I've managed to stay healthy for a good six weeks now, slowly adding miles to the daily run. I finally had a heart to heart with myself about my tendency to just run how I feel, which is generally pretty damn slow. I've been going out day after day just lumbering along, barely scratching below 10 minute per mile pace. I realized that just wouldn't cut it.
I am now allowing myself to just slug along for one mile and then I make myself ratchet up the pace. It really isn't that hard to run under 9 minute per mile if one decides to do so. Besides, I need to take advantage of the incredible weather we're having.
But the missing ingredient is a race. I skipped out on the Edison 5K in February because it was only a couple of weeks after I resumed my daily runs. I had planned to run my favorite 4 mile race in Lehigh Acres this Saturday but I was super bummed out when they decided to switch the race from 4 miles to a 5K. I can run a 5K every weekend around here on pancake flat courses from now until the weather is staggeringly hot in May. So instead of racing, I slept in and actually took a day off from the roads altogether.
So I need to scan the calender and just pick out a race. I just don't like the idea of not being able to run at least 7:30 pace for a 5K and as it looks now, that's just not going to happen anytime soon. So I will swallow my pride and just go race for the hell of it. It's the only way I'll get faster. It's the only way to keep from getting completely stale.
Hi John, sounds like a plan. I've discovered, as well, that the first 10 minutes of running don't count except as warmup. I've been using the duration of my runs as the key indicator while trying to increase the amount of time spent. Anyway, doing a race soon will be good for you as an assessment and give you a chance to use it as an intense workout. Kind regards, Mason
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