This is going to shock some of you...but this is a running blog, so today I will talk about running! I mean that's why I started all of this, to talk with other people who enjoy running...I'll be back to other topics soon but hey running!
I don't have an official training plan from my coach yet, but I did take in a few things she said right away. First she mentioned that I needed to start doing one run a week that contained race pace miles. This is to teach my body what it feels like to run at that pace...seriously this was a genius idea as I wasn't doing it! I was doing easy runs and interval runs and tempo runs, but never specifically running race pace.
Pacing is hard for me because I've always just run however I happen to feel for the day...some days faster, some days slower, no real rhyme or reason. Monday when I landed in Boston, I decided I would use the TM to do some 8:30 miles and see what it felt like...well it felt like NCIS was a really good show and that's about all I remember.
Today I went out over lunch for what was supposed to be an easy run, maybe 9:30 miles and ended up running under 9 minute miles. So yes, I need to figure out how to pace myself a little better...and yet oh what a great run!! I finished up with another 3.3 miles after work and I'm just jazzed right now about getting my training plan.
How often do you run at race pace? How did you learn to better pace yourself?
11-12 miles on tap for tomorrow and I'm really excited...everything is feeling good, so I'll wear my knee brace and hope things just keep moving right along!
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Sexy Six packin: Only because of this challenge have I managed to truly stick to my ab routine 3 days a week. I can tell I am getting stronger and I'm sure that if I keep going post challenge these abs are really going to perk right up. Now I'm sure a little dietary change would speed things along, so I'm continuing to focus on whole foods as often as possible.
I don't think this challenge got people quite as motivated as the previous one, but for those participating I hope it's making a difference.
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Gratitude Journal
Jan 1: I am grateful for the chance to meet new people.
Jan 2: I am grateful that I have a job to go to...even when I don't want to.
Jan 3: I am grateful I have runners to whine to that will understand my frustration.
Jan 4: I am grateful for lazy Sunday mornings to read the paper and enjoy some hot tea.
Jan 5: I am grateful for sunshine.
Jan 6: I am grateful for leftovers to make quick lunches.
Jan 7: I am grateful for a flexible work environment.
Jan 8: I am grateful for learning about Girls On the Run.
Jan 9: I am grateful for easy going pets.
Jan 10: I am grateful for friends who will happily make fools of themselves in the name of entertainment.
Jan 11: I am grateful for the ability to run, even short runs!
Jan 12: I am grateful to have a good doc to turn to with my knee issues.
Jan 13: I am grateful for continually finding new fun recipes.
Jan 14: I am grateful for being able to try new things...acorn squash tonight.
Jan 15: I am grateful to try out the new speed demon shoes.
Jan 16: I am grateful for fun contests.
Jan 17: I am grateful for date night!
Jan 18: I am grateful for a massage therapist who knows what she is doing.
Jan 19: I am grateful for finding out the kitty doesn't have cancer!!
Jan 20: I am grateful to have witnessed such a grand moment in history.
Jan 21: I am grateful to have at least one boss that will listen to me.
Jan 21: I am grateful for silly shows like the Office to make me laugh.
Jan 22: I am grateful for learning new things at work.
Jan 23: I am grateful for fun lunches with friends.
Jan 24: I am grateful to have the right gear for cold run.
Jan 25: I am grateful to have parents that I consider friends.
Jan 26: I am grateful to have had an easy flight.
Jan 27: I am grateful to work with a company that allows me to be a consultant for New Balance.
Jan 28: I am grateful that today is over and I can start new tomorrow.
Jan 29: I am grateful to be feeling fit and healthy!
Jan 30: I am grateful to be a good multi-tasker
26 comments:
I am still trying to figure out how to run at various paces, including "race pace."
pacing is definitely a challenge for me too, i also tend to run what feels good that day.
I'm still figuring out pace and stuff. Right now I'm slow but I would like to not always be slow. Race pace, that's the first I've heard of this. Like you, I tend to just run how I feel for the day.
I need to figure out my paces too.. I run by feel as well, and just try to "run slow" on long distances and "run faster" on speedwork. Who knows, though?
I'm just starting "pace runs" too. Before my goals for marathons were jsut to finish. Now for SD, baring injury and illness I have a time goal. My new plan has specific paces for eah run of the week. The plan emphasizes that over the course of training 80% or more of the runs are run at PMP (planned marathon pace) or faster to get the body used to that pace. I haven't tried it yet but I'm hopeful!
