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January 7, 2008
my plan
Winter training has officially begun. I have to admit I am neither physically or mentally on board yet. There are at least 10 other things I would rather be doing. Yesterday morning at 6.30am, I would rather have been sleeping. Instead, I did my first long run of 2008.
I would like to get faster this year. There are numerous well researched and proven theories on how to do this. I have chosen not to refer to them. I could ask our coach. I haven’t done that either. The reason for this is two-fold, they might make me do something I don’t really want or like to do, and second I believe I am an expert although I have no tangible proof just a voice in my head telling me I’m right.
Here were my two options yesterday ….
Run 10 miles slow, taking frequent breaks but getting double digit mileage in.
Or
Run 8.5 miles at a face pace and not stopping (very much*)
*there was a train and bathroom break where stopping was nonnegotiable.
So I opted for 8.5, see the beauty of my faster plan is I get to run less. I ran with someone a little faster than I normally run. We averaged 9.41 min/miles, which for me is fast. It felt good, till the last two miles when I wanted to stop, curl up on the ground and die. I lost my faster buddy on the hill at the 6 mile mark. When I saw her pull away, secretly I was really happy, I thought, yes now I can stop and walk up this stupid hill. But I didn’t.
I’m not sure which way is better, building endurance or speed. Please feel free to tell I'm wrong or stroke my ego and praise my decision. Those who praise will be my favourites!
After the run, a friend and I made a little trip across the border to Bath and Body Works. Where I bought copious amounts of this body scrub. It should be illegal it’s so good. Trust me it’s the most wonderful experience you will have alone in the shower!
Posted by Ali at January 7, 2008 2:10 PM
Comments
Ali, I love the new banner at the top of the page.
I think you're totally right on. I am also going to try to get faster this year by running less miles at a faster pace. I have no idea if this philosophy will work, but now that I know someone else buys into it I will not be talked out of it.
Posted by: Vanilla at January 7, 2008 4:10 PM
Ugh! I just re-read my comment. Sorry about that "totally right on" in there, I must have slipped back into 1988 temporarily.
Posted by: Vanilla at January 7, 2008 4:18 PM
Clearly you don't have the right shower head. hee hee. Did I just say that?
Posted by: Nancy at January 7, 2008 4:22 PM
Well glad to hear you have a plan..about like my plan, which involves doing some running and seeing how that goes.
Posted by: Amanda at January 7, 2008 5:36 PM
You're ALWAYS right....that's why the blog is now "The World According to Ali" duh....
Posted by: tea at January 8, 2008 11:04 AM
Love the bit about the hill - good job for not walking!
Posted by: Taryn at January 8, 2008 11:22 AM
The point is that you got out of bed and did it. Hurray for you!
I love the new banner too.
Posted by: Juls at January 8, 2008 1:02 PM
I have the same convo in my head often. I think after this half marathon, I am giong to focus on speed instead of distance for a while (call me lazy, but I'm sick of long runs.) ha ha.
Posted by: P.O.M. at January 8, 2008 1:13 PM
good job not walking the hill!!
Posted by: deene at January 8, 2008 1:42 PM
I'm having trouble getting on board mentally, too. Ugh. I keep telling myself that my drive will come back when it is still daylight at 5pm.
Posted by: Allison at January 10, 2008 2:27 AM
A partial stroke of your ego...
If it suits your personality, faster, shorter running can work well (to make you faster).
Count in kilometres and double-digit mileage is easy - 6.2 miles is 10km. 8.5 miles is not short enough!
If you want to do this system well, have only one 'long' run per week - perhaps 12km (or no long runs at all). All other runs 'short', but faster, and different types of faster... For instance, 6k with middle 2km fast; 6k alternating 30secs 'sprint', 30 secs very slow jog (after warming up); short (70 metre) hill sprints, walking back down; 1.5k time trial; 3k time trial; 200m fast repeats with walk recoveries.
Goes without saying that you need to ease into this type of training :)
Posted by: Ewen at January 11, 2008 3:45 AM