I missed my track workout on Tuesday because I had to fly to Southern California. Jeff, the Amazing Hip and I made contact and he offered to take me out for a track run with himself and his lovely wife SMSMH but alas, I had no time since it was a one day deal. Next time, though!
I did what the FIRST program says and didn’t sweat it. Yesterday I decided would be the day to get in 7 x 800 with 400 recovery. I got up, got dressed and the bargaining began.
“Maybe I’ll just do 5 because I have to run 15 miles this weekend and I don’t want my legs to be tired”
“The program says 7”
“I know but well… we’ll see”
I got to the track, set my Garmin for intervals of 1/2 mile run, 1/4 mile recovery and and hit start, immediately realizing that I should have done a warm up first. Oh well – I took the first 1/2 mile easy. On the 2nd interval the bargaining was getting really strident
“Man, I really am NOT feeling it! I’ll TRY to go for 5 but I don’t know”
“The plan calls for 7 – you need to to 7”
“I know but… my legs… I’m tired… you know I haven’t really been doing my track work”
“You need to do 7”
“Okay fine, I’ll get to 4 and think about it”
“Don’t forget to do some in the other direction”
“check”
But if I’ve learned nothing else about myself during training I’ve learned that if I just keep going I can do what I set out to do. On a remote corner of my brain I was thinking “If you just get through 4 you’ll be more than 1/2 way done” and with that in mind I carried on.
After 4 I turned and started going the other way.
After 5 I thought “One more – you can do it”
After 6 I thought “you only have 1 more so what’s that? 5 or 6 minutes. Keep going”
After 7 I was really happy. My Garmin played a happy little tune and said “Finished!”
And thusly, one bargained interval at a time I did all of my repeats. Today I was going to get in my 15 miles because I have a friend coming in from out of town tomorrow but I didn’t have time so I will either do them tonight, or early tomorrow or late Sunday. I’m not worrying about it anymore because I’m starting my taper and I will get it done and I am almost to my marathon. And that’s a good thing.
Interval Splits (in min/mile):
9:14, 8:06, 8:29, 8:50, 8:27, 8:14, 8:29
not bad.
21st-century-mom.com 
VERY nice! I HATE track workouts..but they work! And they ARE work! But they work!(Am I being redundant!?)Congrats on your splits…the 8:15 is GREAT and in my dreams!
“I’ve learned that if I just keep going I can do what I set out to do…”what a great thing to learn. Me, too.
“Not bad?” I’d say those are pretty damn great! Way to go! You are going to be so strong come marathon time!
awesome!!! and hey, how did you get in my brain and steal all my track bargaining with myself??and oh to run track workouts with JEFF!!!! MAN!! that would be something!
Awesome splits. Way to go!
Awesome splits. Way to go!
Excellent workout! I love having someone my own age on this playground – it helps me know that I can just keep on doing this.
8:15 is great and too bad about not meeting up with jeff and smsmh – them some good people.
Awesome workout!!!You summed it up great with your statement”I’ve learned that if I just keep going I can do what I set out to do..” You’ve got the training in the bank not begin to relax to enjoy the celebration.
“On a remote corner of my brain….” I liked that turn of phrase; as if your brain is an island unto itself. Very good.Nice negotiating out there. Enjoy the taper. What a wonderful time (at least the start of a taper).
Track workouts are like jello–there’s always room for one more interval. Have a great race and I expect some hawt, calendar worthy race photos for poor old Kahuna.