Why, oh why was I so intimidated by the track for so long??? It is so wonderful!! This morning, I joined coach Susan and her group (including a couple people from my NYC team) for my first track workout! Wednesday has been my speed work day anyway, and I was grateful for the opportunity to go run with a group, and have a coach telling me what to do, rather than a computer program. I am a little over my smart coach plan for Seattle, but that’s an other story.
My alarm went off at 4:25 am, and I was out the door by 5 to meet at 5:30. We did a 1 mile warm up from our meeting spot over to the track, and I was kind of a nervous wreck. I was totally intimidated, and sure that everyone was going to be running 6 min miles, and I was going to be the lame-o in the back. However, everyone was really nice, and as it turned out, once you get on the track, it’s impossible to tell where anyone else is at anyway. Plus, honestly, who has time while doing their own speed work to worry about anyone else? It’s just silly to think that anyone there is going to be judging you.
We did some running drills that I have never done before, and I looked pretty ridiculous, but only slightly embarrassed about it, haha. Then Susan announced that we were doing 8x400s @ our 5K pace with 200 meter recoveries, then 1 mile @ half marathon goal pace. Okay, so as it turns out, I’m pretty unsure of what my 5K pace should actually be. My pace for South Mountain averaged 8:52, so I was guessing around 8:45. Well, I paused my garmin during the rests because I didn’t have a chance to set the intervals up before we started, and my first 4 averaged an 8:00 min pace. Probably a little too fast, but definitely enough to make me feel like 8:45 was most likely too slow. The next 4 averaged 8:12, with a total average for all 400s of 8:07. Then I ran my HMGP mile @ 8:48.
Who am I??? It didn’t feel easy, but it didn’t feel as tough as I was expecting. I still don’t know about doing a whole half marathon at a sub 9 pace, but it was a little bit of a confidence boost! The time flew by, and I didn’t even end up using my music. I was nervous because no one else brought any music, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the workout without it, but the constant changes kept my mind busy, and I didn’t feel bored at ALL, and even my heavy breathing didn’t freak me out.
So, the thing is, I’m totally head over heels for the track. And I don’t think after NYC I will ever want to train without a group ever again. I feel so totally spoiled by the whole situation already, but I’m just trying to soak it up to it’s fullest while I can!
On my way home, Devon tweeted me about our plank promise that I had totally been lame and forgotten about, so the second I got home, I turned on the TV to distract me, and got my plank on!
Gosh Ari, stop cheating, and get your butt down!
You see, ever since Ali completed her 5 min plank challenge, I’ve been determined to do the same, and Devon is super amazing and working on her planking too, so we’re keeping each other accountable. Clearly, she’s doing a much better job at the accountability part than I am 😉 My first try, I held it for 2 minutes, last week (try #2) was 2:20, and today…
Whhooooot! Okay, now I desperately need a shower.
Track: Love or hate?
Yay! 3 minutes is AWESOME! I have to do my planks tomorrow AM. I’m thinking I can get 2:45-3:00 🙂
You’ve got this!
Great job on your speed work!! Hooray for track time 🙂
And I did my first plank EVER last week (then proceeded to do it two more times later in the week)! 1:30 is nothing to write home about but I want to work up to more. Your 3 min is awesome!
YAY!! We can plank together! If we talk the whole time, we’ll be up to like an hour before we know it 😉
I thought you were seriously going to take a pic of yourself planking somewhere….like in front of Trader Joes….lol! The planking challenge sounds fun! i might have to follow suit….we’ll see :-). I am SO glad you enjoyed track! I hope I make it to track Wed morning, and I hope I enjoy it as much as you did!
I would be around 10 seconds for my plank thank you very much for my shotty arm. Okay maybe 15 seconds..seriously.
as far as the track..hmm i ran on it with surprise running club, but I think i put myself into a to fast group. I have a school down the street from me..i should go..4 times around makes my mile:)
way to go on your 3 min. thats awesome!
hey ari- i was wondering where you’ve been! hawaii, i’m so jealous 🙂
please tell me how you’ve gotten faster; i am tired of running 13, 14 and 15:00 miles! were you born fast or did it take you a while to get faster-? i love reading about everyone’s 7:45 paces but that’s light years from where i am; i want to hear from someone at a more attainable goal speed for me 🙂
amazing plank- i read ali’s adventures in planking too, but it only inspired me to crank out a couple before i decided i just don’t like it so nevermind! lol
It’s so funny, because speed is all relative. I always think I’m soooooo slow, and compared to most of the blogs I read, it’s true. I ran my first 5k last October in a little over 31 minutes, and my last one that I PRed in, I ran in just over 27. I also took 9 minutes off of my half marathon time between my first and my second, so I definitely didn’t just start out this way. I guess what I would say has helped is a combination of desire, and just putting in the work. I loved your post about finding the feeling of being on edge at the track. I LOVE that feeling, and while I don’t push myself to my fullest 100% of the time, I try to make my runs count. But, also, I trained in Portland all summer in 60-70 degree temps. I’m going to die now that I’m back. Ohhh, and also–run with faster people!! If you’ve been running 13-15 min miles, run with someone who runs closer to 12’s. You’ll keep up. Trust me. You might hate life for the time being, but you will love it later on! I hope that helped. Hope to see you on Wednesday!