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Back on the Track - it's taper time!

I missed my track workout on Tuesday because I had to fly to Southern California. Jeff, the Amazing Hip and I made contact and he offered to take me out for a track run with himself and his lovely wife SMSMH but alas, I had no time since it was a one day deal. Next time, though!

I did what the FIRST program says and didn't sweat it. Yesterday I decided would be the day to get in 7 x 800 with 400 recovery. I got up, got dressed and the bargaining began.
"Maybe I'll just do 5 because I have to run 15 miles this weekend and I don't want my legs to be tired"
"The program says 7"
"I know but well... we'll see"

I got to the track, set my Garmin for intervals of 1/2 mile run, 1/4 mile recovery and and hit start, immediately realizing that I should have done a warm up first. Oh well - I took the first 1/2 mile easy. On the 2nd interval the bargaining was getting really strident

"Man, I really am NOT feeling it! I'll TRY to go for 5 but I don't know"
"The plan calls for 7 - you need to to 7"
"I know but... my legs... I'm tired... you know I haven't really been doing my track work"
"You need to do 7"
"Okay fine, I'll get to 4 and think about it"
"Don't forget to do some in the other direction"
"check"

But if I've learned nothing else about myself during training I've learned that if I just keep going I can do what I set out to do. On a remote corner of my brain I was thinking "If you just get through 4 you'll be more than 1/2 way done" and with that in mind I carried on.

After 4 I turned and started going the other way.
After 5 I thought "One more - you can do it"
After 6 I thought "you only have 1 more so what's that? 5 or 6 minutes. Keep going"
After 7 I was really happy. My Garmin played a happy little tune and said "Finished!"

And thusly, one bargained interval at a time I did all of my repeats. Today I was going to get in my 15 miles because I have a friend coming in from out of town tomorrow but I didn't have time so I will either do them tonight, or early tomorrow or late Sunday. I'm not worrying about it anymore because I'm starting my taper and I will get it done and I am almost to my marathon. And that's a good thing.

Interval Splits (in min/mile):
9:14, 8:06, 8:29, 8:50, 8:27, 8:14, 8:29
not bad.

Comments

DATE: July 14, 2006 11:37 AM
VERY nice! I HATE track workouts..but they work! And they ARE work! But they work!(Am I being redundant!?)Congrats on your splits...the 8:15 is GREAT and in my dreams!


DATE: July 14, 2006 12:01 PM
"I've learned that if I just keep going I can do what I set out to do..."what a great thing to learn. Me, too.

DATE: July 14, 2006 1:21 PM
"Not bad?" I'd say those are pretty damn great! Way to go! You are going to be so strong come marathon time!

DATE: July 14, 2006 1:40 PM
awesome!!! and hey, how did you get in my brain and steal all my track bargaining with myself??and oh to run track workouts with JEFF!!!! MAN!! that would be something!

DATE: July 14, 2006 3:52 PM
Awesome splits. Way to go!

DATE: July 14, 2006 6:13 PM
Excellent workout! I love having someone my own age on this playground - it helps me know that I can just keep on doing this.


DATE: July 14, 2006 7:11 PM
8:15 is great and too bad about not meeting up with jeff and smsmh - them some good people.

DATE: July 15, 2006 7:10 AM
Awesome workout!!!You summed it up great with your statement"I've learned that if I just keep going I can do what I set out to do.." You've got the training in the bank not begin to relax to enjoy the celebration.

DATE: July 15, 2006 6:05 PM
"On a remote corner of my brain...." I liked that turn of phrase; as if your brain is an island unto itself. Very good.Nice negotiating out there. Enjoy the taper. What a wonderful time (at least the start of a taper).

DATE: July 16, 2006 8:14 PM
Track workouts are like jello--there's always room for one more interval. Have a great race and I expect some hawt, calendar worthy race photos for poor old Kahuna.

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