I talked Big Sis into spending the night. We were equipped with three young ones and trying to work in an eight mile run. If it had just been YaYa, I would have had him ride along side of me on the trail. Since Sis had not planned to stay in town, her two did not have bicycles. I was unsuccessful in borrowing the neighbor’s cycles.
The five of us ended up at the local track. I didn’t realize that I’d forgot to grab the soccer ball until we were already there. The kids were entertaining themselves in the center of the track as Sis and I ran circles around them. Sis began calculating the number of laps we’d be running. I did not want think about it. It could be the longest eight miles that I’ve run in a while.
Sis was having a harder time with the monotony of the workout. In an effort to liven it up, I offered to change it up a little with some speed play. After a two mile warm up, we picked up the pace on the straight sections and jogged the curved sections of the track. We did this for a mile.
On the first straight section, I picked up the pace and left Big Sis behind. I was sure that she was trying to boost my ego as Sis BQ’d without even trying (she didn’t even want to run Boston). On the next straight, I shot ahead of her again. She continued insisting that she really *was* trying and could only run 10K pace (nothing faster). I don’t really believe her, but my ego wants to.
Anyhow, we got through the whole eight mile run. It was not at long run pace but I kept the speed play to a minimum. When it was over, Sis and I cheered ourselves for persisting.
The next challenge would be to pry the kids from their project of building a lake in the middle of a sandpit.
Eight miles around a track is a long ways, I don’t think I could do it without going batty. At least the kids kept themselves occupied – a good reason to run track.
I think I may have gone insane if I had to do 32 laps on the track. Great job pushing through it. I’m sure your next race time will thank you for the speed work. :)
You’re still doing Chicago, right?! Perhaps we’ll run into each other?
Yikes! That’s a whole lotta track work!
The birthday party in the previous post looks like fun. Very creative of your sister – I admire her for taking the time to do her own thing instead of basing it off a movie or cartoon. What a blast!
I will no longer complain about doing short speed workouts on the track.
Way to perservere!
I certainly would not have made it around for 8 miles…great job!!
that is ALMOST as bad as 8 miles on the treadmill. I don’t think i could’ve done it. nice work! (and a sister who bq’d without even trying! Wow!)
Definitely NOT as bad as 8 miles on the treadmill.