Okay, so I started this blog last year to document my training for my first triathlon and my first marathon. I didn't do very well with that, however, I've recently been inspired by a friend of mine, Tracy Turner, who is blogging about training for her first marathon (Marine Corps in Washington DC this October) and I'm going to make another attempt at this!
I recently set a goal to run all 12 East Nasty runs in succession, leading up to the run of all runs "The Nasty"! Last night was my first run titled "One Hilly 5k", and in my opinion it was! This run, like all of the runs, started at 11th and Holly in East Nashville. When I got there I remembered why I stopped going to these runs, it's the adoptable dogs they show before each run!!!! Okay, I am just kidding about that but I'm terrified that by the end of this running series I'll go from having zero dogs to having twelve!!! Last night's adoptable was a cute little puppy. Looking at the website I think he might have been Copper. Julianna and I stayed as far away as we could because we are both suckers, but I did talk to the lady from East C.A.N. beforehand. Copper was found tied to the porch of a house after the family had moved. I don't understand how people do these things! He was such a cute and sweet puppy that I'm certain he will find a good home soon!
The route, in my opionion, lived up to it's name. I live in the flat 'boro but I try to run in Cool Springs and Nashville as often as I can but this still seemed very hilly to me! I was very proud of myself that I ran up Shelby Avenue, not a huge hill but a long incline and really enjoyed the downhill into Shelby Bottoms. Unfortunately I had to stop and use my inhaler when we go to the bottom. I never equated my breathing issues to allergies, but I guess that's what causes them. I've always had trouble at the change of the season so I guess that's what it is. Anyhow, after a moment's panic of thinking I had an empty inhaler (I didn't), we were back off and running. Now we all love the hills because we know what goes up must come down, right? Well, in this case what goes down must come up! I think I did okay on the hill out but I did have to walk so I convinced Julianna to walk "the poles" with me. This is my method of getting up a hill when I can't just straight run it. I'll run to a pole, then walk to the next one and so on. Before I knew it were up and out of the park. The last hill caught me a little off guard on Holly Street. I saw it as we were running down Holly and it looked huge! Once we got on it though it didn't seem so bad and I ran most of it before having to walk. Truthfully, I think I could have made it up this one but my head made me stop. Yep, still fighting the head games, but I'll come out on top, I'm sure of it!
Almost at the end of the run Julianna saw some friends of hers, Brian and Ashley, so we stopped to chat with them before running to the finish line. Afterwards Julianna and I headed down to 3 Crows Bar for a beer and some more conversation.
Things I learned on this run? I do suffer a little from allergies. I can run the hills but I need to push a little harder on them. And most importantly, I need to run faster so that there will still be some water after the run and we'll be able to get a seat at 3 Crows Bar to enjoy our beer!
Here is the Garmin data for the run. I just found my chest strap and wore if for the first time in awhile. I am little disconcerted that my heart rate was so high on this run, but overall it really was a good run.
I'm looking forward to Run #2 Round the Lake next Wednesday! Looks like we run into Shelby Bottoms again but down the hill we ran up last night which means up the hill we ran down. It's going to be fun!
