Boston training started off with a bang – mile repeats. My nemesis. I knew this was coming. I’ve used the FIRST training plan for my last 2 marathons and I always start with mile repeats. I was nervous. I was worried. I always think that I can’t do it. Speed work makes me feel insecure and a little nutty.
On top of my nervousness, I checked the weather last night and saw 20mph winds. Perfect. I woke up a 4:30 this morning and could hear the trashcans blowing around my street. By 7:00 I was at the track (bonus – I guess the wind scared everyone away because I had the track to myself!).
My training plan called for 3×1-mile repeats at 7:02 pace. The good news is that I only had to do 3 of them. The bad news is that I had to do them fast. Currently, 7:02 pace is pretty much all-out for me…considering I have yet to bang out a 21:xx 5K time.
I decided to do things a little different and NOT look at my Garmin during the repeats. Effort-wise I knew what a 7:02 pace entailed: I would be in the “no talk” zone and my breathing would be labored and quick. I don’t need a Garmin to confirm that feeling!
1st repeat: 7:10
2nd repeat: 7:08
3rd repeat: 7:11
Overall, not too bad considering the wind! They weren’t 7:02 pace but at least they were consistent. Even though my legs felt tired on the last repeat I kept my effort level up (judged by my labored breathing). I can 100% guarantee that if I went by my Garmin I would have (1) ran slower and (2) would not have been as consistent.
Another perk to ditching the Garmin during speed work? I hate when it’s still dark and I have to constantly keep checking (and lighting up) my Garmin to see if I’m on track. It’s such a waste of energy.
Day 1 done and I’m pretty damn pleased!
Off to enjoy my last day of vacation. I’m not so pleased about that 🙁
Wow, I think you were pretty close to 7:02! I have never in my life run a 7:02 mile, so I’m in awe 🙂
You can most definitely run a 7:02 mile. I’m certain of it!
Nice work! I, too, started the 2012 training season yesterday with a set of intervals. After a month of easy off-season workouts, it felt good to push again!
So I’m not the only one who worries about speed work?!? I feel better. I plan to do my speed work at 7 min/miles too.
Bwaaahahahahahahahaha! Count the laugh as ab work.
You really kicked it hard this morning! You will be well and ready for Boston. Hooray. I thought of you this morning on my run. I saw your update before hitting the pavement and every time the wind would come on hard, I said to myself, “What would Kristy do? She would run hard as hell and not let the wind push her down!”
Happy New Year again.
Ha – WWKD?!?! The wind was brutal!
nice work! I’d say day 1 is a success! Love starting a new training plan. Boo to this being the last day of vacation – it’s been fun!
WOW those were some fast miles! In my timed mile I did 7:18 and I could not imagine doing three of those! I guess being at the flat track might help, but still. Great work! Not staring at my Garmin is my new goal since it helped me PR in the marathon. It’s hard though, it always temps me! You are going to kill Boston 🙂
Way to go! I switched to the FIRST plan in the middle of my last marathon training (I know, def not ideal to switch plans in the middle!) and the speed work always scared me 🙂 I find I get distracted if I look at my Garmin too much too, I like your approach!
Wow, great workout! So close to 7:02 time that honestly, maybe the wind was a factor! And either way, six seconds what I call race adrenaline! go girl!
I like effort based. I don’t usually look at my watch during speedwork until after each interval. I usually end up being within “prescribed ranges.” Would I do better if I looked? I am actually not sure it would make much difference.
So sad vacation is over 🙁
Great job in the wind!! I have to do some mile repeats on Thursday, but not nearly that fast. And if it’s windy I may resort to the treadmill.
fabulous workout! I can’t even get out of bed by 7:02 lately 🙂
Great job girl!! I don’t really enjoy mile repeats either , but I do them cause they will make you faster. I remember in college we had to do 7…i thought I would die that day! Nope, I didn’t, I just race extra fast on my next race, hehe. Keep it up!
Yipee! You’re off! So excited to watch your Boston training! Enjoy every second of it!!
How come it’s snowing on your blog?? I thought I was going crazy looking at white things moving around on my screen!
WordPress is offering “snow” on my blog until Jan. 4!!! You’re not crazy!
Sent from my iPad
funny! And why does the ping back from my blog show up so goofy in your comments??? Sorry if I did something to make it that long!
No idea!
Nice work on the mile repeats! I just started marathon training today too (even though I don’t have an April/May marathon picked out yet) and kicked things off with 8x800s. With the crazy winds, I moved things inside to the treadmill and knocked them out at 6:58ish pace.
Here’s to marathon training 2012!
You are so fast! 🙂