Thursday, March 31, 2011

Running in Circles

Thursday, March 31, 2011  at 7:21 PM
I just got done with this week's track workout, and I'll give you the rundown of that, but let me sum up this week first.

Last weekend, I had and intensive class called Worship: Word & Music.  It was a 2-hour class (2 credits), but it took up Thursday night, all day Friday, all day Saturday, all day Sunday, and a half day Monday.  It was INTENSE!  So, with my whole weekend jammed with class, I didn't have a break for a long run on Sunday.  Jenn and I are feeling really confident about the Holy Half in just a little over a week, so we decided to "adjust" our long run this week.  It was supposed to be 11 miles.

On Monday, we decided to change our long run to a quick 6 mile tempo run.  I knew that it was only 6 miles, so I started pretty quick, and at the turn around at 3 miles, I was averaging 7:57's.  I was stoked, and decided that my new goal for that run would be to run it under 8 min/miles.  Well, as soon as I turned around, I realized we were running straight into an awful headwind.  Man, the wind in Michigan sucks!  I kept grinding it out, but ended up with a 8:01min/mile avg.  I was bummed that I didn't quite get my goal, but I think that's still pretty good.  Of course, Jenn rocked her run as usual.  Her ankle was bothering her from a slip on snow and ice a couple months back, but she still beat her goal of 11:27's with a smoking 10:43min/mile average!  She's pretty awesome, and I know her Holy Half is going to be awesome.

Tuesday was a solid ride on the trainer.  I love just chillin' out and closing my eyes while I'm down in the aero position and enjoying the ride.  It's actually quite relaxing.

Last night was a slacker night, and Jenn and I ended up just watching three episodes of White Collar.  That's a great show.




But today, I was scheduled for a track workout.  Hal Higdon told me to do 10x400's at a 5k pace.  Well, my 5k pace is slow, so every track workout I do, I push the tempo pretty good.  I feel like that helps me get a better workout.  Sometimes I like track workouts, but others, I feel like I'm just running in circles.  Today's was pretty good though.  Here are my times for each 400:

#1:  1:37 @ 6:19min/mile
#2:  1:32 @ 5:49min/mile - There were some other    people walking on the track, and the adrenaline got to me.  I didn't want them to think that I was slow, so I picked it up a bit as I went by them.
#3:  1:36 @ 6:10min/mile
#4:  1:41 @ 6:44min/mile -This was a slow one!
#5:  1:39 @ 6:37min/mile
#6:  1:38 @ 6:30min/mile
#7:  1:40 @ 6:32min/mile
#8:  1:38 @ 6:20min/mile
#9:  1:43 @ 6:32min/mile
#10:  1:41 @ 6:26min/mile

I thought about getting on the bike afterwards, but I'm pretty wasted.  It's date night, so as soon as Jenn gets home from work, we're going out!

7 comments:

KC (my 140 point 6 mile journey)

Oh how i hate speed work but boy does it work! I think the Holy run is going to be awesome!!

Ironman By Thirty

Great work on the tempo run! You two are going to rock the Holy Half!

"Hal Higdon told me to" - love it!

Enjoy your date night!

DRog

excellent work!! ditto Kevin was lol @ the HH comment - haha

D

Matty O

Nice job man. You will appreciate the speed work later in the season. Helps with the base and muscle development.

Keep hitting those workouts. Sometimes I will toss away a distance run for a shorter tempo run. Essentially the same thing anyways :)

Jon

YES!!!! THAT is a good speed workout! Keep doing those 1-2x a week and come race day? BAM! PR city!!!

Unknown

Wow you and Jenn both had great runs! And those 400's were fast! I love reading about your improvement! :)

And thank you so much for the prayer on my blog for Buddy, Tom and I. We really appreciate it!

Hope date night was good!

Caratunk Girl

Hey there - thanks for the follow and the kind words & blessings, I certainly need all of that and more for this journey! :)

Those 400's were so freaking fast. I think you would have 2 done to my 1. Great job. Jenn rocked it too. The Holy Run is going to be awesome for both of you! Awesome name for a race by the way.

Also, you made me laugh out loud with "HH told me to." ha HH is the man, I hope I am running when I am his age.

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