Sand, Surf and No Tempo

 

The Bi-Lo at the corner of Highway 17 and 517 in Mount Pleasant, SC is surprisingly selling a half dozen fresh baked southern biscuits for only $2.00. Feeling a bit hungry subsequent to a big drop in weight (now down to 168 lbs.) and knowing a tempo run was planned to be integrated into a 12-15 mile adventure, I had to eat something. “You’re in the south, biscuits are the way to go. Don’t worry, you will eat just one. Your weight is finally moving into the sub-170 range, you don’t want to screw that up.” Even though they were all room temperature from being shelved in packaging, the first biscuit’s flaky buttery goodness was southern delectable. So much so I caved to devouring two; I am confident the nervousness about the demands of a tempo pace was also a contributing factor.

As Greg McMillan describes in his YouTube video Tempo Runs - McMillan Running the tempo run is “done at or very near your lactate threshold pace, the pace you can race for about one hour, running comfortably hard and makes you callous to the mental strain of running fast for a long time.” I know personally this powerful speed-training technique has profound effects from even just a limited incorporation several years ago. By the way, Amby Burfoot (winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon and long-time Runner’s World editor-in-chief) refers to Greg McMillan as “one of the best and smartest distance-running coaches in America." On his website (https://www.mcmillanrunning.com/) there are a plethora of resources including a very revealing running calculator to determine proper training paces. This recommendation was not purchased or requested.

Coming back to today’s run, I am crossing the Isle of Palms Connector Bridge which joins Mount Pleasant to the Isle of Palms. On the way to the bridge, a grass strip is a nice pre-respite from the lengthy hard concrete bridge coming up in the distance. I am facing traffic as even though there is plenty of room to run, the only demarcation between your vulnerable flesh and skin-covered frame and 2 tons of metal flying by at speeds of 50-60 mph is a painted white stripe. But don’t let this discourage you, the expansive marsh views are remarkably picturesque. And what is ahead is well worth it.

Just on the other side (turning left), you have a restroom/refuel/water stop – Harris Teeter. And you are less than a mile to the beach. I thoroughly enjoyed this ultra-wide level joint-forgiving expanse for about three miles, then went into the Boardwalk Inn to pick up a definitely-needed bottled water. This beach is so wide, you always have room to run no matter how many pedestrians/bikers/other runners are present. On the return I became cognizant of the sounds of intermittent colonies of small shells crunching beneath the soft steps below and spent the last mile weaving with the changing tide. Needless to say (even though I was warmed-up & hydrated), following this relaxing experience with a four-mile tempo run on the connector back to the car was not going to happen. I have two marathons on the schedule within 7 days of one another – I can tempo during those events. They are part of the process anyway, not the goal race. I gutted out a second run late in the day (on grass) to push over 20 miles.