I'll let you know the week of Feb 12th when the plan starts, how it is going. =)
Oooh, nothing confuses me more than "pace talk" because I am convinced that I only have one pace, be it for a 5K or a marathon! It is quite frustrating.
...Maybe I need to get a coach too!
All of my long runs included a section in the middle at race pace (ranging from 3-7 miles), so I got used to the feeling. It took me a long time to "feel" out the paces though and I'm still working on it. Luckily you have a Garmin and can use that as a guide. I found that setting so I could see the lap distance and lap time helped (lap being each mile). That way I didn't have to rely on the sometimes inaccurate "instant" pace that it gave me. Play around with your settings and display though - there might be more options that I'm missing!
I have no idea how to pace myself. I am horrible at it. So I am going to ready your comments and hope to get some insight!
I have some problems with this to! I'm usually running faster than race pace on most of my training runs. I always over prepare. But I always seem to beat my race goals, prolly cause I'm training faster than race pace. lol...so what really is race pace? IDK
I'm not good with pacing myself either. Well, actually, I'm not good at pushing myself harder. I think I can run a lot faster than I give myself credit for. I need to start trying harder.
I am terrible at pacing myself. I just run how I feel whether that be fast or slow. Good for you for trying some race pace stuff.
when i was training for my fall hm, i ws pretty good about doing a race pace run a week. plus, my garmin was new so i was all jacked up to use it. now, not so much.
Hopefully our ultimate challenge reports will motivate people...once they see the pay-offs! Anyway, it's motivating me.
I also usually want to run at the fastest I can while still feeling comfortable on my easy days. Bad habit. I try to incorporate a few miles of race pace into my long runs but perhaps I should be doing more...
I have the opposite problem - running at the same pace for all distances ... 3 miles or 26. I needed to learn to run faster on my short runs, slower on my long runs, etc.
But I still have a habit of running at the same pace all the time ;)
I'm not good at pacing, because I seem just run everything at race pace. I'm looking to add in speedwork soon to make everything faster, but I think I'm against the norm that I can't seem to run a whole lot faster during my long races. Something to work on over time.
The sexy six pack has been helping me! So far I'm not really happy with my DVD, but it's much better than the nothing I was doing!
I'm the same way about just running how I feel. I should do more diverse runs.
I have no clue about pacing myself - I always just push myself to the limit (except for longer runs when obviously I would run out of steam if I did that).
Yeah, I wasn't that good about the challenge (I mean I did do abs work 3 times last week) and there were still 4 days left in the week as of last night, but last night as I was literally about to jump into bed, I told my husband that I still haven't touched the Ab slide this week and sighed. He said: "just do it right now!" and you know what, I did. It was great! So I guess the challenge is making me do extra stuff!! :) Now the dietary changes, that's another story... ;)
Sounds like your coach is giving you some great advice! I did maybe one long run a month with race pace intervals thrown in. Mind you, I wasn't trying to qualify for Boston, so you may need to do that more than once a month.
Good luck!
the 'pace runs' will get easier as you get used to what the pace feels like. i always have a hard time for the first few (or more) runs trying to find and settle into a new pace. good luck!
I have 12 miles at race pace scheduled for this weekend. Its something I have trouble getting done as well. Have a good weekend!
Im such a newbie beginner runner---though Ive been at it a while.
In a way I like that Im still focusing on DOING and not PACING :)
Im *grateful* for that ...
My running is similar to yours in the sense I run how I feel for the day. I am starting to veer away from that now that I have my 305! Right now I am playing with my pace to compare what my 305 says to how I feel.
I'm with you, I just run how I feel that day so I'm no help with pacing. Good luck with your training plan!
I am HORRIBLE at pacing. I need a coach to help me. For marathons, I run all out the first half and then die and fade so my times are so high. I am good at 10 milers and 13.1 and can hold the same pace for most of it then just fade out. I have no hints for that. I got my 12 jars of nutty last night! Got 5 different kinds and had a scoop of everyone at 9:30 last night. Faves so far: Vanilla PB and Chocolate butter one. : )
I will make up to half of a long run race pace, preferably the second half...so probably up to 10 or 11 miles depending race and all that. Trying desperatly to catch up with you too!! :)
I tend to have a goal pace in mind. If it's a long run or an easy I try to stick to it mile after mile. Any other run I usually try to beat the pace. Really don't have any tricks on keeping a steady pace.
Side note: I am thrown off by the whole "race pace" bit. How are you supposed to go yur longest distance at a pace faster than you've trained? Sheesh.
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