Weather - 75 degrees, sunny. Before my race crash last week I was planning to run a moderate long run today. The race taught me I am incapable of running fast during my allergy season, so I decided to find out if I was also incapable of running long. I set out at 12:00pm sharp with the intent of running until extreme discomfort set in. The first few miles were slow and easy, at mile 4 I did some 200m sprints and my heart responded by over-acclerating its rate. I slowed down and decided to run easy for the rest of the run. At the 3 hour mark I found myself in the middle of a South farms corn field. I stopped, telling myself I could not take another step. I thought of Dean K.'s method of picking a spot to run to. I decided to run 30m to a shrub. When I got to the shrub I picked a small tree and ran to that. I continued to do this for another 20 minutes until I reached Anderson Street, and then walked 30 minutes home. On my run I realized that the reason I can't run fast is because the passages in my lungs are constricted, hence my body can't get enough oxygen. This is similar to training at altitude, and the inability to run fast at altitude. When looked at this way, I don't mind so much having to struggle to run 8:00 pace. It has now been a month of "altitude" training, and I want to get off the mountain and run free again. To do this I must get my lungs back to normal. Meds might work but they cause unwanted side-effects. A possible solution is to restart my meditation practice. Sitting still for an hour breathing deeply has a calming effect on mind and body, and it just may relax the lungs enough to allow an improvement in oxygen flow. It is 2 weeks to Farmdale, if I meditate for an hour every day I may see some improvement by race day. I will hope for the best. #322
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