Just to set the record straight for those not yet in the know, LSD in running parlance stands for Long Slow Distance and is designed to build up endurance.
Today was my day to attempt 3 laps of the Old Devonport Triathlon Course, which is about 30k. My aim was to try and complete the distance in about 3hrs 30mins, or 7min/k.
I commenced by walking up the the hill to my starting line while my Garmin located the satellites for accurate recording (however, I noticed that when I uploaded my data it had me starting in a funny spot in the middle of someone's backyard rather than on the street).
As I started running, my musings were about running slowly to complete the distance. Anyway, I completed the 3 laps in 3hrs 13min 19secs or about 6:27/k. I deliberately chose to walk the steepest hill just before the end of each lap so as not to push myself too much and knock myself up. The time exceeded my expectations. From about 15k onwards I started to notice a bit of stiffness in my legs (calf and hamstring) but it wasn't too bad. I ran through the half marathon distance in 2:13:48 - again better than I had hoped for, seeing it was part of a 30k run. By 25k it became progressively more difficult to keep up my pace and I slowed down considerably. I did wonder whether I should still be aiming to run a marathon distance in a few week's time or just to stick to the half. At least I have planned, whichever I decide to do, to run using the flattish Bike Track rather than either of my two other courses which contain a fairly steep hill that would need to be negotiated either three or four times, depending on the course chosen.
It was over the last few kilometres that I began to muse on the fact that long distance running can be both hard and painful - but I was in it for the long-haul. It struck me how similar long distance running is with the Christian faith for neither is a flat out sprint to the finish line.
I then further considered that the Christian life can also be both hard and painful and that God has nowhere promised us that it would be a bed of roses that we would sail through. After all, it is a spiritual battle we are involved in. I then mused on the similarities between long distance running and the Christian ministry for it, likewise, is both hard and painful (as well as joyful, but here I was only considering one similarity) through being involved in the lives (pains, griefs and joys) of people - both those who are Christians and those who aren't!
One day my running will become slower and slower to the point where I find it difficult to continue. There are times, I mused, when I know that I am becoming much slower in ministry as the spiritual battle and pressures take their toll on me emotionally, mentally and physically and I wonder how long I can continue before I need to retire from being "full-time" in parish ministry and minister, using my gifts, in some other way.
In the meantime I shall plod on (I have often described myself as a plodder in ministry) to the best of my ability, relying upon God's faithfulness and grace to sustain me, until that day eventually comes.
Who said that long distance running was a mindless exercise?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
A Surprising Half Marathon
As part of my build-up to have a crack at the marathon distance in a couple of months time, I am slowly trying to increase my distances following the schedule I have worked out. However, there are quite a number of times when I just cannot keep my schedule going so I keep on adjusting it (usually downwards).
Saturday is my usual day for an LSD run (for those not in the know an LSD run stands for Long Slow Distance and is designed to build up endurance). The aim is to run at a slower than normal pace but with the intention of completing the distance. As I have a wedding today I ran my LSD yesterday!
I had planned to run 24k or two laps of the Bike Track. Now, because Val had the car and I didn't want to change the course I was going to run, I walked the 1k from home to the start of the track beside the Devonport Aquatic Centre. I didn't feel the cold (and I doubt if it got above 14 all day) but I sure could feel the blustery wind.
As I was walking down to the start I was trying to mentally calculate what pace I should aim for and settled on running between 6.05-6.10/k, knowing that I would slow down in the latter stages of the run.
The fist k was right on 6mins but for the next 4k it ranged from 5.47-6.01. As I headed towards the turning point for the first time at the 6k mark I was hit with a strong headwind (which I found out later was around 40k/hour). Even so, I still managed that last 1k in a surprising 6.05.
The first 2k of the return leg were both under 6/k but for the remainder of that return part of the first leg I was basically running in and out of shelter and side-on into the wind, so I again slowed down to just over 6/k until I ran the last k in 6.29 to the halfway point, which was all uphill.
I commenced the second leg and ranged from 5.49-6.02/k to the turning point at 18k (surprisingly I was able to manage the headwind for the last 1k to the 18k mark in 6.02, which was faster than the first time I ran to that turning point). Knowing that I was just in front of averaging 6/k I wondered how I would go getting to the half marathon mark. My first k after the turn at 18k was run in 5.52 but from that point on I began to slow with every k taking a little longer. However, I still ran through the 21.1k mark in 2.06.22 which means I averaged 5.59.34 for the half marathon (according to my Garmin and not by the kilometre markers) and I took 4.51 off my best ever time for the distance on what should have been an easy LSD run.
From the 21.5k I could feel myself tiring with my last three kilometres run at 6.26, 6.31 and 6.46 (the last of these up the final hill).
Then I walked home to an enjoyable hot bath that Val had once again prepared for me.
Having written this blog it is now back to getting all the paperwork done for the wedding and then completing tomorrow morning's sermon.
Saturday is my usual day for an LSD run (for those not in the know an LSD run stands for Long Slow Distance and is designed to build up endurance). The aim is to run at a slower than normal pace but with the intention of completing the distance. As I have a wedding today I ran my LSD yesterday!
I had planned to run 24k or two laps of the Bike Track. Now, because Val had the car and I didn't want to change the course I was going to run, I walked the 1k from home to the start of the track beside the Devonport Aquatic Centre. I didn't feel the cold (and I doubt if it got above 14 all day) but I sure could feel the blustery wind.
As I was walking down to the start I was trying to mentally calculate what pace I should aim for and settled on running between 6.05-6.10/k, knowing that I would slow down in the latter stages of the run.
The fist k was right on 6mins but for the next 4k it ranged from 5.47-6.01. As I headed towards the turning point for the first time at the 6k mark I was hit with a strong headwind (which I found out later was around 40k/hour). Even so, I still managed that last 1k in a surprising 6.05.
The first 2k of the return leg were both under 6/k but for the remainder of that return part of the first leg I was basically running in and out of shelter and side-on into the wind, so I again slowed down to just over 6/k until I ran the last k in 6.29 to the halfway point, which was all uphill.
I commenced the second leg and ranged from 5.49-6.02/k to the turning point at 18k (surprisingly I was able to manage the headwind for the last 1k to the 18k mark in 6.02, which was faster than the first time I ran to that turning point). Knowing that I was just in front of averaging 6/k I wondered how I would go getting to the half marathon mark. My first k after the turn at 18k was run in 5.52 but from that point on I began to slow with every k taking a little longer. However, I still ran through the 21.1k mark in 2.06.22 which means I averaged 5.59.34 for the half marathon (according to my Garmin and not by the kilometre markers) and I took 4.51 off my best ever time for the distance on what should have been an easy LSD run.
From the 21.5k I could feel myself tiring with my last three kilometres run at 6.26, 6.31 and 6.46 (the last of these up the final hill).
Then I walked home to an enjoyable hot bath that Val had once again prepared for me.
Having written this blog it is now back to getting all the paperwork done for the wedding and then completing tomorrow morning's sermon.
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