Yesterday my husband and I finished our longest run yet this year- 5 miles. Not a huge accomplishment on our road to the Ironman, but for me it is a big deal. Getting back into the swing of things and making improvements is always tough in the first month of training. It seems the time it takes me to get to a 'comfortable run' (and that nice runners high) is decreasing after each completed season. I believe in taking time off during the winter to unwind and enjoy other hobbies (like getting to drink beer on Friday night because you don't have a long run in the morning!). For me, this is a much needed mental break from all the stresses (mental and body alike) that come with demanding training, like that necessary for an Ironman (or even half Ironman). It's nice to know you don't lose your muscle memory over a few months of down time.
Something weird I discovered the other day is that my normal running shoes- Asics Nimbus- are no longer as comfortable as they have been in past years. The heel drop makes me feel like I'm running in high heel shoes. The shoes are new, so it's not that they are worn out. I mentioned I was doing crossfit over the winter, and my theory is that wearing minimalist shoes while lifting weights (and on our short runs around the building) somehow changed the mechanics of my running to where I prefer a lower drop heel.
*Nimbus shoes have a heel drop (from heel to toe) of 11.5mm vs my New Balance 1080 with 8mm drop (minimalist is 0 drop)*.
Off to the gym for a nice and slow swim!
