Just run

I was itching to just go for 12 miles and call it a day.  Same old 55 lb ruck on my back.  I opted to just go for 10 since I didn't have anything longer than 4 last week.  I'm able to hold a 20 minute mile.  After mile 6, I started zoning out and feeling the aches in my shoulders and feet.  I wanted to stop and rest, but that would've defeated the purpose.  Rest is your reward for finishing.

Out - 1 hr 34:59   Back - 1 hr 37:42 = 3 hrs 12:41

Did my best to skip any sort of workout this morning.  I couldn't.  Pushups, situps and air squats in a pyramid.  Starting with 5 and working up to 10 and then back down.  That left me at 90 reps so I had to do another two sets of 5 to get 100.  Not my best workout, but better than getting nothing.  It took a little over an hour because I was looking for reasons to quit during my workout.  Luckily, I didn't come up with any good reasons.

Started out running around the neighborhood.  I didn't even get halfway when I ran into a stray dog doing zig zags in the street.  It was almost as if it was daring me to run past it.  I just turned around and went back the same way.  That took 14:23.40 so maybe a mile out of that.

Decided just to go to the gym and make use of that membership that is wasting away.  One hour on an elliptical at level 5 allowed me to cover 5.57K or 3.461 miles.  I thought I would be warm from the morning jog, but I had to get the muscles all loose and warm again.  That just tells me that I should never stop to rest on a run or walk.  I should just keep going.

Two laps around the neighborhood.  This time there was no stray running around.  I had the loop all to myself.  I had developed a bad habit of walking on my second lap even though I didn't need to.  I had to mentally push past the urge to walk when I was just fine jogging.  Slowed down a little, checked my breathing, and kept chugging along.  Of course, three miles is not a marathon, but it is a start.  Again.

Out - 18:16.16   Back - 18:21.98 = 36:38.14

Even though I had yesterday off to rest,  I was still hurting this morning.  Walk with a 58 lb ruck on my back.  Just couldn't get the legs to move any faster.  To top it off, I had people passing me left and right.  Walkers, runners, dogs, baby strollers and everything else just passing me like I'm standing still.  Very humbling.  However, the bottom line is to work on conditioning my feet, back and shoulders to carry the weight.  Mission accomplished although not in a spectacular fashion.

1 - 19:15.80   19:57.25

2 - 19:03.77   20:25.60

3 - 19:18.54   19:28.66 = 1 hr 57:29