I was going to write this long woe is me post about how I’m sick and I feel awful because I have the zombie bird flu plague and so you should all feel sorry for me. But instead I’ll tell you a little bit about how I suck at slowing down and I am SUPER competitive.
Thursday nights I meet up with my running group downtown and we run along the Riverwalk, it’s usually quite nice despite the tourists and the ever present chance of being pushed into the river. It’s a pretty large group, with lots of different paces and plenty of runners who are a lot faster than me. I usually use Thursday runs as a chance for some form of a tempo run, because I think we all know I wouldn’t do one on my own if given the choice.
Last night though, I wasn’t feeling like running fast, mostly because I couldn’t breathe and everything felt tired, even my eyes. I brought music with me, because I assumed my awesome run buddy Julie wouldn’t want to run that slow with me. I’m so positive when I feel gross. Because she is just that awesome, Julie did want to run with me, even if we set off at a slower pace. So that was the goal: run slow, don’t die.
We attempted to follow that plan for the first two miles, even slowing down for the second mile because we had gone out faster than my intended pace of around 10:30-11:00. But I wasn’t Garmin stalking, and things maybe got a little out of hand. I always intend to run this pace, for slower, easier runs, and I always suck at it. Our first two miles looked like this:
Because THAT’S really close to an 11 minute mile.
And the next part I blame Julie for. Because she is just as competitive as I am, and she brings out the worst in me. The course is out and back, and after we hit the turnaround we decided to try to catch and pass a couple other runners who had gone by us earlier. But they kept speeding up and getting faster!
We finally caught them around mile 3.5, and there may have been a few taunting words spoken between Julie and myself, but I’m not going to admit to anything. Of course we couldn’t slow down, because they would catch us and pass us again. We would not be defeated!
There is no real point to this post, other than to prove that a) I have no ability to run an easy pace even when I feel horrible and b) I am slightly more competitive than is healthy.
Do you get “motivated” to run faster when you run with other people?
I actually think the only way I run faster is when I run with other people. I am not fast, OR competitive. I run because I just love it — and I am extremely easy on myself — but when I run with other people I don’t want them to have to “slow down” for my benefit so I let them set the pace and then I run it — so I know I CAN run faster. I used to never run with anyone but now that I’ve figured out this little truth (that I run faster with others) I have started running with a group or at least a girlfriend or two at least twice a week. It’s done wonders for my pace! Feel better!
If I’m running by myself, I am only to happy to not be uncomfortable. I subscribe to the philosophy that I want to enjoy the miles I’m running and finish my goal, instead of being miserable and quitting half way through.
I have the opposite. When I run by myself, I just want to get it over with, so I run faster. When I run with other people, I could chat all day and not even notice how fast or slow we are going. But give me a group of total strangers to run with (i.e. a race), and I get vicious/competitive. Especially with the 12 year olds for some reason.:)
I am the same way around the 12 year olds, mostly because if they beat me I feel complete and utter shame.
When I’m running outside (i.e. no treadmill to tell me my pace) I have a really hard time knowing what my actual pace is. This means I usually over-exert myself beyond what is a good pace for me and flame out. Getting a feel for my pacing will definitely help me out in the future. I have a pre-order in for the Bia Sports watch, but it’s not coming for awhile, so I might need to get a Garmin or something in the meantime.
Running with friends is also tricky, because most of them are faster than me (and are less willing to give up when it gets hard) so I also over-do it a bit with them. I wouldn’t say it’s competitive, it’s more “Keeping up with the Running Joneses”.
I had my eye on the Bia for a while, it looks like it will be really great!
Yesterday I had a major case of keeping up with the Joneses and it was really painful. It’s hard to find a good groove when running with a lot of other people.
I love this post and how you busted out! I think I tend to run faster with others but that is also because I usually run by myself, and when I’m with others, I’m racing. So, the combo of the event, the adrenaline, and the other runners always makes my pace quicker than i plan!
I always have a “plan” but have found that I never follow it, so maybe I should adjust my plan accordingly and just know that I’m going to run or race faster.
ha, nice! I have done really well running with others. For a longer distance I tend to peter out in the later miles and become quiet. It’s great when you find a good partner to motivate you !
I have a good running partner who knows when to talk and when to keep quiet. I tend to get cranky on super long runs, and I need someone to pull me out of my head in the later miles.
Running with friends is great for long runs because it really takes your mind off of the miles. Sometimes when I run solo I tend to half-ass it, walking when I really don’t need to. I hate that running is just as much mental as it is physical. When I’m on the treadmill though, I won’t stop to walk if there are people on both sides of me running. They will NOT beat me
I’m sorry I missed this! You just described my running to perfection! I am exactly the same way, at all times.