Thursday, January 8, 2009

A little slow. A little bliss. A little tipsy.

Why, hello there, Slow Run. Nice to meet you. I'd like to be your new fan, if you wouldn't mind.

I ran slowly this evening. Quite slowly. It was blissful. Really.

Some background: I usually run 5k races (when I race, that is). The only long stuff I've done is a marathon in 2004 and a handful of 15ks. That's it! Nothing very long. So, I'm not used to running long, slow distance, which is what I'll need to do in preparation for the NJ marathon in May. My regular ol' runs are usually run at an 8:45-ish pace but my goal marathon pace is 9:00. I need to run slower long runs and faster tempo and LT runs. This, I know.

So, let's get back to this evening. The run. The blissful run. People, I'm not exaggerating. This run was just so good. I started the run really slowly and gradually increased my speed to a slightly less slow pace. Still slow, though. And then I realized that this run was different from most others. I felt like I was floating, like my legs were hardly working at all. I felt like . . . well, I felt like I was drunk.

No, not drunk. Tipsy. I felt tipsy! I felt like I was in that giddy stage where everything is funny and cute and oh-ha-ha-ha-I-can't-really-my-legs! You know that stage that comes after a glass of wine (if you are a light-weight like me) but before the squinty eyes and the Dude! I LOVE you! and the tears? I mean, not that I've ever really experienced that latter phase personally (ahem) but I've heard that's what can happen. You know, in theory.

Tipsy.

That's how I felt! Tipsy in the legs.

Ah, it was good. And it is my new goal. My recovery/easy runs will be run at tipsy-in-the-legs pace.

Yes, Slow Run. I am definitely your new fan.

24 comments:

Abby said...

"Tipsy-in-the-legs pace."

I love it.

I'm doing Jersey, too, officially signed up as of last week!

joyRuN said...

Maybe my legs will appreciate the slow runs enough to get tipsy if I actually ran fast once in a while :)

J said...

So glad that the run went well! I remember when I started running over 10 miles, long and slow for the half marathon! It was really fun!

Marlene said...

Good description... I think I know exactly what you mean. :)

Diana said...

I love it. Tipsy in the legs. It just shows how hard you work!

How long is NJ? I guess I need to look up marathons. I'm clueless.

Denise said...

tipsy is always a good feeling!! I hope I feel that way at some point this wknd!

Marcy said...

Were you outside? Is that why you couldn't feel your legs? LOL JK!

Mel-2nd Chances said...

i can totally relate to your description after my run yesterday. Enjoy the weekend!

Vava said...

Cool! I look forward to meeting Slow Run when I get back into running from my foot injury.

Aron said...

love this :)

Unknown said...

Ah yea. Those are the *best* runs of all. :-)

Katie said...

Someday maybe I'll find the "tipsy" state without actually being ... ummmm, tipsy LOL :-)

tfh said...

I've never thought of it that way.

But you're right.

(Truth be told, I've also experienced the Dude! I LOVE you! tears phase. While running! While running! Never otherwise, of course.)

BeachRunner said...

Awesome!! WTG!!

speedygeoff said...

It's a good feeling. Running has many rewards.

The Laminator said...

Hmmm...it sounds like someone found 'the runner's high'...good for you. I have you have many more of those as you train for NJM.

Julianne said...

I loooove slow runs. Seriously, my body loves it, too. It just feels good to finish and not be wiped out after, you know? Great job on your run! :-)

Marci said...

LOL great post. I am going to think of this during my long run Sunday.

Frayed Laces said...

Sounds like a great run!

RunToTheFinish said...

it's so true that runner's high exists!

RunnerMom said...

You are such a good writer! I enjoyed this post immensely.

ECrunnergirl said...

What a great way to describe happy legs!! Tipsy....perfect!!! Very nice post :-)

Lindsay said...

thanks for visiting my page! i love long runs, which of course are slow 99% of the time, but i don't know i've ever experienced tipsy-legs. whatever works though! :)

Aileen said...

Tipsy-Legs...I love it!

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