Building Mileage

It has been and continues to be a long trip back from injury, but I have started to make some progress that actually feels like that - progress.  I spent nearly a month running no more than 1 mile at a time, and not very many times a week.  I then graduated up to 2 miles, and then finally 3.1 miles where I have been for some time once again.

There has just been something about going beyond the 3.1 mile distance that has been intimidating, even to the point that it seemed that I would never make it beyond the 5k distance.  That is, until this past week.

June 2nd was a really nice Saturday, but I had a lot on my plate.  I finished up a couple things and then headed out for a late morning run.  69 degrees and sunny and yet I still almost talked myself into cutting it to the 3.1 mile distance again.  The discipline won out and I ran my first 4 miler in over 6 months!

The run was slow, but consistent with splits of 10:09, 10:08, 10:06, and 9:32 which I was very pleased with given the hills I once again started to incorporate into my run.  I dropped back to the 3.1 and even 2 mile distances since then and just today ventured out for my second 4 miler.  Today's splits were not quite as consistent, but in the end a bit faster at 10:22, 9:59, 10:04, and 9:18.

It is hard to believe that I had not run 4 miles straight since November 22nd, but I guess these times will come.  I have a long way to go still, but I will get there.  The next time I post I will be officially registered for my first 13.1 back after the injury..... how is that for motivation?

Keep the encouragement coming, and tell your friends about 26.2 Quest!