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Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Push Push: Worst hills in ATL for runners
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gotta love Atlanta’s running community.
One of the most wonderful aspects of last year’s ING was the diversity of the runners.
I didn’t feel out of place. There were men and women of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes.
And like me some finished late in the race. Others were unofficial runners.
But Ouch! One blogger asked, “7 hours why bother.”
Can’t speak for others but for me it’s the personal challenge. I may be slow but I’m moving forward. I’m not walking but that would be OK too. I’d still be moving forward - toward my goal.
With about a month to go before my second marathon, i’m doing OK on training. I ran 18 miles on the Silver Comet Trail. The trail is flat, especially compared, to my usual route but that didn’t make it easy.
I started out at the Silver Comet Bicycle Depot on Floyd Road and ran 10 miles round trip towards the East/West Connector.
My energy was low and I was starting to feel nauseous when I returned to my car. But I took Running experts Jeff Galloway and Gayle Barron’s advice on sugar intake.
I ate a few Skittles; drank water and Gatorade; went to the restroom and re-wrappted my ankles. Then I ran another 8 miles in the other direction on the traill.
Ten miles took two hours and 26 minutes. The next eight miles were slower at two hours and six minutes.
Now I must return to talking about those treacherous hills in my neighborhood. One I call “heartbreak hill.” It’s on the final six miles of my run.
It takes me three to four minutes to get up that doggone thing. It’s a long slow burn. I’m pushing saying, “Don’t stop, keep going” I set mini goal markers such as a bush or a driveway. Sometimes it feels like I’m tip-toeing up the thing. But I never stop.
If I don’t think I can run up it, I don’t run down it in the first place.
What’s your “heartbreak hill?” Where is it located? We’d love to even write a story about the worst (or toughest hills) in the Atlanta area. Shoot me an e-mail if you have one and tell me a little bit about it. Where it is. Where it is on the course of your run. Your hill strategy. That sort of thing.
MORE: State of the Art Marathon Training. USA Fit/Team Spirit Active Trainer. Peachtree Road Race.
