Last run of July 2021
COVID-19, “The Rona Era”
Today is so perfect. No rain, blue sky, cool, and 65 degrees. Yes,yes, and yes. Today is also the last day of Road To Wellness(RTW) free training clinic at Franklin Park. After today, we move to Dimock and running on the 5k course. I had this plan of getting to the park early to run around Franklin Park by myself before the RTW crew showed up.
When I entered the park, I made sure to park by the zoo and course golf. I would run the perimeter of the park once, then I would drive to where the RTW team meets. Around the park is about 2.50 miles.
Of course people were walking, running, and biking in Franklin Park. What I love, is that most of these folks were black and brown folks exercising and taking advantage of the park for their health. The new thing I saw, mask. Since the Delta variant is surging, I saw more people walking with their mask on or with their mask around their faces. I didn’t see this a couple of weeks ago. Everyone is trying to adjust to all of this.
I didn’t have on a mask as I started my run in the park. I had on my black girls run hat and trailblazher’s shirt. I wanted to represent black female runners as I ran. I was running in the park, when I saw the RTW team set up already. I waved and told them I would be back. When I passed them I thought I had 20 minutes to run before the 8:45 a.m. start. I looked at my phone and it was 8:38a.m. after I passed the RTW crew. Clearly, I lost track of time somewhere. My run tracker stated I ran 1:50 miles at this point. There was no way I could finish the loop in the park and be at RTW in time. I counted this as a warm up run and turned back around to meet the RTW crew.
We had another great group today and some new folks. This time I went in the runners group with coach Adam. We were going to run the loop in the park. I get to finish was I started but this time it would be with the “ runners.” We had three groups today instead of four since one of the coaches was not hear. Runners, walkers/runners, and walkers group.
I asked coach Adam what was his pace. He told me around a 9:15min/ml pace. I told him I’m around a 10:30/10:50 and I’ll be in the back but I can keep up.
With the group together, off we went. Of course we started up a hill incline. I took what I learned the last two sessions about how to run up a hill/ incline. I worked on my breathing, from what coach Adam taught us a few weeks backed and I listen to my body.
As long as I could see my group I was fine. I had to run at my pace. There was a woman ahead of me, Dawn, who had a hot pink top on. Unbeknown to her, she was my pacer. Coach Adam would run back to check on us, I gave him the high thumbs up, that I was fine. That was the ok, he needed to run back to the front of the pack.
I couldn’t remember the last time I ran the Franklin Park loop. It was good to gauge it again. I had to make sure not to over push myself. In my head, start off slow then build up. I didn’t want to be tired because I am building to running 13.1 miles soon. Stay steady and strong.
As we were going to the finish, I caught up to hot pink, actually I surpassed her. I’ll be honest, that felt good.
4.35 miles total.
Mile 1: 10:39
Mile 2: 11:05
Mile 3: 10:11
Mile 4: 9:52
Mile 4.35: 9:33
Around mile 3 and 4 is when I was with the running group.
Overall it was good. I’m glad to be pushed my the RTW crew and get free training that would normally cost $125 an hour, at least. Since I had a lot to do today, I didn’t do Yoga. I have to make sure, to do it next time.
