Happy Groundhog's Day everybody! I sure know it is my favorite holiday of the year. (note, I wrote most of this on 2/2 but didn't post until today)
Any time I am feeling totally worn down and am forced to take some time off, I either come back quickly and better than ever or end up having more serious issues that require longer recovery.
Last week was a bit scary since I'm only 6-7 weeks out from the National Marathon and was feeling terrible, but I am back! Luckily this was one of those times where I just needed a short break from training before kicking it up to the next level.
On Wednesday I hit the track with some coworkers and the DC Road Runners for the first time in a while. The workout was a 20 minute tempo run, and I was hoping to run it in the 6:05 to 6:10 range.
I felt very strong and ran it in 5:54, which amounted to just under 3.5 miles in 20 minutes. I felt good enough to tack on a 68 second 400 at the end just for kicks.
I've come to realize that getting faster is mostly about knowing when to back off and when to push. I think I have been getting better at both parts, but most importantly have been better at backing off. There are usually few benfits to forcing a workout when you feel terrible and far more negative consequences. The flip side of this is that you have to go 100% and haul ass when you feel good. It isn't always easy, but that is the part of this sport that I love!
Any time I am feeling totally worn down and am forced to take some time off, I either come back quickly and better than ever or end up having more serious issues that require longer recovery.
Last week was a bit scary since I'm only 6-7 weeks out from the National Marathon and was feeling terrible, but I am back! Luckily this was one of those times where I just needed a short break from training before kicking it up to the next level.
On Wednesday I hit the track with some coworkers and the DC Road Runners for the first time in a while. The workout was a 20 minute tempo run, and I was hoping to run it in the 6:05 to 6:10 range.
I felt very strong and ran it in 5:54, which amounted to just under 3.5 miles in 20 minutes. I felt good enough to tack on a 68 second 400 at the end just for kicks.
I've come to realize that getting faster is mostly about knowing when to back off and when to push. I think I have been getting better at both parts, but most importantly have been better at backing off. There are usually few benfits to forcing a workout when you feel terrible and far more negative consequences. The flip side of this is that you have to go 100% and haul ass when you feel good. It isn't always easy, but that is the part of this sport that I love!
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