Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Some Race Confidence

Happy Hump Day, I made it out to the track this morning to get in my speed workout instead of on the treadmill like I normally do it, and to be honest, it was pretty great.

I had 3x1600 on the schedule, and I knew that will 1600s plus being outside I would not want to do recovery intervals so I did a nice 2 mile warm up at a 9:35 pace and then got down to business.


The goal was three 1600s at 8:00 or below with 3 minutes rest in between. I had some serious ambitions here since I have a short distance race series coming up, and I want to be able to drop my goal pace for my next 1600 workout in a few weeks.

Actual times were 7:58, 7:53, 7:56 - I was super happy to put up that 7:53, and I was spent during the last one, so pleased to come in under pace again. I definitely will be adjusting all goal times for my next few speed workouts to push a little harder.


Other than random speed workouts with 1600s thrown in, I have never gone out and raced for just a mile, but in 3 weeks there is a 1 mile race as part of a 3 race series I am participating in.

Day 1, 7:30pm- 4 mile beach run
Day 2, 7:30am- 5k
Day 2, 4:30pm- Mile Sizzler (no kidding!)

The race is called the Tour-de-Pain and is 3 races in 24 hours in the lovely August heat. I am pretty confident I can run the first 2 at reasonable times without any trouble, but for some reason I have been panicked abotu the mile race. Partly because it is last and I fear my legs will be dead, and partly because I am not great with just racing for 1 mile, it normally takes me longer than that to get warmed up.

Today's 3x1600 gave me some confidence going into this race in a couple weeks, I hit my 3rd repeat still under 8 minutes today which is my goal for that race, anything under 8 minutes at that point I would consider an accomplishment. I am going to add a final mile to the end of next weeks speed workout too, just to reinforce the "run a mile super fast when your legs are exhausted".

1 last weekday run tomorrow, I am already excited for my "shorter" long run on Saturday, I am trying a new route and that is always fun!

5 comments:

  1. GREAT JOB AT THE TRACK STEPHANIE!!!! Those times are awesome :)

    That race sounds fun... should I come up?!? What weekend is it?

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  2. You're awesome!! Way to get outside and push at the track ... it makes a huge difference. Not only did you make it outside, though ... you dominated your workout!!! Those are great times. Mile repeats are my least favorite.

    I'm with Penny ... that race sounds fun! Don't be scared of the mile ... regardless of how bad it hurts, it's over in less than 8 minutes!!

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  3. stellar job. as much as i hate the track and gravitate to the tm, it just feels so good to be on the track. way to go :)

    and you can totally do it with the race :) GO YOU!!

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  4. That race sounds like it is right up my alley ;)

    Would you be interested in a blogroll exchange?

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  5. Good job on the speed work! I love it when the "long" run of the weekend is a little bit shorter. My mileage jumps this Saturday.

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