Ladies and Gents, fall is here. In all honesty, it is my favorite time of year. Probably a mix of back to school, soccer season, cool weather, roasted corn on the cob, birthday and (now) wedding anniversary. As for running it is ideal as it will ever be. Especially up in this Northeast chaotic climate. I am sure we all were happy to put on pants today without having them stick on your legs as the sweat drips down. Oh, that’s only me, whatever.
Yesterday was the beginning of my full work season being back in the swing. Which means during the day we head to the arena to do education before we hit the field for the rest of the evening. I enjoy seeing my friends, the banter and sometimes the learning. Well, in this case, the humidity had yet to break. The decision was made to wake up early and get my run in before I headed to work. I hate running early. Not that I am not a morning person but more in that I do not feel as my body is at its peak for that kind of intensity. Like the beginning of all new ventures, I prepped myself for the day. Packed my cooler with ice, waters, Gatorade, banana, oranges, and lovely carb and cheese ( everything bagel with cream cheese). Clothes for both running and work laid out packed plus a towel for the immense about of perspiration that was going to leave my body. Possibly some in tears.
Got the husband to the ferry and the dog to daycare and I was at the track within 15 minutes. It must be normal for people to wake up and run early the place was packed. Works for me, I like to chase, race and shame people. Worried I was not going to have time for my 7-mile interval I swapped to a 5 mile AYF ( as you feel). They let you go as fast or as slow as you want.
The humidity creeps its way into my lungs squeezing the oxygen out. Some days I can feel the Oxygen pumping through my bloodstream. I teach my kids to imagine it hitting their fingertips and toes. Today it is going nowhere fast, well it is leaving me fast. Not sure if or how I ran today. The focus of my training I believe was thinking about picking up straight my feet but I don’t know if I got my cadence correct. It felt odd. It is something I need to continue to test out at a more brain engaged time. Besides the lack of airflow in my brain, I ran a decent day.
5 Mile 36:24 7:15min
- 7:30
- 7:08
- 7:10
- 7:08
- 7:20
Soaking wet. As I climb into the car I can’t get the damn towel to stay on the seat but am grateful to keep a solid two pounds of moisture from drenching the seat for me to smell later. By the time I arrive at work my skin has cooled, thanks to my buddy for letting me use the locker room. The kid sitting next to me would have been in for a treat.
I make it through the day and evening of work. Trying to stay going because I have a ten o’clock soccer game back on the same field I train. I sat on the bed to stretch. Bad decision. I did not make it to the game. I did not make it to see the clock hit 9:30. It is ok. Sometimes the body just has had enough.
FRIDAY
Opening my eyes while I cringe guessing what time it is. I did not oversleep it ‘s just about seven. The sun is hidden, the cool air has shifted in over the river and I am in no rush to beat the heat today. As the minutes pass my motivation passes. Not that I had too much today. I procrastinated by doing some online work sitting at the kitchen table with the TV drowning out my static brain noise. I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go. I make bargains with myself. I check the remaining workouts to find time off. I tell myself I deserve it. I am my own worst enemy. This morning had taken a hard left turn for me before the coffee cooled. The mood stayed with me; because I let it. My husband does not give me an inch of slack, ever. He said “push through it and do it” He is right. I geared up and got my lazy ass down to the track knowing I was on a timeline cutting it close to work time. So let’s f@%#&^ go.
Workout
Warmup: 1.5 miles nice & relaxed
Intervals: 4 x 1 mile
- Interval #1: Marathon Pace (7:18-7:27 per mile)
- Intervals #2 and #3: Start at 7:06 and try to get faster on each one approaching 6:52
- Interval #4: Marathon Pace (7:18-7:27 per mile)
- Recovery: 1:50 passive rest between each 1 mile and only 55 seconds before the last one
Warmdown: 1.5 miles nice & relaxed
Once my feet hit the track I knew today was going to be a good day. The light breeze off the water, the full cloud coverage gave me a renewed vigor. The warmup was very comfortable with no effort or thought. Finished the mile and half at an 8:12 pace and took a few minutes to stretch and use the facilities. ( if anyone knows me knows I almost did not make it) I felt like I was on display for the four security guards had nothing to do but track my laps. I couldn’t let my fans down. haha. Many times, days, runs I use my mentality to help run more than my legs. Today was a mix of both.
Mile #1 – marathon pace. I am still figuring out what my actual goal time is going to be. Running 26 miles at a 7:18 does not seem feasible to me yet but a 7:26 is doable. Is this part of the push? Do I still have time to figure this out? Am I holding myself back or having unrealistic expectations? So let’s start figuring it out.
As I start the first mile, the first lap I feel good I feel comfortable I feel fast. Because I am on pace for a 6:45. So I had to adjust my cadence and slow down my arm swing. Pacing myself has to be my biggest issue. I just want to go. Breaking my bad habits and growth is what I need. My mind accepts the pace thinking this is doable for another 3 hours. So my watch beeps for my mile and I clock in at 7:18. It is exactly the low end of the predicted time. Boom.
Mile #2 and #3 – Looking to hit it faster 7:06 to 6:52. I allow myself to pick up my foot to overturn and pump my arms. My breaths are easy, compared to the strain of the last few weeks. The weather is on my side. Again I am starting too fast and am on pace for a low six mile. Finding the right speed is tough. But today I am can feel my body, feel the speed. I am able to adjust running comfortably fast #2 finishes at a 6:53 pace. A quick drink, stretch and I am back on the line for #3. My legs are now loose. I am in the zone. Interval #3 is the easiest of the three and I am floating down the track with little bounce, strong arms and my feet and overturning like a machine. Nearing the end of the mile I can feel my breath tighten just a bit. I cross the mile at a 6:37 and give myself a little fist pump, while my fans are watching. I wonder if they are rooting for me too.
#4 – With under a minute rest I am supposed to train my legs for marathon pace while they are tired. This is no issue today. I start laughing at my hesitation to do this run. Interval day is my bitch. With ease and comfort without having to adjust my cadence or pace I run. I run with ease, with a smile singing to my music. Cruising in at 7:14 pace. I just continue running to finish up my mile and half cool down.
Cooldown- I am slowing down. This hurts me more than any other part of the workout. Going slow when I could be done, running heavy and hard. I know have decided not only can I hit these times in the marathon that I will and I wonder if I am even holding back. We shall see how this weekend’s long run goes.
- 7:18
- 6:53
- 6:37
- 7:14
“First it hurts, then it changes you”
Racing your thirties 