Today's run started off like a lot of early morning runs. The sun was just waking up. The grass was still wet from the dew. Thankfully there wasn't too much humidity today. It was a great morning for a run. The goal for today was to try to keep a low to mid 9 pace on a 6 mile run.
I'm trying to get my Half time down. I've noticed that after about 5ish miles, my pace tends to get slower and slower. So, I ran with a friend this morning. In addition to being fun to run with, he is great at keeping a consistent pace. He is also great at challenging me on our runs. I was going to let him "Set the Pace".
I suppose I should mention that yesterday he ran 44.5 miles. (and no that isn't a typo). So off we go. He informs me that the first mile might be really slow. It was a 10:26 pace. It felt like a good comfortable pace. Then apparently his legs woke up, worked some kinks out, or just found their groove because I felt the pace pick up. I was doing ok - still able to keep up a conversation. Around 2.25 miles I was slightly beginning to wish I'd said 5 miles instead of 6. But I was hanging in there. At this point things were starting to burn.
And we got a little faster. Who can do that? Seriously, who can run an insane amount of miles the day before and then push me like this? I was in awe, and knew that we were going to do this run in the low to mid 9's today even if I hurled my pretzel goldfish I ate that morning. Oh, and I wanted to hurl. He looked over and said I was doing great. I said, I wanna puke. So I must be doing something right.
Around 4ish miles, I began to think that maybe my famous last words were going to be "You set the pace". At this pount, I'd fought off hurling a few times. I almost caved and said we have to slow it, but before I could, he said we'd hold this pace until 5 miles then slow it just a little and pick it back up for the last .25 mile.
Do you have any idea how long a mile can feel when you are being pushed beyond your normal comfort zone? I didn't know whether to jump for joy or cry when we hit 5 miles. I think I let out a 'Thank god' as we slowed the pace a little.
After topping a small hill, we picked the pace back up to the low 9's and then that last quarter mile was around a 7:50 pace. DONE! 6.1 miles completed. WAHOO that felt great!
I'm trying to get my Half time down. I've noticed that after about 5ish miles, my pace tends to get slower and slower. So, I ran with a friend this morning. In addition to being fun to run with, he is great at keeping a consistent pace. He is also great at challenging me on our runs. I was going to let him "Set the Pace".
I suppose I should mention that yesterday he ran 44.5 miles. (and no that isn't a typo). So off we go. He informs me that the first mile might be really slow. It was a 10:26 pace. It felt like a good comfortable pace. Then apparently his legs woke up, worked some kinks out, or just found their groove because I felt the pace pick up. I was doing ok - still able to keep up a conversation. Around 2.25 miles I was slightly beginning to wish I'd said 5 miles instead of 6. But I was hanging in there. At this point things were starting to burn.
And we got a little faster. Who can do that? Seriously, who can run an insane amount of miles the day before and then push me like this? I was in awe, and knew that we were going to do this run in the low to mid 9's today even if I hurled my pretzel goldfish I ate that morning. Oh, and I wanted to hurl. He looked over and said I was doing great. I said, I wanna puke. So I must be doing something right.
Around 4ish miles, I began to think that maybe my famous last words were going to be "You set the pace". At this pount, I'd fought off hurling a few times. I almost caved and said we have to slow it, but before I could, he said we'd hold this pace until 5 miles then slow it just a little and pick it back up for the last .25 mile.
Do you have any idea how long a mile can feel when you are being pushed beyond your normal comfort zone? I didn't know whether to jump for joy or cry when we hit 5 miles. I think I let out a 'Thank god' as we slowed the pace a little.
After topping a small hill, we picked the pace back up to the low 9's and then that last quarter mile was around a 7:50 pace. DONE! 6.1 miles completed. WAHOO that felt great!
Way to go! You stuck with it and pushed yourself and that will pay back when you race! You're lucky to have such an experienced running partner!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteGreat job, hope you stayed dry during your run, I got soaked worth the rain today.
ReplyDeleteYep, we went right when the tanker was exploding and burning at 5:45am :) So we stayed dry.
DeleteGood job! Sometimes we all need that "push" to keep it strong! I read often that while the "ideal" is to negative split, it is still ok if that ideal isn't achieved. I prefer shooting for a steady overall pace, for me it is mentally less stressful :)
ReplyDeleteI have a tendency to run 'all over the place'. My average pace might be one thing, but I could run a 10:30, an 8:30 and 9:00 etc.. so I'm trying to work on keeping it around the same pace for the entire distance. I think the first 3 miles were negative splits (within 15 seconds or so). But the majority of the run was about the same.. which was VERY hard for me to do. I need that recovery time to catch my breath (ha).
Delete44.5 miles? How long does it take someone to run that far? My enemy is time. I never have enough of it. I'm lucky to get in a 45 minute run most days.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to ask him how long it took. He runs most of his marathons under 4 or low 4's, but I'm not sure how long this run took him.
DeleteI hear you on time! I have an issue with that also!