1/2 Marathon Training: Week 2, Run 1

This week I'm starting to use a training schedule devised by the leader of a training group I joined. Instead of mileage, it's based on time, which is a method I haven't followed since C25K and One-Hour Runner back in 2006. So it will take a little getting used to, but I'm trying to be open to it because I'm sure there's a method to the madness. Also, it only has 3 runs per week for the first 8 weeks of training, which I suspect will be a welcome relief once boot camp starts and my body is beaten to a daily pulp.

The first run of the week called for a 20-minute run at a steady pace. I'm not sure what happened, but I ran 2 miles in 20 minutes. I've never run a 10-minute mile in my life to my knowledge, so that was surprising. I attribute this to two things: (1) An insane dog named Zuko was setting the pace and (2) I think psychologically 20 minutes felt so much shorter than a usual run that I just went a little faster than I usually do. I know that it's an average pace for a lot of people, and even quite a slow pace for many, but I am just not a 10-minute miler. So I am a little bit in shock.

This was also my first run in the dark. I bought a very stylish and becoming glow in the dark reflective vest and a blinking red light to clip onto Zuko's leash, so I felt visible, and I know these routes like the back of my hand, so I felt pretty sure on my feet, but I can't say I loved being out there in the dark. I suspect I'll end up doing a lot of runs during the week at the gym. Even though I dread the gym-induced case of Hot Face that I always get and the sweat flying off the brows of my treadmill neighbors and hitting me in the face.

Today's Best Running Song (also known as one of my top running songs of all time): Get Up by Bleu.