Consistency is key.
Rome was not built in a day.
Those are two quotes that have gotten me through the last week of training when things such as bad races got mentally tough.
My training this week was good. I can’t say Belmar was the race I was hoping for but I have a longer post about that.
I ran easy on Monday and Tuesday. I rested on Thursday and ran easy on Friday.
Track Workout of the week:
2X800s (3:00) with 2:30 rest
2X600 (2:15, 2:12) (2:00 rest)
2X400 (1:23, 1:25) (2:00 rest)
2X200 sprint (2:00 rest)
2X400 (1:25, 1:25) (2:00 rest)
I’ve been doing track workouts with Tim lately. To be honest if I did track workouts by myself, I would probably stick to 400s every single time. He likes to do different workouts so it keeps it interesting. I felt good during the track workout but it was the hottest day we have had. I think I began sweating the moment I thought about running.
Saturday: Belmar 5k: 19:34 (5:53, 6:06, 6:41)
Sunday: Long run easy
Total miles: 68
Thoughts:
I’m currently writing a post about my thoughts with my summer training. I am consistently training but not seeing the benefits.
In cliff notes I didn’t lose my speed in a month. It took me two years of consistently not doing speed workouts to lose that fitness. I did not gain my 18:35 speed in a month the first time and I won’t do that the second time either. Hopefully it does not take 2 years though.
This week was good consistency wise and I kept to my track, race and long run plan. Did I PR at Belmar like I had originally hoped? No but I finished healthy and there are many more 5ks in my future.
I wanted to wait until the Belmar Chase to decide what to train for this fall. Realistically, I think it’s smart to continue the method of doing 1-2 speed workouts weekly and see where it takes me. Personally I like my current training method a lot. I am able to race often as well as not give up speed workouts.
While I’m not 100% certain, I don’t think a fall marathon falls into this plan.
Questions for you:
What was your best workout this week?
Do you have any fall goal races?
I absolutely know the feeling of training the right way and not seeing the results you deserve. I am probably being too impatient as well…I just hope it doesn’t take 5-6 years to reverse the damage I’ve done!
I’m hoping to do the Great North Run in September and I would love an October marathon, but I’ll just have to see how things go. I’m a long, long way from being able to do a marathon at the moment.
That’s still a great 5K time to me, although I know it’s not what you are looking for. I’m sure you will get to where you want to be in time, even if it takes a little longer than expected.
Awesome job at the track and the 5k! Very impressive. I think it’s great that you are so adamant about hard work – that’s when you will see the long lasting results. I’m hoping NYCM will be a goal race but training this summer has absolutely had its difficulties. Hope you have a great Sunday!
oh man, my wednesday run was SO. GOOD. I am normally a 10 min/miler, but ive been flirting with sub 10 paces lately. well, wednesday i ran an average pace of 9:17 and my fastest mile was a 8:10!!!!
and then thursday sucked for running. (4 miles, felt like i had concrete legs.) and then yesterdays 20 miler was good? it was okay. it was really hard, and the miles were soooo slooooow to build up (i was running for what felt like forever and it had been 4 miles. grrr) BUT i ran all over griffith park so it was SUPER hilly. like, 2768 ft of elevation, which i went up and down 5 times. so it was exhausting and difficult and annoying bc it took so long…. but then once i was done i was like FUCK. YEAH. so i don’t know.
this fall i’m running (not racing, im not good at racing. im good at raceS, but not racING. i get all up in my head about it) i’m running a 50k Nov 7th, half marathon nov 21st, and a 50 miler dec 5th. AHHH.
I raced a lot earlier this summer, then took a few weeks off racing altogether and that was a smart decision for me. I just needed the mental break and was pushing myself a little too hard in “race outs”. My best workout this week was my first 5K back after that racing break, as I PRed it (21:55).
Your speed workout looks fun! I like how you incorporated several different interval distances in there. Hopefully in a few weeks you will reap the benefits of the speedwork!
You definitely broke out of that rut and I could not be happier for you!
For the type of races we’re trying to string together, being consistent with our training is crucial like you said. Even though things are progressing as quickly as you would like, you are doing the work and devoting yourself to the process. Rome (er, speed!) wasn’t built in a day, and you will get there!