Now back to Project Need for Speed. Last week, I did 6 x 800 in a place we call the Larry Mile, named after an older guy in our running group. He used the bike path by the bay and marked 2 miles worth of 400s. It's my favorite place to do anything longer than a 400. (I hate long stuff on the track.) I expected my times to be pretty snailish, considering I had only done one or two speed workouts so far this season. Well, I pretty much KILLED them. By that, I mean that they were faster than what I projected my times to be, not that the times themselves were actually *that* fast. It was just nice to be ahead of where I *thought* I would be. The 800s looked like this: 2:55, 2:51, 2:52, 2:53, 2:50, 2:53.
This week I've had a GREAT running week. Tuesday, I had planned to my track workout, but had to postpone to Wednesday morning. This was pretty hard core, but I got up at 3:30 and ran to the high school track where I coach. It's not as nice as the track we usually use, but it would do just fine. I don't have keys to the lights, but there's a sensor light out there that I triggered on and it stayed on the whole time. I did 10 x 400. My goal was only to hit 1:30, which is know is a tad slow, but I'm still breaking into these track workouts and didn't want to kill myself. I was worried when I hit the first one in 1:33!?! I think I just wasn't warmed up enough. After that I hit them in a nice range of 1:27 down to 1:24. Being it was so very early, and I was alone, I was pleased with that effort.
Last night (Thursday), I hit the track for a ladder workout. With my previous hard effort being less than my typical 48 hour minimum, I worried that my paces would suffer. Here's how it went:
4 x 200s: All in the 38-40 range (I really stink at these, hello SNAIL.)
2 x 400s: 1:22 & 1:21 (WHAAATTT????) When i saw this, i screamed my time across the track to TP (who was doing a workout, too), I then told him that I think I had overextended myself and would pay badly for that in the next set.
2 x 800s: 2:55 & 2:53
2 x 400s: 1:22 for both
4 x 200s: 38-40 again
Once again, I was pleased, not because of the actual times, but because it shows PROGRESS! I'm also keeping the mileage about 75 per week. I feel that after doing 2 marathons in 7 weeks, and having trained all summer and fall, this season I need a bit of a break from all the miles. This morning Courtney and I went on an easy trail run. We will race a 2 miler tomorrow morning. We'll see how it goes!
Run Happy, friends!
Way to grab the trophy while holding up the skirt :) The boa is cute!
ReplyDeleteNice speed work! It's hard to put in that quality while maintaining such high miles. My hat's off to you.
Hope you have a wonderful Easter, R.
What an awesome prize! Totally worth a near-mooning ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat job at the speed work. You are kicking butt these days! :)
Looks like a fun race except for the skort.
ReplyDeleteYou look so cute in the picture.
Hilarious, you pulling up your skort the whole way and STILL you win the thing. And that photo is wonderful, very magazine-like. Plus you got a vacation out of it? Super cool.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm thrilled to see the speedwork and progress. Most especially, that you're excited by it. This is a rare occurrence for the Mayberry runner :) so that's super cool. Sounds like a great plan too, lowering the miles a tad (which are still a wonderful amount of miles but will let you get those speed sessions that much sharper). Good stuff!!
Funny on the skort :)
ReplyDeleteMy coach is having me do a TON of Vo2 work for speed. Sounds like we are in the same place. Ugh, not fun, but it will make us faster in the end :)
Crack kills. So does speed. Keep your boas on tight ladies, cuz here's comes a lady on a mission!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, you look adorable as usual in the pictures:)
Lmao So glad you were able to hold
ReplyDeleteThat skirt up ;) What a cool ace to win! Congrats!
Awesome speed...progress is such a great payment for all this hard work. :) And you look beautiful in your pink boa!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI so wish we lived closer so I could run with you!
ReplyDeleteI did 5x800's just over a week ago in 2:55, 2:56, 2:56, 2:56 and 2:54. I would love to have someone faster to chase after! :) I get so sick of running by myself.
Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog! I'm proud to call you my Brooks Sister too! :) And thanks for the good thoughts for Boston. Think COOL thoughts too while you are at it. Fast and cool. :) Hugs!