i actually really needed that speech. not really in response to the track workout, because i recognize that that was mostly about the heat. but lately i've had a bunch of bad runs. so thanks, westend, i really appreciate it
i actually really needed that speech. not really in response to the track workout, because i recognize that that was mostly about the heat. but lately i've had a bunch of bad runs. so thanks, westend, i really appreciate it
ok pit, maybe i'm just setting too high of expectations for myself. and i admit i'm in all-new territory with running 5ks. but recently, it seems like people that i have ALWAYS been faster than are suddenly doing track workouts faster than i am, and racing 5ks (i actually race my first one next weekend, so i still don't know what to expect) at a time faster than i'm assuming i can race one. i'm getting frustrated that it seems as though i'm not getting faster. maybe i am and i just can't see it yet. but it really doesn't seem like it. my track workouts have stayed at about the same pace for the last few months. are there any good workouts you would recommend that would really help out my short distance speed? i still feel like i'm on par with the speed for my longer races, but i want to be faster at the short stuff too, and it just doesn't seem to be happening.
So I am running my first half marathon next Sunday, May 1st. I need lots of positive thoughts/karma heading my way. Ran 7.5 miles last night, and will now start to taper. I just started running last June, and have done a tone of 5k's and 10k's, but this is my first attempt at 13.1
I have 3 goals for time....my stretch goal is 1:43. My "what I want to do" time is 1:47. My "this is the worst time I will accept" is 1:52. Feeling good and ready to roll!
How much speedwork do you do? 200s, 400s and to a lesser extent 800s?
There are a bunch of different things you can do with these distances. Ladders, intervals, etc..
i do speedwork every week. i mix it up. i try to do anywhere from 3-4 miles of actual speed (with recovery and warmup/cooldown, i generally end up with anywhere between 6-8 miles total), though once i'm actually into marathon training (in two months), i'll try to get up to 5 miles of speed. some weeks i do 400s, some 800s, some mile repeats. i have done one ladder (4x200, 2x400, 800, mile, 800, 2x400, 4x200). i tend to favor 800s, and i really don't enjoy anything shorter than 400s, but i'll do it if i have to. the thing is that i just don't seem to be improving.
I'd say that you need to set some faster goals for that speed work. If you're actually doing 5k training, sans any future marathon, I'd cut out some of that ladder workout.
If you're running 40 second 200s, have a day where you run 12, 39 or 38 second 200s. Or if you're running 80 second 400s, run 8 75 second 400s. You need to focus on actual speed, I'm sure you endurance is there.
i guess what i meant to say, though completely failed to say, is that i feel like i'm pushing myself to my limit already. i find that when i go faster than what i'm already going, i crap out of energy way too early in the workout. i'm sure i could go faster for a few, but i couldn't keep the workout up at that kind of speed.
Do you work out with anyone else?
Obviously you're at some type of plateau. It could be that you are at your physical limit(doubful) or that you just need to work in some new variety in your workouts.
Without knowing more about you and your workouts, I'm not sure I can help to much
yeah, i've been doing my track workouts with other people. but our speeds are different enough that we don't really do them truly together. we more just show up at the track at the same time, warm up together, start our first repeat together, and then run separate the rest of the time. i DO feel like it would help me a lot if i had a coach or somebody who could pace me through these things. but given that i'm not made of money, that's not really practical for right now.
no worries if you can't help. i guess i'm mostly just frustrated that i don't seem to be improving. i was asking for advice, but mostly just needed to vent. thanks for trying
Hoops, how has your cramping been? I have zero idea if this is accurate, but you might need to be fueling differently for speed vs. endurance. I'll emphasize that I just made that up, but it's a thought.
For example, I don't use Clif Shots for runs less than 13 miles or Gatorade for runs less than 6 miles (if it's really hot and I'm sweating extra) or 9 miles approx. If you operate similarly, maybe you need to change that view for track/speed workouts? Keep those energy levels up.
i haven't had a cramp since saturday, and i'm pretty sure saturday's was a result of dehydration (happened in the middle of a race when i hadn't been drinking anything during the race at all). but i realize that 4 days without a cramp isn't exactly a lot, so i'm not really sure what to think right now.
and it's definitely crossed my mind that i may need to change something up with the diet. i don't do any gus/gels/anything until i get into long runs (and right now my longest regular run is 13ish, so i'm not using anything yet), and i never really do gatorade. maybe i need to start. but my regular eating habits are probably the healthiest they've ever been, so i find it hard to believe that something in my regular diet (excluding gatorade, etc) needs to be changed. maybe i'm wrong though?
What's your pace like now?