mile repeats

Small Improvements

January 31, 2012 by Kristy 13 Comments

I have to focus on the small improvement here or else I would cry. This morning was another set of 3 x 1-mile repeats. Oy. This was the same exact speed workout I did 4 weeks ago.

Week 1: 7:10, 7:08, 7:11
Week 5 (today): 7:04, 7:10, 7:10

OK, so the 7:04 was a small improvement. All of these were effort based (Week 1 and Week 5) and I was sucking wind hard today. Unfortunately, I can’t say this is my 5K pace. Unless I want to die during the 5K.

So…even though I said I wouldn’t do this anymore…I took a peek at my training cycle for the Lehigh Valley Marathon (same week, same workout) — 7:11, 7:08, 7:05. Hmmm. I’m starting to think of my last training cycle (my BQ cycle) as the one where I constantly improved and this training cycle as the one where I constantly remain stagnant. Maybe I’m not meant to get any faster? Maybe I maxed out my speed? Maybe I should forget mile repeats (or any track work for that matter) and just run hill repeats? They are more fun anyway.

Moving on…

My favorite part of Runner’s World is the “I’m a Runner” feature on the back page. It’s like US Weekly for runners. I’m highly disappointed with the March issue. Kate Gosselin?!?! Jeez, were they desperate? I would like to knock her off the kitchen counter she’s sitting on. Her interview was obnoxious. Thanks RW…I’ll stick to Running Times.

Did you watch Jon & Kate Plus 8? I did, during its height…before she went crazy.

Effort based speed work

January 2, 2012 by Kristy 24 Comments

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 🙁

Bachelorette Fun: Friday Night

June 27, 2011 by Kristy 6 Comments

6/27/11
6 miles speed

After a fun-filled weekend of going out, drinking, and little sleep, I was dreading the track this morning. Dreading it. I peeked at my plan last night praying for something semi-easy but instead saw 3×1600 at 7:11 pace. Ugh, mile repeats…my nemesis. I took the liberty of increasing my “rest period” between intervals to 400m instead of 1 minute.

1st interval: 7:11. Right on target.
2nd interval: 7:08. Really?!
3rd interval: 7:05. Huh?! I should eat junk food, not sleep, and drink beer more often! I can’t believe I wanted to skip this workout when my alarm went off this morning.

Onto more fun stuff! I’m totally milking this bachelorette recap into 2 posts, so let’s begin with Friday 😉

Friday night was relaxing…sitting around chatting, dinner, more chatting (and drinking), and then going to the hotel bar later on. My legs felt great despite the 20 (very early) miles that morning and I even managed to stay up until 2:00AM! Some pictures…

DSCN1167 — Me, Amanda (bride-to-be), and Michelle

More pictures tomorrow! Off to work for a very long day. It’s going to take me a few days to fully recover from the weekend…just in time for the 4th of July!