So, the last time I blogged I had completed an easy 6 to reach 1408 miles. On Tuesday I did a progression workout still feeling slightly tired legs from Sunday's 18. But I was able to do it with miles ranging from 8:15 down to 6:30 in 15 second increments with the last at 8:00. I stopped twice rather than once (once, because the treadmills at the Y only allow me 60 minutes maximum, and the second time because I must have hit some control that stopped it). What was nice is that neither time (especially after the second) did I have difficulty getting started again.
Then I ran an easy 7 on Wednesday. A nice course mostly east at west going no further north than Walker and no further south than Belvedere.
Then, there was yesterday. Yesterday, I had a track workout scheduled. I ran the 2.3 miles over to the at an 8:54 pace. I felt really sluggish. I had had several long days at work. I had had a late and very heavy dinner the evening before. I just wasn't sure if I could meet the goal that had been set: 10x400 at 1:27 +/- 2 seconds.
I took off my water belt and set it by the side of the track. I took off my shirt and set that by the side of the track as well. I mean--it was 73 degrees at 5:35 in the morning when I was getting ready to leave.
I ran a warm up lap. Nice and easy--just under two minutes. Then, I took off. First one--1:27. It was great. I concentrated. I kept my mind completely on what I was doing. I did not run too hard. I did not push myself too much. And I did not look at my watch as I rounded the track. It felt, just right.
Rest.
Second one--1:27 again. Same thing. I was amazed at the consistency. As I completed my 200 meters of rest after lap 2, I hit the wrong button. Distracted but not deterred, I corrected my watch and did the third one--1:26. Stopped purposefully for a small drink of water, ran an active rest 200 meters, and ran the fourth one--1:27. Feeling good I went on to do the fifth at 1:26, the sixth at 1:26, and the seventh at 1:27. I thought about taking a drink but waited until after number eight--1:27. Number eight was tough. My legs were starting to yell at me after five days of running in a row that included the harder but not raced 18, the progression, and now this. Number nine--1:26 again. By that time, I was feeling confident but didn't want to push the last one too hard--1:26.
So, for a workout where I had a watch to time the laps, but I didn't look at my watch except at the end of each lap, I had run the most consistent times ever. The rounded times were all 1:26 or 1:27. I think I have found my "natural" fast pace, given the end result.
I ran home the 2.3 miles at a 9:09 pace.
I have never had a workout so consistent before. All by myself. Persevering. Having had to go around two different runners who were running slowly in lane 1. One with headphones. A workout on which I had never thought I could do what was planned had turned into one of the most revealing workouts I had ever done. What can I do? What can I keep up? What are my limits?
Hopefully what I pulled out yesterday will translate into a good performance in Sunday's race. I now have 1432.6 miles. I am still on US 54 west as I will be for a long while to come. Making my way west. Aiming to reach 2000 miles. As I will likely reach 1500 by mid-September, I am way ahead of schedule. Life is good.
Then I ran an easy 7 on Wednesday. A nice course mostly east at west going no further north than Walker and no further south than Belvedere.
Then, there was yesterday. Yesterday, I had a track workout scheduled. I ran the 2.3 miles over to the at an 8:54 pace. I felt really sluggish. I had had several long days at work. I had had a late and very heavy dinner the evening before. I just wasn't sure if I could meet the goal that had been set: 10x400 at 1:27 +/- 2 seconds.
I took off my water belt and set it by the side of the track. I took off my shirt and set that by the side of the track as well. I mean--it was 73 degrees at 5:35 in the morning when I was getting ready to leave.
I ran a warm up lap. Nice and easy--just under two minutes. Then, I took off. First one--1:27. It was great. I concentrated. I kept my mind completely on what I was doing. I did not run too hard. I did not push myself too much. And I did not look at my watch as I rounded the track. It felt, just right.
Rest.
Second one--1:27 again. Same thing. I was amazed at the consistency. As I completed my 200 meters of rest after lap 2, I hit the wrong button. Distracted but not deterred, I corrected my watch and did the third one--1:26. Stopped purposefully for a small drink of water, ran an active rest 200 meters, and ran the fourth one--1:27. Feeling good I went on to do the fifth at 1:26, the sixth at 1:26, and the seventh at 1:27. I thought about taking a drink but waited until after number eight--1:27. Number eight was tough. My legs were starting to yell at me after five days of running in a row that included the harder but not raced 18, the progression, and now this. Number nine--1:26 again. By that time, I was feeling confident but didn't want to push the last one too hard--1:26.
So, for a workout where I had a watch to time the laps, but I didn't look at my watch except at the end of each lap, I had run the most consistent times ever. The rounded times were all 1:26 or 1:27. I think I have found my "natural" fast pace, given the end result.
I ran home the 2.3 miles at a 9:09 pace.
I have never had a workout so consistent before. All by myself. Persevering. Having had to go around two different runners who were running slowly in lane 1. One with headphones. A workout on which I had never thought I could do what was planned had turned into one of the most revealing workouts I had ever done. What can I do? What can I keep up? What are my limits?
Hopefully what I pulled out yesterday will translate into a good performance in Sunday's race. I now have 1432.6 miles. I am still on US 54 west as I will be for a long while to come. Making my way west. Aiming to reach 2000 miles. As I will likely reach 1500 by mid-September, I am way ahead of schedule. Life is good.
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