I'm not sure where to
I'm not sure where to start with this one. If I say my speed workout went well, I have the sneaking suspicion that I'll be setting myself up for even tougher workouts in the future (eeps). If I say it went poorly, then I'd be lying.
It went very well. Extremely well. To be honest, it went better than I ever could have expected, especially because this workout scared the CRAP out of me. It called for 2x1600 at 8:50 and 8:40, with only 400 recovery. I think my heart rate was at about 130 before I even started running.
I ran on this 800m trail at the Gilruth. This is not the Gilruth trail I normally run on, since it's short, rather curvy and not ideal for speedwork. But it's marked every 100m and it picks up some light from the nearby football field so I can see where I'm going, so there I was. After my workout, I had some serious doubts that it was truly 800 m, but Google maps agrees with the Gilruth Center. 800 m it is.
1600 m warmup - 11:58
1600 m speed - 8:58 (!)
400 m walking recovery - 4:24
1600 m speed - 8:40 (!!!)
100 m walking recovery - 1:13
1600 m cooldown - 12:03
I am shocked.
I am amazed.
I truly did not think that I could do that.
Ok, correction: I didn't think I could do that and not vomit afterwards.
I sped up a bit over the course of each repeat. For the first, my half mile splits were 4:37 and 4:21; for the second, they were 4:23 and 4:17. The first mile felt, well, hard. But not crazy hard, which was the surprise. The 400 m walking recovery was much-needed -- I probably was supposed to jog, but I walked. When I started the second mile, I started to feel tired more quickly. I hit my watch after my first 800 m loop but it was too dark and I couldn't see the split! "Just keep running," I panted out loud. I really thought I had to have been going slower, because it felt so much harder. By the end, I wasn't going all-out, but I was close.
So, saying I'm happy would be an understatement. I'm freaking thrilled!
Tomorrow night is the Striders Christmas Lights Run. Hoping to see some of you there!
Ooooooooh yeeeeeeeeah!
The shuttle launches and Sarah hammers her speed workout! A good week indeed. WTG!!
Hammer time!!! That's a nice workout, Sarah!!! Steeeve won't let ME do speed work. You must be something special!! See you tomorrow night.
AWESOME JOB, ASTRO-CHICKY!! That is just wonderful and I'm so very happy for you!!! And you didn't even puke = ))
Who are you and what have you done with Sarah?
Just kidding.
Those are AMAZING numbers!
Yep, sometimes to run fast all you have to do is run fast. Cool.
HOLY CRAP!! i am soooo jealous...
ok maybe i WILL let steeve do my schedule for me AFTER the marathon so i can get a pr at surfside!!!
WAY TO GO!! see you tonight!!
woot!!
Rocket Girl! Speed work sucks but it sure works.