I think I’m done punishing myself for being so leisurely about marathon training while in Vegas. Besides my house being a total disaster that I should be cleaning but instead, I am sitting right here and totally putting it off, we’re pretty much back to the same ole. Yippee. The weather needs to go back on its meds, too. It’s cold, windy, rainy, warm, freezing, warm, then this weekend is going to be super cold. Like a high of 32. I know, I know, all you northern people are shaking your gloved fingers and stocking-covered heads saying, “You don’t know cold, lady!” But it’s cold…. for us. And for what I’ve pansied myself to since moving south.
Tuesday was the really good 10 mile pace run, and Wednesday’s “easy” 5 mile run turned into a pace run, simply because once I started at a pace, I didn’t think I should slow down. Because that makes sense. Then today? Erg. Today I decided to build on my mile repeats from last week and tackle mile point five repeats. Four times. Because I like to torture myself train. I knew it would benefit me more than 800’s would. I knew it would be good for my mental strength to push myself really hard and not talk myself out of doing them or reducing the number.
I REALLY tried to talk myself out of the workout. REALLY. But I want to cross that finish line in just over a month with a PR. It takes work to do that. So it was time to get off my ass and get it done.
I headed back to UNCW’s campus, parked at the track, and warmed up for .7 miles. It was WAY warmer than what I thought it would be, and I forgot my short sleeved shirt at home, so I pulled up my long sleeves and dealt with it. After whining to myself. There’s a paved trail that goes about 2 miles and then hits a road, so I figured that would be the best place to take on my 2400 m repeats. I put on my good playlist and got the party started.
What can I say about where my mind went during that first one? It’s not rated G for “good language”, that’s for sure. But I nailed the first mile and a half at a 7:02 pace. I was worried about my Garmin not working in the trees, so I was happy to see that the pace was accurate. I know the difference between an 8 min mile (I can talk a little) and a 7 min mile (I cannot talk a little), and am familiar with what’s in between, and it always pisses me off when I know I’m going faster than what the thing registers. I walked quite a while to recover from the first set (I was supposed to run .5 mi but I didn’t), was happy to have my breathing and heart race come down fast, and headed back to start set two. Here I go!
Set two had some head wind coming back, but I was able to keep the pace well. Garmin would change from 6:30 to 7:45 without me changing my pace, so I was slightly peeved about that, but the end time showed I did pretty much the same as set one. Then my Garmin had a tantrum for sets three and four. I have a landmark for one mile and the distance was off, but I think I pretty much stayed at the same pace, if anything, slightly slower, but still within the range I wanted to go. I REALLY wish I had an accurate measurement for the mile point five, so I knew exactly what my pace was, but I guess I’ll just have to measure a few times with all my Garmins to get it right next time. When I’m going in the lower 7 mm pace, and it tells me I’m going 7:45, 8:30, I get pissed. Is there a niner in there? How many times do you think I can use the word pace in this post?
After my workout. But at least the sun was shining.
I think I think I dialed it in pretty well today, and I’m really looking forward to having tomorrow off before the deep freeze 30. Thirty miles to run this weekend in the cold. BUT I get to run with some friends on Sunday, so I’m pretty happy about that. I may even head to the pool to do a little practicing of my new skeelz from my lesson a few weeks ago, but will have to see how I feel. I’m in denial about the swim clinic I’m going to next weekend with Sheila Taormina. Yeah, I’ll be swimming with a freaking Olympic medalist (ya know, JUST the GOLD) and world class triathlete. I might wanna practice up a bit as to not completely embarrass myself. I know the point is to learn from her, but it’s still a little, oh, overwhelming to know SHE will be looking at ME while I’m swimming.
I know everyone has enjoyed me complaining about my Garmin and how hard my repeats have been, but really, I love them after as much as I hate them during. Doesn’t everybody? I know they’re working, so that’s really what it’s all about. Next week is a set of TWO MILE repeats! I’m already procrastinating that one!
