Miles 44-47: Triumph on the Treadmill

I am pleased to announce that, when faced with another cold dark rainy day, I returned to the gym to face my nemesis.

And I emerged triumphant.

I dreaded it but - not having run since Sunday on the trail - knew that waiting until this Sunday to run again was not a wise choice. Dialing back miles to help with the shinsplints is one thing, not running out of fear and/or rationalizing is another beast entirely.

I went into the gym with a reasonable goal (run 3-4 miles), a plan (stop when the pain flares up, even if everything else checks good), and some nifty new apparel. Unlike last time, I didn't try to go for broke with 5 miles of speed intervals; I settled in with a manual setting, walked briskly for a minute or so, then moved it on up to a 10 minute/mile pace. By the end of mile 2, I had moved up to a 9:15 minute/mile pace and the shins were still checking in fine. Halfway through mile 4, the left calf started to cramp, so I slowed it down to a brisk walk, ramped up the incline and hiked the last half mile.

I was quite pleased, but not nearly done.

So I punished myself with a weight circuit, Claudia-style.

Miles 44-47: not a typical Friday Freedom Run, but a proud 45 minutes regardless.