I'm competitive. Mostly with myself. I'm impatient and like immediate results, which is funny because running takes time. I will push myself to the breaking point and then get mad at myself because I broke (injury). I'm super thankful to have great friends/running buddies that are there to congratulate me, but are also honest when needed and look out for me.
Last week's workouts were a little more running oriented as my job was kicking my butt in hours. I didn't do much cross training at all and I missed it.
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| 5mi personal best |
Last week, I saw a small gain in my 5mi run. Wednesday I tried again for an increase and I got it. This ended up being a run that just couldn't have gone any better. Perfect weather, perfect feeling run. It wasn't easy by any means, but I was very happy when I got home and took a look at my splits - 8:41, 8:39, 8:33, 8:30, 7:51
That last mile was definitely hard, but gave me the runner's high I've been missing after my runs lately. I've been shooting to see that on my watch for weeks. Claire was all interested in my biz when I got home. Made for a cute pic.
Thursday I decided to play with the new treadmills at the gym a little more. I picked the 5k run mode. I was a little confused when the distance counter started a countdown! Kinda neat. It also threw in a couple of small hills around miles 1.5 and 4. Decided to try a plank for an entire (but very short) song - planked it out to Metro - Shake It for 2:55. That hurt - I was definitely shaking after. <haha. corny bad joke.>
Friday and Saturday I worked and slept.
Sunday morning I got up and had a 10k race pace that needed to be done by Monday. I started out feeling pretty heavy legged. That may have also been the two glasses of wine and big dinner I ate the night before, but I was determined to make this a good run. I ended up planning my route kind of difficult and overly long, where the last 1.1 mi was a hill climb and I had a mile or so to walk home. Not always the most desirable way to end a 10k, but I figured it'd make me stronger in the long run. I ended up running with a 8:32 pace and was slightly disappointed with it since my 5mi time has been pretty stellar for me lately. I mentioned it on my dailymile, and was immediately uplifted and warned in the nicest way by some of those great running buddies/friends I mentioned earlier.
See what I mean? Looking out for me. :) It took another's opinion for me to realize that I'm absolutely getting caught up in the numbers. I want to go faster. I want to see 7s!!! I want a faster average pace.
And I'm going to end up overdoing it if I don't watch it. I know I won't be holding myself back by slowing it down just a little. I decided that this week I'll do just that and save it for an actual track/speed work session.
Do you have awesome run buds that watch out for you?
Have you been caught up in the numbers? What'd you do to fix that?
How was your week of workouts?
Girl, you are awesome. I am happy to get under 10 min mile, I about freaked the day I went under 8. I try not to get caught up in the numbers because there is always someone faster than me. Keep pushing, you are great and could outrun me on any given day :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Megan! There will always be someone faster than me too! :)
DeleteJealous of your times!! Keep up the great work and I love the Hunger Games workout! What a clever idea!!
ReplyDeleteJess (Blondeponytail) is definitely a smart cookie ;) Ty!
DeleteStay smart Beka.. :) u will do great and u will improve..im impatient too so i totally understand wanting it to happen now, now, now.. but stay consistent and i promise u .. it will happen! Ive had injury because i just wanted to push harder and harder so ive learned the hard way.. and not being able to run STINKS!! u know that! My first 5k in 2010 was 32 and change.. in Nov 2012 it was 23 and change.. ive run relays and 6 halfs and ive run a marathon!! Ive come a long way!! U will get there Beka!
ReplyDeleteYou're right! BTW we were talking this morning how you are our local running idol :)
DeleteHaha aww:) me?! Well thanks :) Hope to see u soon Beka! Keep up the good work!
DeleteYW! I need to get your digits. :)
DeleteHaha, I'm glad you're not peeved with me! If I didn't care, I wouldn't say anything ;) And i'm not expert my any means but I know your goal PR and know you can do it - and know that hip of yours is a B, so it needs to stay uninjured! ;)
ReplyDeleteOf course not!! <3 And yep, ol' grandma hip can definitely be cranky. Been pretty quiet lately though! *knock on wood and cross all my fingers and toes!*
DeleteDon't stress too much about one run. When you are training some run are great and some suck - especially when you are training consistently. It is all part of the game. You are rocking it!
ReplyDeleteThe sucky runs always suck so much more when it crops up in a string of good ones! TY pretty lady! <3
DeleteOMG, Beks, you're totally nailing your workouts! I'm so glad you have great friends to keep you grounded.
ReplyDeletePS - There's no way you're not going to get a sub 2!!
Thanks! I <3 them! Guuurrrllll I hope so! :)
DeleteI have gotten terribly caught up in numbers. To the point where on a long training run, my Garmin quit and I stopped and cried with a little over a mile left and said I couldn't finish the run since I didn't know my time. Thank God my sister was there - she snapped some sense into me (one of the biggest fights we've ever had) .... but I can still get obsessive. I know it will be bad when I start training for speed again in the next few months...
ReplyDeleteYour times are looking great though! And everyone is right, push too hard and you'll injury yourself and then get no where! I think we need to trust our bodies more - they'll get us where we want to be, if we let them!
You're right!! Last year I was out for 7 weeks (hip) bc I pushed too hard at the track and poor recovery/no strength training. Just have to be diligent and trust myself! It's always so much easier said than done in the midst of mile 10, right!? :)
DeleteKeep on working hard, Beka, and those consistent--dare I say easy--seven-minute miles will come! Eight and change is my default pace, so I love pushing myself to see those sevens. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're fast! In time I hope to be close to that too!! :)
DeleteYou're doing great Beka! I'm so excited for you to run these upcoming races! Sub 2 is sitting right in front of you! You just need a start and finish line. Glad I could help you realize that you're doing awesome! Because you are! But I'm right there with you on those numbers. I love my numbers. And I just bought a Polar so I could see them some more! :D
ReplyDeleteI saw! Haha! I can't lie - I've been eyeing them every time I go to the store too! & thank YOU! :)
DeleteI think you're doing awesome! Anytime you run negative splits should be a cause for celebration, in my opinion. I'm just trying to get to the 9's!
ReplyDeleteYou'll be there before you know it! My first half marathon (10 months ago) was a 10:45avg pace. I didn't even know what a pace was then! :)
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