Today I did 2 1/2 miles on the treadmill with one short walk break after the second mile. I jogged at a 12:30 pace for 2 miles and a 12:00 pace for the other half. I'm trying to slowly build in a faster pace. Of course, my husband was on the treadmill next to me absolutely FLYING.
Tomorrow is the first group run for the 10k training team I've joined. I'm nervous, because I've never run with people, but I think it will be fun. We're just doing one mile, so I think I'll be ok. Woohoo!! I'm actually becoming a runner!
I don't know what I was nervous about! The group run went great, and I wasn't the slowest person at all! Lots of people took walk breaks and really slowed down, but I kept a nice pace and finished the mile with no problem. I didn't expect to have a problem with a mile since I've been doing more than that, but I was worried about keeping up. The coach said we finished in about ten or eleven minutes, but she was estimating. They gave us a schedule for the runs we should do during the week, and we have a 2-mile run next Saturday.
I knew I had a good run in me! I've felt really good in training since Christmas, and thought I might manage a PB in my half today - but I didn't think I'd go quite so fast! My previous PB was 1:54:something, I was thinking I might get down to 1:52 or so, but actually managed to get round in 1:49 . I never even considered the possibility of going under 1:50 before the race. I honestly thought I'd set off too fast when I kept on seeing mile markers go past at just over 8 minute mile pace, but I just seemed to keep going and finished with an overall pace of about 8:20 - for perspective that's a faster pace than the 10k I did in November, and I passed the 10 mile marker about 10 minutes under my 10 mile PB. Those treadmill speed sessions really do the job!
(The only problem is that having thought pre-race that I'd use this one to get back to where I was this time next year and the next one to have a bash at 1:50, it means I'm going to have to find a new target for my next half at the end of February!)
I have had a pathetic week this week, first we had ice and then dh has been too sick to be allowed near the baby with his lungs from the RSV. Hopefully I can get one in tomorrow.
According to my training team schedule, I was supposed to rest today and run a mile tomorrow, but I knew it was going to snow and sleet tonight, so I went ahead and ran this morning in case tomorrow's too icky. It was a chilly 27 degrees, but it wasn't bad. I ran two miles in 22 minutes -- woohoo! I'm so addicted now!
Lisa, I usually rest the day before a "long run" and run the day after, it doesnt really matter as long as you get a rest day in there somewhere. Once your group runs get longer make the next run an "easy" pace.
Thankyou everyone, I'm still bouncing about feeling very pleased with myself
I ran about 5 miles with running club last night, my legs felt as though they'd hardly done anything (big contrast with my last half) so it was good to get out again. I'm now pondering what approach to take for my next half at the end of February. There are pacers at that one, and there will be an 8 minute mile group. I know that on Sunday I managed to keep to 8 minute miles almost spot on for roughly the first half of the route, so I'm wondering whether to give it a go and run with them to see how long I can keep it up for if I've got a group to run with. I'll give it another month though to see how I'm running by the time it comes round.
Helen, you are so inspirational. I think you should definitely go with the pace group if you feel like it.
Well, the bonk in my half was most likely due to pregnancy. I found out for sure today. It is still too early to tell in the real world, but it will obviously affect my running. I ran until about 10 weeks with my first pregnancy, at less intensity, until I got grounded for complications. We'll see how this one goes.
I was able to run for about 32 weeks this time and I couldnt my first time so you never know. Well I should say run for 26-28 weeks, after that calling it "running" was pushing it.
Tonight I ran with the running group and it was awesome... It felt like Christmas, a light pretty snow and only about -2C, BEEEAUTIFUL!! Everyone was on a high after that run...
Helen!
