Running streak: Pace booster/steady-state run

Showing posts with label Pace booster/steady-state run. Show all posts

Friday, June 15, 2012

I remain concerned that the "base mileage" period of this training plan I'm following seems much harder than my preconceived notion of "base mileage" should be. Warmed up for 10 minutes, then ran 30 minutes at 6:42/mile pace, finished with 10 minutes more relaxed. The 6:42/mile pace was supposed to be 6:40/mile, so I felt like a failure, except that I did live through the run, even though it was in Richmond, CA, so I'm trying to give myself credit for that at least.
It was another very windy morning.

Back on the McMillan plan that very well may result in my death. I don't know that the plan is that difficult, but I know that it is pretty difficult for me right now. Today, the day after "National Running Day," which is a day I should've known about since I'm running every day now guy, the plan called for 10 minutes warm up followed by 20 minutes at 6:40/mile pace and finished with 10 minutes cool down -- actually, the warm up and cool down were probably supposed to be at like 7:40 pace or something, but I didn't read the plan that carefully because I didn't want to know...I was worried about the 20 hard for me minutes in the middle, so I decided I'd just go easy on both ends in hopes of making it. Anyway, I made it...stats are as follows:

1st 10 minutes: 8:27/mile pace
20 minutes at "Steady state": 6:40/mile pace (Yes, I was surprised that I got the pacing right)
Final 10 minutes: 7:31/mile pace

I guess overall pace for a "work out" type run is a bit pointless, but I like my little format so I'll keep including it, besides, I'd be much more likely to not include it on the recap of a trail run than of an effort such as the above.
My "issues" are improving, but not yet eliminated. Buying salt in bulk is really a great value.

Plan called for the following: 20 minutes easy, 10 minutes at 6:35/mile pace, 20 minutes easy. It played out as follows: 20 minutes and 20 seconds at 8:16/mile pace (a bit slower than the prescribed "easy" pace), 10 minutes at 6:27/mile pace (a bit faster than prescribed pace, but only because I'm not very good at pacing...yet), 20 minutes and 30 seconds at 7:35/mile pace. I guess that will suffice, overall it was tiring, but not too horribly so.
I think I prefer the random workouts I make up, but I have no belief that they will be as beneficial in relation to my goals, so...on I go.