Photo courtesy of Dirk Ingo Franke
I had hoped to report in today that I have completed 31 miles of my 500 mile challenge. It seemed like a reasonable goal. As of last week, I had completed 23 miles, and yesterday I ran a record-breaking four miles. (By record-breaking, that simply means I hadn't run that far in more than a few years. I don't think the folks at Guinness World Records would be particularly interested in interviewing a woman completing four miles at the zippy pace of 12 minutes per mile.)
So last night, I figured I could run four miles this morning, and finish my first month of the year-long challenge with 31 miles under my belt.
But I got on the trusty treadmill at the Y this morning, and my legs informed me that I was sadly mistaken. "We don't think so," they said, distinctly enough for the other joggers and exercisers to hear.
It was clear that I had jelly legs.
I had almost forgotten about this phenomenon, as it's been several years since the last time I ran regularly. Jelly legs strike after a not-particularly-long run and they make you walk the next "run." But what's unfortunate about jelly legs is that you're unaware of having them until you go out for your run. It's not like soreness, which is at least straightforward about keeping you sidelined. When you're sore, every movement you make reminds you that you hurt. But jelly legs is where your nether limbs go on strike. You think you can have enough mind over matter to override their apathy toward running, but it's simply not true. Because if you try to run on jelly legs, they will tip you embarrassingly onto the pavement or treadmill, which nobody wants. And that's why speed-walked and watched Dr. Phil (baby beauty pageants!) this morning, rather than running the four miles I'd hoped to run.
So, I've finished this month at 15 miles below my monthly goal of 42.
I'm hoping that as I continue this challenge, I'll work back up to the 8 and 10 mile runs I used to take at least once a week so that I can get ahead in miles. I'm also hoping that I can de-jell my legs by tomorrow, because I'd like to get some more miles in before the Mensch family's trip out of town this weekend.
Because I'd hate to end up racing a deadline like I used to do in school, saving all my running for the night before the due date.
