Thursday, February 16, 2012

Three(.1) Things Thursday- Speedwork


1. Do you ever do time trial runs, just to see how fast you can go?? Well I normally don't. Yesterday Jack ran a mile time trial to see what he could do and was excited to set a new 'after high school PR'- 6:18. He asked my PR in the mile to compare his "manliness". So 12 years and 25-30lbs ago, I whipped out a 5:56. It was very common to run 6:10s in my first mile of the 5k, but alas that was another lifetime ago. I got heckled saying I was making excuses and I might surprise myself, SO after work I decided to do my own mile time trial...

6:21- woot woot. Fastest "after high school" mile ran to date.

which brings me to my next point.

2 I know I have speed- however it doesn't transfer into the half marathon distance yet, which is so frustrating. I'd like to think I have enough introspection to have figured out what I'm about to say sooner, but alas, it took hearing from someone else before everything clicked. Last Thursday I went on a run w/ J and he is better about watching his pace more than I. He later confessed he thought I was crazy because during our first mile we were running in the 6:30s for awhile (ummm I was supposed to be setting the pace and he was just going along with whatever). End result- I had to walk shortly into mile 2. This is what happens in my half marathon race (only much later in race, not after mile 2 thankfully)  My inconsistent splits aren't because I'm that bad of a runner, they are more me figuring out speed, going too fast, then having to walk to catch my breath- REPEAT. With the exception of Charlotte 1/2 last year, I've had to walk in EVERY SINGLE DARN 1/2 marathon. You would THINK after 27 of these races, I would have figured this all out- I guess that is one of the many downsides of quantity vs. quality with the number or races I've put in during the last year.

3. Since our mile time trial times are practically the same- (haha he's already planning out trying to run a 5:55) J suggested we occasionally do speedwork on our lunch break. Music to my ears! I desperately need an accountability partner who will push me to make me better! I cannot wait to get back to where my passion started for running way back at the awkward age of 13--- the track
Dear Track,
I apologize about abandoning you for 8 years, but I'm back and I promise to love you just the same. If you're good to me, I'll be REAL good to you. I look forward to spending more quality time to make up for all these lost years. 
Forever yours,
Lisa

(.1)- State #24 is this weekend- Texas- yeehaw. Guess since I live in Nashville I can't really make fun of Texans since there are just as many accents,cowboy hats and boots in downtown. (which just an fyi- people that live here, dont wear them, so when you come into town visiting and opt for an outfit that includes 1 or both of these, we know you're a tourist ) 
Anyway, despite the hilly profile for Livestrong Austin 1/2 on Sunday, I'm going to throw it out there and say I'm going for a PR. I NEVER do this- but I'll share my ABC goals with you guys before my race:
A. Break 1:50 barrier
B. Set new PR (anything faster than 1:51:56)
C. Have consistent splits without going over a 30 sec range (this should probably be my A goal since this would be harder to do than running faster, but we'll go with it) 

Wish me luck, speed, and consistency !!

17 comments:

  1. You are a fast chickie!!! I am the same way though...I stink at pacing myself and usually end up going out way too fast! Good luck this weekend...Go rock those Texans!

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  2. I have the same problem! I can crank out a sub-7 mile and a sub-15 two mile no problem... But after that my legs go... blegh. Ugh. Pacing is always a fail for me. haha

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  3. Wow you are so fast. That mile time is amazing! Have fun this weekend. That half is on my one day want to do list so I look forward to hearing all about it! Good luck on getting a new PR or running consistently.

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  4. holy speed girl. you are amazing!!!! and have a blast this weekend! good luck!

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  5. Join a pace group if they offer one! I started doing that and knocked off 14 minutes be ause I kept a steady pace the whole time and didn't have to walk. Best of luck! Have fun!!

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  6. Good luck in Austin! I agree with Christine on joining a pace group. I have always wanted to try it since I often have pacing problems too. Can't wait to hear all about it!

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  7. You and I are complete opposites in this respect. First, you are fast and I am slower! Second, I feel like my problem is I'm SO worried about crashing that I never really push myself. AWESOME mile pace!
    :)

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  8. Now that I am an expert on the course logistics, I've decided this is the perfect course for you to PR on. I will be the voice behind (way behind) cheering you on to your PR!

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  9. good luck!! you can do it!! and have so much fun! i don’t know your theory on it or not but my coach at TNT taught us that your training runs should be at 60% effort. speedwork is obviously speedwork and should be done for that but the rest of the runs done at less effort to “save” your legs for your race. I am by no means good at always doing this but wasn’t sure if you have tried it too.

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  10. Good luck on Sunday! I have no doubt that a PR is in your near future!

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  11. I think I should do a time trial, too. I would love to know what I can do. Good luck this weekend!!

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  12. What a speedy mile, way to go! I don't do my own time trials but I ran a one mile race last summer. My time was something like 7:10 but I know I can do better than that. I'm really bad at doing speedwork. It's great that you'll have someone to do it with. Good luck in Austin!

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  13. Good luck in Texas!

    I'm adding speed work back into training too! I can't avoid it any longer if I want to reach my 1/2 goal of sub 2:00.

    If you haven't got this all figured out then I don't stand a chance of figuring it out. Work on that will you :)

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  14. Good luck good luck good luck this weekend! And you're almost halfway there!!

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  15. good luck Sunday! I always do speed/tempo work in my training cycles and it's so helpful! I'm also a notoriously slow starter, but I think that benefits me later on in longer races...and also why I'll NEVER race a 5k! :)

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  16. I cannot even fathom running that fast. I think you've got a PR in you!

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  17. Wow, you are seriously speedy! I've read before that most people are better at either speed or endurance, and it sounds like it's speed for you. Yay for a speed work buddy! I need one of those too.

    It was great meeting you this weekend! Hope you had a good race, that course was hard!

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