Today’s Run: 5 miles @ 51:18
Today was my long run day, and something really strange happened while I was running. I went outside to start at about 2:30 p.m. Right before I was about to get ready, the skies opened up and it started pouring out. Undeterred, I threw my Wave Riders on, prepared a water bottle, and started stretching. By the time I actually started my run, the rain had stopped.
I ran 1.25 glorious (and hot) miles in the sun before it started thundering. Luckily, I was almost done with my first loop on the way back to my house, and booked it back there, because the rumbling was just getting louder and louder. I wasn’t too happy to have to finish my run on the treadmill (especially since JP was still using it when I got back, and I had to wait), but it was something I just had to do. Because 10 minutes after I hopped in the treadmill, this is what happened outside.
Hail!
I actually had to stop my run because JP and I were both in the basement and we weren’t sure if there was a tornado warning…something that’s a pretty rare occurrence here in New England, but has been happening more and more over the past few years. JP ran upstairs to check on the dogs, and my poor little Bogie baby was freaking out (Bella was completely fine). I checked my phone to see if there was anything posted on the news about a tornado warning, but there wasn’t. So I hopped back on the treadmill and continued running. A few minutes later, the hail stopped and turned into rain. By the time I was done with my treadmill run, the sun was out again! I was pretty upset that the weather ruined my “long run,” but we were glad we were able to walk the dogs outside.
The entire day was pretty glorious for us. I’ve been craving pancakes lately and attempted to make them yesterday, but didn’t have any eggs. FYI – pancakes are impossible to make without eggs! If anyone has a good vegan pancake recipe, please share it with me. So this morning I was really happy to be able to add an egg to my recipe and make pancakes topped with cherry greek yogurt. Mmm!
I ate my pancakes while finishing Prefontaine, which I started last night while suffering from insomnia. It was such an emotional movie for me to watch. JP watched the end of it with me, and I explained to him who Pre was and the impact he had on amateur athletes, and what he means to the running community in general. Even though I eat, sleep, and breathe running (and am really, really grumpy when I can’t run), I don’t think he realized until just today how much I enjoy it.
“Don’t you?” I asked him.
“No, it’s just something I endure so that I can get in shape,” he replied.
Oh. I guess I just assumed that he would fall in love with the sport as much as I have, and we would go running together every day, start completing races together (he’s the one that mentioned something to that effect yesterday), and make beautiful running babies together (sorry, TMI!). I was just kidding about that last part…sort of.
But even after having that conversation we decided that JP needed to try out a minimalist running shoe, and planned to set out and look into buying a pair of Vibram Fivefingers. Since he has problems with his Achilles’ tendons, he usually runs barefoot (maybe that’s why he feels like he’s just enduring it!).
When we were on our way to find some Fivefingers, I asked him what he enjoyed about running.
“I enjoy working out, feeling the burn, and the sense of accomplishment that you feel afterwards.” Umm, isn’t that what most people enjoy about running? I surely don’t enjoy the pain that you have to push through…I think for most people, it’s knowing that you’re going to have that awesome runner’s high on the other side, trying to see how far you can push your body (and finding out what amazing things you’re capable of) and…of course…feeling the burn!
It was about 6:15 when we reached Eastern Mountain Sports (the closest place that sells Fivefingers and that also happens to be 45 minutes away), and it of course was closed by the time we got there. So we went for a nice drive for nothing. I was starving at that point and really wanted a hamburger, but instead, was good and opted to have these when I got home:
Fish tacos!
I had made fish tacos last night, and they were delish, but I was more in a burger mood today. But I hate it when food goes to waste, which is why I opted for the fish tacos instead. Fish only lasts for so long, and I spent hard earned money on groceries to make that meal, so I was gonna eat it!
After a day filled with wonderful running thoughts, I decided to take “pen to paper” on my phone and share it all with you…
…all while icing my leg with a bag of Brussels sprouts! We were all out of frozen peas…and regular ice packs, lol.
No injuries this time around, I’m being proactive and weight lifting/foam rolling/icing…you name it, I’ll be doing it!
Oh, and by the way, I officially signed up for my first half of the year! Click here to find out which one I’ll be running! Just remember, my first marathon is going to be a surprise, so you won’t know about which one I’ll be running until the day of…I don’t want to be jinxing myself!
Have a happy Memorial Day!
Tell me about one race you’ll be completing this summer.
What do you love about running? Anything you hate about it?
What’s your favorite running-related movie?
26.2 x 2 
I wish I had done that with my first marathon, I hate that I was signed up and everything and then couldn’t run it! Next time I want to be 100% sure I am doing it.
That is some crazy weather! You know I never had a fish taco. It sounds disgusting to me, but all kinds of people like them! What is IN a fish taco? Like what kind of fish?
Lol, they used to seem disgusting to me until I tried them once at a BBQ place. You can put any type of fish in that you want! I’ve had them with catfish before but the ones I made the other night had cod in them (the recipe called for tilapia). Mine also had cilantro, lime juice, tomato, jalapeños, onion and garlic in them. So it was a healthy fish taco!
We used to meet up with a friend for happy hour at a place that had great blackened fish tacos…my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I don’t think there’s anything I hate about running, of course it’s hard many days but isn’t that the point? Maybe I’m just crazy for enjoying it anyway. My husband doesn’t get it at all but I get 0% enjoyment out of riding my bike and he loves it, I think everyone is suited to SOMETHING in the fitness world, you just have to figure out what it is.
Yeah even when I’m in pain and pushing through it or on the treadmill and trying to get through eight miles and going nowhere, I enjoy the challenge of having to push through it.
Hail! Crazy. I haven’t seen that movie but I do love fish tacos! I love running because there’s nothing to push me forward except my own two feet. I just finished a book about running where the author talks about that euphoric feeling you get when running in nature. it made me so excited 🙂 Sometimes I think only runners understand why we do it for more than exercise
What was the name of the book you were reading? I am looking for some good books that relate to running to read. Lately I’m into biographies…
We thought it was a tornado too!! We got quarter size hail, it was unreal and then it was GORGEOUS out and we had a cook out with our friends..only in NE right??? I WISH my husband ran, even if he didn’t love it. He thinks I am nuts!
Good job on finishing the run! I love the challenge of running. Sometimes I feel like a superhero, other times I go away disappointed, but the rough runs seem to make me come back for more. I don’t usually race in summer much, the half I am signed up for is in Nov.so I have awhile to go before race mode hits 🙂
What half do you plan on running in November? Just out of curiosity…
The Richmond Half, I live in VA 🙂 It will be the first time I’ve run it.
Oh my gosh is that hail?! Wow it’s a good thing you didn’t get caught in that! I’ve gotten caught in the pouring rain with thunder and lightning before, but never hail. I saw you were looking for some good books on running to read. Have you read 4:09:43 by Hal Higdon? It’s a bunch of stories from people who ran Boston in 2013 when the bombings happened. It’s a really good read and I couldn’t put it down!
I haven’t read that book yet, I’ll have to check it out! I’m looking for a few books to read and am thinking about including some book review on here. 🙂