How do you handle crazy weather changes? Do you like mile point five repeats? Would you be nervous about showing your skills/lack of to an Olympic gold medalist?
Running Boston And Beyond 
Re: swimming next to an Olympian (which is, uh, intimidating to say the least)- I would not worry about her watching you the entire time. After all, if you’re doing repeats on a track with someone else who may be slower than you, do you constantly watch what they’re doing? Or do you do your own thing and make a few suggestions if you notice they’re swinging their elbows so far out, you’re surprised they’re still running straight? (or curvy, as the track may be). Have fun!
And nice workout.
Oh I know, thanks for bringing that point home. I just worry too much because it’s all about ME, right?! Ha! There’s going to be 30 or 40 others so yeah, she won’t be watching just me 🙂 Thanks!
I’ve never done anything over a mile repeat. That sounds terrifying and difficult. Maybe I should try it sometime! Good luck on your big mileage weekend! That’s cool that you have some friends to run with. I wish I did this Saturday. It will just be me on the lonely freezing road. This winter can bite me.
Yes this winter can bite all of us. I’m not sure of the exact benefits to the longer repeats but I know it pushes me physically and mentally, so it’s worth doing! I’m currently procrastinating for my 10 mi run that I would’ve already been done with had I gotten up when my alarm did. Sigh.
Great job!! I have not done mile repeats…don’t think I would like them. I struggle with mental focus for that long. I also struggle with repeats unless they are on the treadmill…I just can’t seem to maintain fast paces on my own. 🙂
The mental aspect of the repeats is important to me as well since I’ve often talked myself out of the discomfort and slowed down. With these, I knew I’d be really disappointed, so it kept me going; however, I did not enjoy them until I was done. I cannot imagine doing anything but hill repeats on a treadmill. That takes its own focus for sure!!! Good for you!
It’s funny…I’d rather run hill repeats outside and speed work on the mill. 😉
I hate the treadmill period and would rather run in the rain, snow, wind, but if I could pick my torture, I’d rather treadmill hills. Intervals are long anyway, but treadmill ones are twice as hard for me!! The dreadmill.
These mile and half repeats are seriously impressive at those kind of times! I struggle to keep motivation and focus if I’m doing them out in the real world, as Kecia said, the treadmill is about the only place I can bring myself to do them and even then my times don’t even compare. I’m much more of a sprinter anyway, but this has given me a little bit of inspiration to get back into the longer distances, so thank you!
You’re very welcome- I enjoy most distances for different reasons, but there’s something about the challenge of long distances. And I have the Boston Marathon carrot hanging in front of me for this marathon, so that keeps up my motivation.
I don’t remember doing long repeats on their own but were incorporated into my long runs and not as fast. These do take a lot of focus, and I don’t particularly enjoy them, just the result! I couldn’t imagine doing them on a treadmill! I’d be counting down and driving myself insane!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Eek, 1.5 mile repeats. I had to do 1200s but never 1.5 miles. And I did those on the treadmill. I just started trying to do more longer intervals on the road or track, but the weather hasn’t been cooperating too well for most of those on my schedule (I did 400s here in Florida this week outside & it was pretty fun).
Maybe if you turn off GPS & use a calibrated footpod with your Garmin for the track repeats? I sometimes get weird GPS readings on the track (notably in Iowa this past November) due to how the watch pings to the satellite, but since you’re using a known distance on th track, the footpod could give you a better pace measurement.
I wasn’t running around the track- that’d be easy to time. I just started at the track. I do get caught up in knowing exact paces and such, but really, it’s all pretty close.
And I have no idea what a foot pod os so I’m goo to have to find that out!! Thanks!
Ah, I misunderstood.
You can get the Footpod from Amazon. I use it on the treadmill too.
My mind is blown- how can it measure something on a treadmill??
You have to calibrate it on a track first, but then it’s able to measure your stride and count your foot strikes to give you your pace. It’s very accurate once it’s calibrated and then I get to keep track of my treadmill runs too. It’s only like $45.