September 6th, 2009
Well ok, this is only the second time I’ve run on a birthday, but the Running Gods were truly smiling upon me this morning.
First off, I slept on my brand new mattress I had bought yesterday morning. I couldn’t take the fold-out couch anymore because the front room is just so loud with motorcycles and buses going by, so off to Ikea I went, where a gal can find a good mattress rolled up to fit in a car and can carry it home all by herself (god, I love that). It’s got memory foam and is most fabulous. Thankfully, the bedroom is way quieter than the front room, but I haven’t lived below anyone for several years so the creaky walking above my head is annoying, though I’ll get used to it, it’s city living after all. But I digress…
The weather was gorgeous, 70 with no humidity to speak of. As mentioned in the last post, Hudson called for 18 Hard (MP+10%). That means 8:15s for a 7:30MP. I strapped on my HR monitor to better see what “hard” boils down to. Frankly, I didn’t think 8:15s would be hard but since he said it would be, I was ready for it.
Well, Hard never happened! 8:15s never happened, either. I locked into around 8:09s for the bulk of it with the last 3 miles at 7:57, 7:56, 7:54, so the entire run averaged 8:05 and my HR? A comfortable 71%HRR (aka 77% MHR).
I did have one 8:16 mile where I stopped to refill my water bottle but didn’t stop the clock, but other than that…can’t believe how fun, exhilarating and not hard it was. In fact, when I was 4.5 miles from home, as I crossed Falls Bridge and saw the sun reflected off the river, I couldn’t help but tear up with joy for being able to move like this, to feel beautiful and physically adept at 48 years old. I am so lucky and beyond grateful for this most incredible gift I’ve been given, the magic of running.
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That sounds like an amazing run! Happy Birthday!!!
CJ
Happy Birthday and great run
And yep that was me in all red
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a great inspirational run!!!!!
Happy birthday, Flo! Great run, great post. I actually saw you across from the art museum at 7am, you ran in front of my car as I was parking for my 16.70 mile run
and you’re right, it was a gorgeous morning indeed.
BTW, I conquered my fear of the paved paths/trails and have been running Lincoln and Forbidden and they are stupendous. What a treat being in the City and getting to feel like you’re not in it for a while (while carrying pepper spray in your hand because you’re still actually in the City)
Sounds like a great run. Nothing like locking into a good solid pace nd then picking it up. I wish I could go 18.
I did my first 2 lapper of Central Park on my birthday in 1979; I recall telling myself it was my birthday and I was not going to be denied finishing lap 2. I also won the Westchester County JV X-C championship on my birthday.
Happy birthday!!
Fantastic, Flo! What an incredible gift to yourself. A great, confidence-building run. I hope the rest of your birthday is as wonderfulness-filled.
Happy Birthday Flo!
And good job on the run. I remember looking at that one with apprehension, thinking that “Marathon pace +10%” meant 10% faster, Now that really would be hard for 18 miles!
We have a ton of Ikea stuff. They’re hard to beat.
Thank you my sweeties, you are the bestest buds!
Smoochies to CJ, Runforlife, Christie, Cassandra, BarbBQ The Babe.
Joe, I moved to NYC in 1979 (couple weeks after graduation High School) – ’twas a very good year! Love hearing about your bday runs.
Jenn, so glad you got to Forbidden Drive! I remember the first time I went, my eyes were like saucers – to think this gorgeous trail is right here in the middle of our city. Great job on the 16.7 today, too!
Lol Jim, I just went to my time calculator to make sure I was right about which direction the 10% went (momentary panic). Looks like -10% would be 10k pace, so that’d be one hellish 18 miler.
Yeah! I love how you got a water stop in and still clocked an 8:16 mile!!! Happy Birthday youngstar!
Happy birthday Flo!!!
Great run by the way!
RG
This post made me so happy. What an awesome run, a great birthday present from the universe. Happy birthday!!
Happy belated bidet Flo (well, it’s Monday down here). That run sounds like the perfect way to celebrate it. Good one! I’m thinking 3:10 or better now.
Nice post and even better run. You are fit and ready.
BlackBear, RunningGeezer, Mir and Julie, thank you, you sweeties! Smooch, smooch to you fabulous fellow running freaks!!
Ewan, you gotta stop that, you crazy man (though your wacky predictions do make me smile).
Jeez I am late, but Runthruit told me it’s Flo’s birthday and I had to jump on and wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!
You are an amazing runner and inspiration to sooooo many. Thanks so much for sharing all of this “stuff” on your blog.
I’m so glad everything is coming together for you! Congrats on a super run and have HAPPY birthday.
Flo, I was missing you and wondering where you were, so I skimmed through the sub 3:20 thread for a while and saw that something had been wrong , but couldn’t figure it out. Finally I got smart and checked your blog. I’m sorry that you’ve had to go through this really rough patch. Sounds like your strong spirit is pulling you through, and your amazing running, too.
Belated happy b’day. I’ll have to keep up with your blog so I know how you’re doing.
Hugs and more hugs to you!
Happy Birthday Flo! I love that ‘hard’ never came and you enjoyed your birthday run. It’s a sign of what’s to come. I’m glad you shared your day with us because it’s so nice to see your optimism and excitement after what you’ve been through. Thanks Flo for being such an inspiration. Gratitude goes a long way in this life of ours, doesn’t it? Love you lady! XOXO-Jackie
Flo,
Good to see you posting again. I haven’t been around for a few days, so I thought I would check on you. It sounds like you have been doing okay without me, so I will just say a belated Happy Birthday!, and I won’t even make any comments about “hard never coming”, (oops, I think I just did) make a comment, that is…
Stevi, LA, Judy and Jackie…thank you my sweet gals!!
Tobey…Hah! Good one. Don’t be such a stranger, hope your running’s going well.
I wish I could read this to all the friends who say they can’t go running with me because they are too old. Happy birthday – and many more miles!
happy very late birthday! Your run must have felt awesome! you are truly an inspiration!
Thanks Raffi and Ela! Hugs to you both and Ela, I imagine your tummy is sticking out pretty good now, mama to be.
yeah. tummy is protruding more than prego-enhanced porn boobs now. 6 more weeks to go.
HAH!! Porn boobs, you lucky thing! Too funny. Can’t believe just 6 weeks to go, seems like just a few weeks ago you announced you were pregnant. I’m so happy for you woman, I bet you’re absolutely glowing.
yeah, growing and glowing! Keep up the great running and sign up for boston!
Lol, I will, gotta wait till after Philly though, don’t want to start Boston in the 3:51 qualifying corral if I can help it. :-)