The road to 13.1: Let the games begin!

Generally, I have enjoyed the privilege of sleeping in on Saturday mornings.  I gave up that privilege starting on 24 January, when I crawled out of bed around 0600 EST to eat, get dressed, warm up the car, and hit the road.  I arrived at Borgess Health and Fitness Centre (BHFC) right around 0730 for the first official session of Borgess Run Camp (BRC).  After a few introductory remarks and a general group session, we divided into our teams, which are arranged based on the target distance and the target pace.  I’m on the half-marathon team that will be targeting a pace of 11-12 minutes per mile.  After we introduced ourselves to each other, we got ready and started our first group run.  Most of the folks on this particular team are using the same, low-mileage training program that I am.  Personally, I would like to have tried the medium-mileage program, but I ceded control of that decision to my orthopædist.

I’m sure she’s making the right call, but I do like a good challenge.  Then again, I also like to avoid tearing muscles and stuff like that, but I don’t always fare as well when I don’t listen to the advice of medical professionals, do I?

This run was a little bit different for me, in that we were discouraged from using our iPods and similar devices, with the goal of talking to our teammates while we run.  I’m not used to talking to someone while I run, so this was very new to me.  It turned out to not be so bad, though, and allowed me the opportunity to receive coaching during my run.  I learned that I run with a very heavy stride, and that said heavy stride can contribute to my shin splints.

Let’s be clear here.  Shin splints are probably the biggest threat to my pulling off this half marathon.  Anything I can learn or do to help mitigate and/or prevent them will be a good thing.

I wrapped up the run with a little acceleration to the finish line, for which my coach complimented me.  Apparently, my pushing to get a little extra from tired muscles is a good thing.

Wow.  I was actually doing something right?!

Anyway, here’s the final result:

Run #1:  4 miles, 45:10, 11:17.5/mile

It was a good start to BRC.  There are a few (actually, several) people there who I know, so I’m not trying to integrate myself into a group of people completely unknown to me.  My orthopædist is there and could be watching, meaning that I’m less likely to do something stupid.  In theory, I’ll lose massive quantities of weight … okay, maybe not massive quantities, but some.  Last, but certainly not least, I’m on my way to pulling off something that will leave me feeling pretty stoked … and maybe a wee bit exhausted.