Thursday, August 31, 2006

Running is hard

I may be switching allegiances for my preferred discipline. You see, cruising along on the bike or floating along in the swim is easy. Running, especially when the humidity is 200%, is hard.

"It never gets any easier, you just get faster" -Greg Lemond

But the babysitter was here yesterday, I was paying her, and that means it's time to get serious and get the workout done. That's one thing that helps me keep focused in my workouts.

I was aiming for six 11-minute miles on the track. On the track for mental strength training, because those last dark miles on the road at Ironman Florida in the middle of the night are going to take a lot of that mental strength. Eleven minute per mile pace because that's just pushing it a little for me, I have to keep alert and pay attention to keep myself from shuffling too slowly. That's somewhere between my 10K pace and my ten-miler pace - a bit faster than I expect to be running at Ironman Florida.
  • 11:04
  • 10:46
  • 11:03
  • 11:13
  • 10:56
Close enough. I didn't make it to mile 6 because I ran out of time. I spent too much time walking in the intervals between miles, and timing myself walking. And figuring out that my walking pace is too slow to walk it in at Ironman Florida, so I'd better crank up that running mileage. Ugh, I felt tired and sore in the evening, too.

More to come this weekend, even though Tropical Depression Ernesto is scheduled to arrive on Friday. Train in adversity, race in adversity, right!??

8 comments:

Iron Pol said...

Were you running a marathon, I'd have all sorts of good advice. Since you'll be running the marathon after the swim and the bike, my experiences are a bit limited.

Here's the one bit of encouragement I can offer. Jeff Galloway asserts that your walking pace (which should be a bit faster in a race than a leisurely stroll at the park) is only a bit slower than a slow jog. For most, walking a 6 hour marathon is very achievable.

Believe in your training, and you'll do fine. Your pace looked good. Not "elite athlete metronome-like," but fairly consistent. Remember, finish-by-midnight pace is another 5 minutes/mile slower.

Nancy Toby said...

Heh, my PR out of 9 marathons is only 5:52!! So a 6-hour marathon is FAST for me!

But thanks for the encouragement!!!!

jbmmommy said...

I hope to some day be able to do five miles with the repeat times you had. I hope that Ernesto's gentle on all of us east coasters, happy training.

And I'm with you on the bike and swim- those are great, but the run kills me.

Jonah Holland said...

Nancy, you'll be fine. Even though you find running hard (don't we all) you started as a runner. And so, it is in your blood. You must love it, right? Please tell me you do, I've been finding it inspiring that you can run 11 minute miles and love it. For along time I thought the only people who could love running were fast.

Nancy Toby said...

I love that I CAN run 11 minute miles. I can remember very, very well the days in 2000 when I could run only 50 steps and then had to stop and catch my breath.

I sometimes love it. The problem is that I have to get through those times I DON'T love it to get to those times that I do. I have some of both.

I probably should have written a feel-good essay about how a kitty came out to watch me from the side of the track, and as it got to be twilight a doe and her fawn came out to graze - things like that I'd never be privileged to see if I weren't a runner. :-)

IronWaddler said...

You did a great job! I hope to crack the 6 hr mark in the spring. I do the 4:1 run:walk and my time has gotten faster.

*jeanne* said...

I really love the difference in the 2005 and 2006 pics on the bike you have up. WOW! Really shows your progress without saying a thing!

You deserve to be proud! And excited about IMFL!

Comm's said...

I plan on running 11 minute miles at florida nancy. Your not in any bad shape.