Training Session #2: 4 miles + 4 GP

My dad accompanied me to the track this morning. He did a nice 2-mile walk/run while I struggled through 4 miles with 4 GP. GP stands for Gentle Pickup. In other words, at the end of the run, you walk for a couple of minutes then slowly increase your leg turnover until you are at a pace that belabors your breathing. Hold this pace for about 100 meters, then slow down to a walking pace until you fully recover. Repeat four times.

I don’t want to make any excuses, but the humidity was unbearable this morning. Even with an occasional breeze, I could not find any temporary relief from the hot, thick air. I seriously contemplated cutting my workout short. As disappointing as this sounds, with 3 more laps to go, I resolved to stop running. Fortunately, that is when I realized that my dad was no longer on the track. So, I decided to finish up my four miles by running around the area to catch up with him. Ironically, as I left the track looking for my dad, he was returning to the track via the entrance behind me. Of course, with my headphones blaring, I did not hear him call after me, and I was on my journey around the community center in search of him. After about 8 minutes of running, I realized that my search was useless, and my best bet was to go to the track and wait for him. That’s when I found him sitting on a bench watching me with a smile on his face. I couldn’t help but smile either; after all, I finished my workout.