Catching up?

As much as I'd like to think I'm immune I know that at some point times will slow and I'll need to adjust to a new normal.  Just not sure that I'm there yet.  Last week I hit a 19:01 for the first summer series race.  I think the last time I was over 19:00 was when I first moved to Arizona and was getting off an ankle injury.  At this point I've had a month of 25-30 miles a week and no ailments.  So...have I started to slow...or am I just rusty?  It's been nearly 2 years since I did a 5k, so maybe I just need to get back into the groove.  I've come back from injuries before and, while not knowing really, I've always come back to what I was before.  Now, I'm trying to come back from aging.  Not that I'm old-but I am older.  Or am I just not doing the training I used to?  If I get back to something close, am I still that runner?  I guess in the end all I can do is put my best out there and appreciate the effort - and not be worried about the time.  Those will come, whether faster or slower.  But I can always compete - always give the same effort.

Coming Back

It's odd how the easy runs can tell you so much.  Although the recovery from my long runs has been better and my interval & tempo times are dropping, it was the 2 easy runs at the end of the week that really let me know I'm starting to get back in shape.  Why the easy runs?  Well, because they were....easy.  I wasn't struggling at any point, I felt loose & relaxed, wasn't wishing for the end somewhere in the middle...and even though it was only 4, I felt like I had gotten away for so much longer.  In a good way.  The total immersion in the running experience-simply enjoying the movement through space in a way that can only happen when the body works efficiently-creates a mental separation like nothing else.  When the easy runs truly become easy - then I know I'm on the right track.