I wrote about how my long run felt kind of bad. It wasn't the best run. My paces were fine, but mentally I just didn't feel it.
Yesterday - wow - my runs felt so different!
I started in the morning with a three mile run. I had wanted to do 6 x 800m intervals, but I had forgotten my water. There is no way I am doing that kind of workout, in the kind of heat and humidity we have here, with no water. So, instead I opted to do a three miler at an easy pace.
It went really well, I started slow, and then decided to push - just a little bit. I thought to myself if I couldn't get to do a run later in the afternoon that I would at least be happy with a three mile run at a bit faster of a pace. I tried to stay comfortable, and lucky for me the wind was at my back for the last 1.5 miles - so it felt warm, but a bit easier!
The splits:
Split
|
Time
|
Distance
|
Avg Pace
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | 26:42.7 | 3.00 | 8:54 |
| 1 | 9:32.5 | 1.00 | 9:33 |
| 2 | 8:43.4 | 1.00 | 8:44 |
| 3 | 8:25.2 | 1.00 | 8:25 |
| 4 | :01.7 | 0.00 | 9:37 |
During the day, I went to the optometrist, as I need new contact lenses. He dilated my pupils. Which made them super sensitive to light, and I went home to rest. (after a huge dilemma with a dead car battery and my husband trying to change it, but the old one was corroded in place - luckily he was able to.)
After sleeping for most of the afternoon (which I love and am so glad I had a reason to, so I didn't feel guilty!) I got up, had some coffee and then decided that I would attempt the 6 x 800m.
My 6 x 800m is meant to be run at 10k pace. Now, I have run a couple of 10kms races before, however they are always before a half marathon (thanks Disney) and I always take them super easy. I have run one during training that was a bit faster, but I think I stopped a few times during it, and subsequently paused my garmin. Anyway, the point is I have been basing my 10k times of this - around an 8:35 pace. I wanted all of my 800m repeats to be around the 8:20-8:30 pace.
I set out with a one mile warm up, then went into the repeats. The first one I tried to hold back. When the buzzer on my garmin goes off I want to run fast. I tried to hold my pace, and kept trying to keep it at around 8:30. The second mile was exactly the same. I felt myself keep trying to speed up, but I tried to slow down - focus on my breathing, and try to relax at a slightly faster than normal pace. The third I decided to go a little faster, telling myself after my recovery period I could stop and take a little rest, if I wanted. When I run repeats, I like to run on a running/biking path right near my house. I go up one way, then turn around and come back home - a nice out-and-back. Once I turned around, the wind was blowing straight towards me, and it cooled me down so I felt like I didn't need that rest I had promised myself. I pushed on. Now, I do have issues with wind. It feels that you are working so much harder to keep the pace that I never know how fast to actually run. I had been trying not to look at my watch, and just ran, I checked my watch half way through and was at about an 7:55 pace, so I tried to slow it a little. The fifth repeat, I decided to go a little faster, but keep it in check, as I still had one more repeat to do. The sixth repeat I went at the same speed as the fifth, but for the last half I tried to go faster, and finish fast.
My splits:
Split
|
Time
|
Distance
|
Avg Pace
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | 54:15.0 | 6.20 | 8:45 |
| 1 | 9:32.9 | 1.00 | 9:34 |
| 2 | 4:10.3 | 0.50 | 8:21 |
| 3 | 2:02.7 | 0.20 | 10:14 |
| 4 | 4:05.7 | 0.50 | 8:11 |
| 5 | 1:58.0 | 0.20 | 9:50 |
| 6 | 4:01.7 | 0.50 | 8:03 |
| 7 | 1:58.5 | 0.20 | 9:53 |
| 8 | 3:59.9 | 0.50 | 8:00 |
| 9 | 1:56.0 | 0.20 | 9:40 |
| 10 | 3:57.6 | 0.50 | 7:55 |
| 11 | 1:58.6 | 0.20 | 9:53 |
| 12 | 3:38.8 | 0.50 | 7:18 |
| 13 | 1:58.3 | 0.20 | 9:51 |
| 14 | 8:56.2 | 1.00 | 8:55 |
I am so happy with this run. Every 800m was faster than the last. I would have been happy if they were all at the first 800m pace. Now, I am not sure if I am running this correctly, but I am happy with my effort. My legs felt good. I am trying to listen to my body and not go too fast too soon. This is my last 800m repeats before the half marathon, and maybe for my next sets I will try to bump up the speed a little, maybe to keep all of them at around an 8minute/mile pace.
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