The Bounce

40 minutes into the workout.  20 minutes into the tempo.  There it was.  The BOUNCE!  The POP! That glorious flow state where I felt like I had plenty of speed and plenty of energy and every step was glorious and true and life affirming.

Gone was the struggle for breath.  Gone was the tired legs and the fighting for turnover to keep up with the treadmill.  Suddenly, for no reason I felt great.  I felt like I had more.

…

I had warmed up for 20 minutes and then launched into the 30-minute tempo session at 13 seconds per mile faster than my target marathon race pace.  Which doesn’t sound like much but 13 times 26 is 338 seconds or roughly 5 minutes and 40 seconds faster than my A-goal marathon pace.

As I eased into the tempo, at first, I felt like I wasn’t getting enough oxygen and I had to blow the air out of my lungs.  My legs felt heavy from the 18 miles of race pace I had done on this same treadmill 2 days ago.  I focused on my form and my stride.  I listened to my body without judgment.  I mentally steeled myself for 30 minutes of slow burn suffering.  I sneakily thought about turning down the speed a bit, but I held on.

…

I woke up from a really good, deep sleep in a bit of a cranky mood.  Work has been a bit of a grind these past few months.  That’s always on the back of my mind like a lead weight, a constant little anxiety engine.

I looked out the window and the sun was bright and happy and reflecting gloriously off the snow and ice cocoon that is New England in February.  Wind chills today down into the negative numbers.  As much as I hate to do it, another workout on the treadmill.

As I looked at that bright, happy, winter sun I realized the only thing making me miserable was myself.  I searched for “Morning Inspiration” on my iPhone and listened to some great speakers tell me to take advantage of this day and this gift.

I smiled all the way through washing the dishes from the previous night’s dinner.  I kissed my wife good bye and thanked her for being there.  She rolled her eye and gave me that “He’s at it again” look of long suffering.

Shortly after lunch I disappeared from work to the office gym and mounted my friendly neighborhood treadmill for a 1-hour step-up tempo run.

…

With 10 minutes to go in the tempo something changed.

Maybe it was switching to music from the history podcast.  Maybe I was just warmed up.  But I felt it.  I felt the bounce and the pop of racing.  When you drop into that flow state and it becomes effortless flow.

I pushed that button to go 6 seconds a mile faster.  I felt that pace and effort for a couple minutes and it felt easy.  I hit the button a few more times.  Now I was all warmed up and moving at a pace that was 30-seconds per mile faster than my goal race pace.

I felt great.  I felt like I could hold that pace forever.  The next 8 minutes flashed by in a smooth flow of running.  The last 10 minutes of cool down felt awkward and mechanically slow.

I wish the race was next week.  Things can’t possibly get better than this!