Day 11. Fartlek

I learned a new word today.
Fartlek.
I hate what that word sounds like.
But it doesn't MEAN what it sounds like.
I've heard the word before in training circles.
And I've always just nodded my head and rocked along and promised to look it up.
But, since I was being asked to PERFORM one today, I made sure to clarify.
It's a BURST of speed for an allotted time. And then a recovery for the same amount of time.
Got that?
BURST. recovery
We did a 10 minute fartlek in running group this gorgeous morning.
So we BURST five times for a minute each. And recovered five times.
I "fartlekk-ed" with the nicest gal from Canada.
Calgary.
She's not used to the Texas fall heat.
She was a damn hot fartlekker today.
All those BURSTS were like my last several days.
Acting and reacting really, really FAST.
And then catching my breath and recovering.
I fartlekked the hell outta last Wed. thru Friday.
Then recovered w/ a book and The Short One over the weekend.
Today was a great day.
Well, I FARTLEKKED for one thing.
Queso for lunch.
A busy afternoon.
A fartlek to middle school to try to recovery the forgotten homework.
Leftover queso for dinner.
A cleansing rainshower.
A fartlek to church for youth group.
Baths.
And fatigue.
No more fartlekking left in me.
So I leave you w/ the greatest fartlek of my life.
The race of a lifetime for someone who has NEVER been an athlete.
Because high-kicking in shoe-polished white Keds doesn't count. Not even as a warm-up.
The race I'll never surpass. Or try to.
I ran a freakin' marathon!
A bunch of fartleks that led to one mad dash ...