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The Accidental Ten-Miler

After deferring my Marine Corps Marathon in September, I threw myself into other activities. I tried to put running out of my mind.

I forgot that I had signed up for Army Ten Miler.

I'd meant to sell my registration, but I missed the window. I figured I might as well go, walk part of the course, throw in a mile or two of running. Then I'd make like Rosie Ruiz and hop on the metro around mile 5 and meet Tom at the end.

(Last week, my PT told me I should try running, and see how it went. So I tried 2.25 miles on Friday and I felt pretty darn good.)

The sun was shining. The air was cool. It was a glorious, I'm-glad-to-be-alive day. I had forgotten how much fun and energy there is at a huge road race (30,000 runners!).

On the Army Ten Miler course
I walked. I ran. I kept my heart rate at or below 130 BPM to make sure I stayed within my limits. Walk. Run. Walk. Run.

I kept expecting to tire. I paid close attention to my body. Aside from a couple of random tingles in my leg, which vanished before I could be sure they were real, I felt great. I had to keep reigning it in. I enjoyed the slower pace, the people watching, the pass and be passed game. I felt like I could go forever.

I passed the metro station without a second glance.

As I rounded the corner at Mile 8, I noticed the only sign I'd been out of the running game for nearly three months: my feet were just a bit tender from all the plodding on pavement.

I can't even remember the last long run I did, sometime in July. That "muscle memory" stuff? Turns out there's something to that!

Here's hoping my bulging disc isn't too mad at me.

19 comments:

  1. How great you went the distance, that's a good sign! Sounds like you created a good plan to follow.

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  2. Congrats, K!!! Yippeeee! I'm a HUGE fan of runwalk, esp. on pavement. Very ultra-specific, runwalk. :)

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  3. Great job! It is so cool when your body surprises you like that.

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  4. Great job! Hope you are feeling ok today. Yesterday was near perfect for the race.

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  5. AWESOME! You should be proud of your legs and lungs—you've been doing everything you can to keep 'em in running shape while you've been benched, and it paid off! And very timely post—I'm pondering the MCM 10K after three weeks off for a possibly broken toe this weekend??? Wish me luck ...

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  6. You are nuts girl! BUT I'm so excited you had a great race and hopefully all is well!

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  7. Amazing! I hope you're feeling okay today but I think its really incredible that you were able to do the full 10 miles.

    Alex @ ieatasphalt.com

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  8. Hey! That's excellent you did the distance-and did it smartly too!

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  9. Great job! So happy for you that you can run again - and what an awesome day to get back into things.

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  10. I'm sure I would have done the same thing. Glad it worked out well for you!

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  11. Wow - you are so impressive! well done on that - good to see you competing again :)

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  12. I could so relate. Thank you for sharing your "accidental 10 mile" in such beautifully descriptive words. It was like being there. Wish I was! :)

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  13. Great to see you out there running, Kir!!

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  14. Yay!

    Yep that muscle memory is a wonderful thing! I can still remember all those really bad golf swings!

    Nice job!

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  15. I don't know how I missed this but you are so totally awesome. What a great race for a comeback.

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