmmm, have not had much running or speed work, but I'm sub 7:00s right now. I'm purposely trying not get too caught up with splits and instead I am trying to just focus on distance and the task at hand. That's why I am trying to do trail runs where there are no mile markers. But I love the track so I might just have to drop by next week. Drop me an email.

Ginger Breadman said...

I hope you didn't run so fast that you scared all the other girls away! Nah, just kidding. You know, even if you have to run by yourself, at least there is someone else at the track that holds you accountable in a way. It's a lot harder to go to the track by yourself and force yourself to knock out the pace.

Cliff said...

I had an eye infection about two weeks ago. Ever since then, I run/bike/swim with one contact..so i train half blind :)

Lora said...

Gosh...I'd be blind without my glasses. Bad enough I swim blind...but run?? could never do! Great speedwork you got going there! Catch up to those boys would ya!!!

Papa Louie said...

Maybe more people will show up at the track as summer approaches. Hang in there it's still better than running track ALL by yourself. See you next week.

Janet Edwards said...

Nice times, especially considering the glasses issue.

Right now I am trying to attend at least one training session per week. Last week and this week are Wed. bike sessions in the Valley. I am going to plan on hitting the track Tuesday. Something new. I know you are faster than me, but perhaps some track time could help make me a little faster too!

L*I*S*A said...

I hear ya with the glasses issue. I usually wear contacts, too, but they are startin' to get a bit foggy and old. Gotta replace 'em.

Love the blog...hope you don't mind if I add you to mine. :)

psbowe said...

Good luck on finding another speeder like yourself, that would certainly help...
Your times look great.

Fe-lady said...

Man you are FAST..
And nothing like someone almost your pace to play with and keep you moving just a little beyond your comfort zone!
I feel the same way when I am in the pool...I am usually the only lady (we workout at a facility on an airforce base). There are some woman swimmers, but they usually try not to get their hair wet! I want to go over and DUNK them most of the time!

Unknown said...

It's at least more beneficial for you that you are running with guys faster than you rather than slower. It should make you faster as well.

Jessica DeLine said...

Yes hopefully you will find someone to push you at the track. I know that helped me a lot back when I was going speed workouts!

Anonymous said...

*you* are the slow one in your group???

i had a whole post last year about never running in glasses. a lens popped out on me! one-eyed runner, yuck.