The one thing I’ve learned after 6 months in Colorado

…is that running is never easy.

You’d think that I’d be used to it, but no. Even 6 months of running at 5600ft, I still puff and pant at a nine minute mile. It’s frustrating, but I know I just need to realize that it’s not lack of fitness.

I know it’s not all bad: I’m getting used to pushing when it’s hard. But I’m training my lungs, not my legs.

When I moved here I did some reading, and that seemed to be a general concern: training at altitude helps you in terms of getting used to running with less oxygen, but you never really get the chance to get used to leg turnover. I’m not training at the speeds I would be at lower altitudes.

Throw in the hills, which make even a trip around the neighbourhood a hill workout, and there’s no such thing as an “easy” run anymore!

I suppose I have to look to my cross-training to help me – practicing leg turnover on the bike, and power on the derby track, And just get used to the mental toughness of pounding the pavement outside.