7 weeks into my new training program, I am feeling rather optimistic. I can tell that I am in much better shape than when I started on 1 Jan 08, but it is also obvious how much further I have to go. I'm having several random thoughts all jumbled together at the moment. I offer that as a disclaimer for the following comments.
Due to heavy rains in the area, last night I ran a 5k time trial of a sort. I tried to run it at an 8:00/mi pace, and I succeeded...painfully. I am also convinced that I would not have done it had I not been on the treadmill just because I don't think I would have kept the pace on my own. While I am sure that is right, I am not sure why it is that way. Do I give into being tired too quickly? Am I mentally weak? Does the treadmill act as another person encouraging me to run at a quicker pace? That might make sense, but when I run with a friend of mine (who is faster) he often has to wait on me if we are to actually run together. What's the deal? How can I get the most out of myself on a non-treadmill workout?
As many of you know, my family participates in the Oklahoma City Marathon Relay every year as a form of fun, fitness, family reunion, and with the Arts Festival a couple of blocks from the finish, a lot of food afterwards. Recently, my sister sent me a proposed training program to run/walk a 10k portion of the relay. My sister currently participates in rowing classes and dance/pilates for exercise and doesn't really run. After she showed me the program, my concern was that it may be too much too soon, and she may end up overstressing herself in the beginning in order to try and keep up. She countered with her need for a set schedule in order to be able to avoid "just skipping a day" turning into being a week or more behind. I am now of the opinion that she can go ahead and try it, but she needs to make sure that she doesn't overdo it in an effort to keep up with everything. My question is this: specifically, what signs/symptoms should she most attentive to that would let her know before it is too late that she is trying to do too much in her workouts starting out? (If you are really interested, let me know; and I will e-mail the actual proposed workout to you.) She is planning on starting on Monday, so any advice prior to that would be most appreciated. Jen, if you feel qualified to offer an opinion from the perspective of one who is or has recently begun running from scratch, I am sure that would also be welcome.
As for my own relay goals, I have decided I would like to try and run the 12k portion in under 1 hour. 59:50 is the arbitrary goal. For my own training purposes, does anyone know of a place/site where you can design a training program with specific goals like that over specific lengths of time (64 days and counting)? If not, I need to get faster and increase my mileage. Any opinions on how to structure a workout plan with this in mind would be most appreciative. My current fitness level is best described with a 9:30 pace over 4 miles (non-treadmill) being a good workout for me. My treadmill results would be about 8:30 for 4 and the aforementioned 8:00 5k.
Thanks for any and all help/advice you want to give. Gooooooooo Catahoulas!
jlowe
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focus on the opening statements of the post.. the fact is you ARE improving.. on the treadmill and on the road.. improving means your doing good training.. so keep training. if you are with someone who is faster, its only natural for that person to have to slow down in order for you to stay together.
as far as your sis, yes, to give a well-informed answer wed have to know what she is doing now, what the plan is, and when the race is, and what her goals for the race are.
peace out
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