A Three Mile Warm Up

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that the first three miles of a run is really just a warmup. I’ve always agreed that the first mile is… I mean it takes the body a while the adjust to running, but now I’m thinking it goes beyond just one mile, that the first three miles are the real warmup.

As part of my training, I’ve been running longer distances and I’ve noticed I’m not getting into my stride until around the three-mile marker. Which makes sense. Running is hard on the body. You have to move, you're putting a lot of impact on the joints, the heart is beating faster than normal and if you’re running outside you have to bob and weave people and dogs. Not an easy feat! So for me to think the first 3 miles is a warmup honestly makes sense.

Since I have been running more regularly and running farther distances on the weekends, with my standard 3 miles on Monday and Wednesday I’ve noticed a trend in my running behavior. One, my Monday and Wednesday runs are typically better than the longer runs. And truly, I think that’s just because I know the route… which, as noted in a previous post, matters for my pacing. Two, I’ve gotten better with my pacing the more I run. I know about when a mile is; I’ve learned when to push myself and when to hold back. I’ve also noticed an improvement in my pacing overall.

Today I ran my standard 3 miles and either my pacing improved the further I ran, or I was stopped at less lights. Probably a bit of both. My first mile was a little over 10 minutes and 30 seconds. My second mile dropped about 15 seconds and even though my time for the third mile increased, I felt stronger. I didn’t feel exhausted or in pain.

As I continue my training through the 10k then pick it up again for the half marathon I need to remind myself that the first 3 miles are just a warmup. Don’t quit or feel discouraged if the beginning feels rough, it will get better. Just keep running :)