pacing

i went for a run the other day and i booked it on the way out. BOOKED it. i was feeling good so i figured i should capitalize on the energy & adrenaline and up my pace a little bit. then i turned around and met the wind. when running with the wind, you often don't realize it's there, but when it's time to turn around and face the wind, BAM. i felt like i hit a wall of cold air. i slowly made my way back home and couldn't help but laugh at myself for feeling so good about the first half of the run.

one running tool the RSR curriculum teaches kids is the importance of PACE. a common challenge with youngsters is that they fully exert themselves at the beginning of a run or race and tucker out well before the finish. 1 of the 24-lesson exercises in the program, focuses solely on what it feels like to pace and what it feels like to push. they can talk to a buddy during their pace section and not during the push. this is a really good indicator of keeping with a good pace. each person's pace may be different, so the ability to hold a conversation is different for each kid. i reminisced on this lesson as i huffed & puffed on my run home against the wind.

and on an unrelated note, as a pregnant runner, holding a conversation was also my gauge. usually the conversation was to answer people's "are you really supposed to be running like that?!" or "how are you not tipping over?!" whatever works :)

after a run at 9 months pregnant