I came home Thursday night after a 6-mile run and my wife asked me if it was getting any easier.
That’s a difficult question to answer, but was posed at a valid point in my training. You see, Thursday was only my 12th day of running since June 14 and I’d not run a step for the nine weeks prior to that. And if you recall, June 14 was the first day in a stretch of nearly two weeks that was unbelievably hot and humid.
Photographer unknown
Kevin Spradlin approaches the finish line of the Highlands Sky 40-miler in June 2009 Canaan Valley, W.Va.
During that layoff — unscheduled down time — I once had bent down towards the floor to pick up a pen. I grunted, as if the act of bending down caused so much discomfort that I feared not being able to get back up. It was warm, but not unreasonably so; I broke out in a sweat anyway. It was a signal to me that I was out of shape — as if my expanding waistline and the discarding of my favorite khaki pants hadn’t been signs enough. I stepped on the scale on June 13 and, sure enough, the result reflected my reality: I was carrying a lifetime high of poundage.
I went for a 3-mile run the next evening. Those two loops around Hinson Lake felt like — well, it wasn’t comfortable. I managed some pushups and sit-ups, too, for good measure. Boy it hurt. But I’ve started over in my training before, and I know it takes more than a day to get things back. Much more.
In the past few days, running friends from across the country have shared with me and others their yearly mileage goals and their midpoint marks. Many strive to hit 100 miles a month (1,200 a year), or 150 a month (1,800). That means that on June 30, they were in the neighborhood of 600 to 900 miles. Most were near or had exceeded those midway milestones.
Me? Only 221.6 miles, on pace for a paltry 442 miles — which would be my lowest total since 2001. Upon reflection, I’ve realized recently that I haven’t completed a single race since moving to North Carolina — and I’ve entered only a few, resulting in a couple of no-shows and a couple of DNFs. 2014 was bad enough for me, but I was expecting 2015 to be better.
It was in June of 2001, too, that I realized I wasn’t quite in the shape I wanted and jumped in a 2-mile track race without any preparation. I averaged 6 minutes and 55 seconds per mile. But I’m not 22 years old; youth is no longer my friend. My 3-mile run at Hinson Lake on June 14 was slow, almost plodding like, and my opening pace was about 10 minutes and 40 seconds per mile.
So when my wife asked if it was getting easier, the short answer was yes. After all, my long run of 7.4 miles on June 27 was done at a 10:04 pace, and Thursday night’s jaunt happened to be my best yet — the first five miles were at or better than 9:33 each mile. So I’m improving, and that’s getting easier.
I’ll admit, though, I’m not comparing myself to the June 14th me. I’m not comparing myself to 2001 me, either, but I do think the shape I was in only a couple of years ago is attainable. I also know it’s going to take more than a little work, and more than a few hills, to get there. The hard work is just beginning.
Kevin Spradlin is managing editor of The Pee Dee Post. He can be reached at 910-331-4130 or peedeepost@gmail.com.
