A Victory Report: Slow Twitch Edition

Yesterday I experienced something I have never felt before. I'm sure you've all heard of runner's high, some of you may have even experienced it.

I haven't.

But last night I am sure I felt its inferior and much slower cousin: Sprinter Runners High.

Yes, I went where few of my kind have ever gone before. I ran distance and I loved it!.

I hung out at the Nike Toronto Runners Lounge for Girl's Night Only. Last year I ran a 3k in 28:00. And in my second annual appearance my goal was to run that same distance but to set a new personal record.

They surprised me with signature "12.46" Nike Lunar Glides for the run

It was a great intimate group of focused women, ready to conquer the night.

I took off with the pack down Avenue Road and by the third set of lights they were mere dots in the foreground. Ah hell, there goes my drafting strategy. No matter. I stuck to my pace: Slowest.

Soon I let my body settle into a comfortable rhythm and I started to open up to my environment. I realized the neat thing about running or training on city streets is that people get to see you. There is something very African Lion Safari about it, no?

P. Felicien-Middle Distance (part time)-Bringing guilt to a windshield near you

See when I am training over the hurdles there is rarely an audience, certainly there are no oldies in a beat down SUV to impress. Honk Honk. I was beaming!.

But apparently my sprinter thighs weren't clearing the crosswalk fast enough. Oh. Suddenly I regretted making eye contact. Soooorie.

I rounded the corner home and felt euphoric that I wasn't bonking yet or even thinking of quitting. I did many times last year. I had to represent for stick jumpers everywhere. I couldn't stop, event pride was on the line. I started to think WWPRD. What would Paula Radcliffe do?.

Paula Radcliffe Marathon World Record Holder

She would kick, P!. She would sprint hard the last few metres and overtake everyone in her path. She would show mercy to no one!. So this is what you must do too. I took off. Within a few meters I passed a woman pushing a stroller. You're done. A man on a cell phone talking about nonsense. I swallowed his slow moving self in one stride. A dog walking his owner. Move pooch get out the way.

I was on fire. Cue Chariot's of fire music....

My final time was 23:52 minutes! Victory. And I found out that I didn't run what I thought was a 3k, my thunder thighs ran a whopping 4.1k.  Who knew I could do it. Go me.

Thank you ladies! And Paula, where ever you are

African Lion Safari, Runners High