Mission to a(nother) Marathon: Liberated

This morning I met my new run club for our first long run. The scheduled distance was 16K, but several of us met earlier to run an additional 5 before meeting our pace groups at the store. I officially joined the 4:00 hour marathon group because their target long run pace is just about perfect for me. I don't know that I'll be able to keep up with their tempo runs and other speed workouts, but I'll take it one run at a time and see how it goes.

In my haste to get out the door on time this morning after a late night, I forgot my Garmin. I can't even remember the last time I ran without it so I immediately panicked and thought, 'This run is going to suck.' But you know what? It didn't! I felt an overwhelming sense of freedom not knowing the distance, time and pace. I just ran, chatted with my fellow runners and enjoyed myself. The time flew by, I felt great and before I knew it we had 1K to go. It was liberating and probably the best long run I have had in a while.

The instructos had hot chocolate and cookies for us back at the store and I was also invited out to brunch, which is apparently a Sunday tradition. It's an awesome group of people and I'm really looking forward to getting to know everyone in the next few months.

This will be my first official week on the new program:

Monday: off (maybe xtrain)
Tuesday: HOT fitness class + 7K
Wednesday: 10K
Thursday: 8-10K
Friday: 5K
Saturday: Spin or Boot Camp
Sunday: 23K

(Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays are with the group.)

In non-running news, my husband has been asked to fly to the other side of the world (literally!) for work. He'll be leaving Friday for New Caledonia, an island off the coast of Australia, and won't return to four weeks. We have never been apart for so long and it's definitely going to be difficult, but it's a great opportunity career-wise. I'm mostly just jealous that he gets to pick up in the middle of this harsh Canadian winter for a tropical paradise!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Can't wait to hear some news from the Disney runners!

27 comments:

littlesack said...: I know what you mean about feeling liberated without the watch! It's an odd sense of freedom. Good for you for joining the 4 hour group!

Hope the next four weeks go by faster than you think they will.; 8:20 PM
BeachRunner said...: Great job on the garmie-free run. Sounds like that will be a excellent group.

Bon voyage and safe travels to hubby. Hopefully those four weeks will fly by for you.; 8:26 PM
Unknown said...: four weeks is a long time. :-(

your week looks good. best wishes with it!; 8:33 PM
Mel-2nd Chances said...: wow, lucky hubby! Great job on the run this morning, and i'm so happy that you have an awesome group to run with, having people that match you pace! Yay!; 9:00 PM
RunningLaur said...: Good luck with the new schedule - hopefully it will keep you busy while the husband is out of town!; 9:01 PM
Heather said...: Sounds like a fun group to run with. I'm jealous of your husband too!; 9:36 PM
J said...: Great job on the run - having a group to run with is really great! 4 weeks is a long time to be away from your husband. I hope that it goes by quick for you!; 10:11 PM
yumke said...: 4 weeks! a long time, but at least you'll have plenty of time to run outside.

I haven't run more than 20K in a little bit.. it's going to start soon for me..; 10:12 PM
Sonia said...: Great run! Have fun with your new group. Running with the garmin is definitely different. But at least you're not so focused on it!

Seems like a grea trip your husband is on. That island looks gorgeous!! I'm sure the 4 weeks will pass by real quickly.; 10:23 PM
Marci said...: I know what you mean about no watch. I have been handing watch to hubs lately and let him pace. I find it easier, especially for tempo runs.
I am envious of your hubby, I would love to take off somewhere warm, work or not!; 10:43 PM
Jess said...: Great job on a such a feel good long run!

And that would suck to be apart for 4 weeks! Can you go and visit him for a few days or something?; 6:33 AM
joyRuN said...: That new run group sounds better & better each time you describe them.

I'd pack up & go with hubs to warmer climes.; 7:16 AM
Anonymous said...: You are going to do great with this group. A nice cup of hot chocolate after a cool run, to get you nice and toasty. I coauld use a cup now.; 7:56 AM
Denise said...: Yea! Glad you like the new group.

Boo! 4 weeks!?! :-(; 8:26 AM
AddictedToEndorphins said...: I love how they have all the instructors! My favorite part of the clinics were the post race brunch (although we didn't have brunch for more than 20km)!

You are unstoppable!! I'm excited to read about your training!!; 8:40 AM
ShoreTurtle said...: I'm tied to my watch too--but whenever I run without it, I've had great runs.

I think that your husband should take you (at the very least) and (more importantly) your readers along with him. I think that we all would enjoy a break from the winter weather.

I'm glad that the running group is working out.; 9:08 AM
Brian said...: Thats an awesome running group you found. Brunch? How classy.
Hope all goes well with your husbands trip and hope you get through it fine, no worries though!; 9:37 AM
Marcy said...: Hot chocolate, cookies, and brunch?!? Where do I sign up? ;-)

Bummer on the Mr. Although I could only hope that Mr McG would go away for 4 weeks. HAHAH JK! I know what you mean. I hate not having someone to kick under the covers in bed ;-); 10:02 AM
Stacey said...: I love running with my group. It makes the time go by faster and it is fun to talk to new people! My group goes to get bagels after our runs.

Too bad you can't tag along with your husband!; 10:20 AM
tfh said...: I'm impressed that you're continuing to fit in the cross-training even with higher mileage. That's SO cool for your husband!; 11:07 AM
Felice Devine said...: Great job! Watch-free runs really are liberating. It feels nice not to worry about pace at all.; 11:52 AM
Shoe Running said...: I can imagine how nice it would feel without the pace nazi on your wrist. I'm still in the phase of garmin ownership where I have to remember to bring it with :); 12:19 PM
Janice {Run Far} said...: when i was in Utah for Thanksgiving, my Garmin died and I was freaking out. I was alone, so I checked the time on my ipod and ran for time and guessed about how far I had gone. I love my GPS. =); 1:52 PM
Aron said...: last week i turned my garmin on before i went for a run and it beeped low battery... i freaked out :) but it lasted through the run but still its a little crazy how addicted we get to a watch!

great job on the run and so fun for the new running group!; 3:50 PM
Vickie said...: Great running! Well you can spend the next 4 weeks devoted just to your running then and you should be on your way to meeting your goals.; 4:13 PM
Marky Mark said...: very interested that you felt liberated--I must try that! Glad it is going so well.; 7:26 PM
Lindsay said...: great job on the long run, especially without a watch! i can't believe you're not tagging along on the trip!; 7:34 PM