Throwback Thursday – 001

I just realized that I have been running for 10 years.

My first full year of running was 2009, but I took my first steps in April of 2008. I had a few faulty starts, failed to run all summer, and then started back into running in September.

I was reminded of this the other day when I found a blog that I started as part of my running journey. Along with this blog I have several journals and logs with notes about my running, and I have decided to share them on this blog here.

So, in addition to a regular blogpost at the beginning of each week, I will also have a Throwback Thursday post at the end of each week.

So let me take you back to September 28th, 2008 when I talk a little about my running pace…

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Back then I did not have a fancy running watch with GPS. I bought a basic watch from a big box store that gave me the ability to set a timer and go. I measured the distance ran using my car and/or mapping tools online.

There used to be an option on runnersworld.com to log runs and workouts. Then you could look at all your data and even pull up fancy graphs based on certain statistics. Not really impressive today, but I was loved it then.

Here is a graph I saved and posted toward the end of September in 2008.

As you can see, there were not a lot of runs. Starting out running was hard for me and my biggest regret was not running consistently.

I think one of the reasons I was not running consistently was because I was too focused on pace.

In April I started the Couch To 5K program and was determined to become a runner. For whatever reason, I did not stick to the 8 week plan and went all summer without running a single mile.

And the blogpost that went along with that graph:

So here is a graph showing my pace of each of my runs this year. Back in April I started the walk/run program C25K, and my pace was around 15 minutes per mile with walk/runs.

I slacked off and stopped running for a couple of months. When I started back up I decided to skip any formal “program” and just run. I felt that having such a regimented program was actually holding me back. I was smart about it though and knew not to do too much too soon. I do not shy away from walk breaks, but I do not schedule them into my runs. If I feel I need to walk than I walk.

As you can see, my pace is around 11-12 minutes per mile. A much better pace than when I first started. On top of that I can run for longer periods without walking than I thought I could before.

I am still a beginner, so I am not so much concerned with improving my pace yet… but looking at this graph makes me wonder…

If I ran through the entire summer… how much faster and farther would I be able to run right now?

As you can see I was too focused on what pace I was running instead of being focused on actually running.

But the last line of that post tells me that even then I knew I needed consistency. Yet consistency has always been a problem of mine.

Even after years of running and dozens of races I have had huge gaps in my training.

I look at that graph and I see that huge gap in training and I think, what would have happened if I had finished the C25K plan as prescribed and continued to build my base through the summer?

I think, by the end of 2008 I would have been a better runner. A stronger runner. Maybe even a faster runner. Perhaps, if I would have used the bulk of 2008 to build a strong base, I would have had a better time preparing for my first marathon in 2009.

If I knew then what I know now I would focus on consistent weekly mileage and allowed the faster paces to come naturally as my body adapted to running.

Hindsight is 20/20.

But it can be good to look back and learn from ourselves.