Track Workout

Track workouts are hard because I forget that they have the word "workout" in them.  It's like each time I do one I have a mental adjustment when I realize that its tough.  Tonight was no exception.

This morning I was considering not going to track.  I was tired and had a gazillion chores to do and was very close to not packing my running stuff for track. I read Coach Deans post about "I'm not in the mood"  and realized that I just had to do it. (Ever see Shopgirl and he says "you said just do it" and so he did.  Love that movie).  Coach Dean says

There are times runners simply need to get out and do the work. Most of us (I’ll say almost all of us?) love running. But, there is a difference in loving to run and wanting to train appropriately for a target race and actually do what is necessary to improve. Moods cannot dictate this. Even personal preferences of workouts cannot dictate this (otherwise we will only do what we like or want). But, a Helter Skelter approach to training is a key reason why runners do not progress.

 He goes on to say

My advice to you is that regardless of your mood – do your scheduled workout. (Of course with the caveat stated above about reading your body.) Just get out and do it.
Three things will most likely happen:
1. You will surprise yourself that it isn’t as bad as you thought and you actually complete the workout. AND you feel better afterwards.
2. You definitely take a huge step in mental toughness – which you will need in your race.
3. You will be a better runner for it.

I packed my stuff thinking I could always change my mind and not run.  Come 5 pm there was no additional question, I knew I was going.

It's been about 3 weeks since I've done a track workout and even warming up I felt heavy and sluggish (I've felt this way for a couple weeks now on just regular runs).  It could be a combination of the following:

• I gave blood 2 weeks ago and haven't fully recovered
• My weight is up after last weeks robust eating and drinking
• My knee is still sore after my spill on the trail run
• My calf's are tight, some from my spill and/or compensating for my knee 
• Its getting warmer and takes more effort
• I like looking for reasons to complain

Our workout was 800, 400, 200, 1000; rinse and repeat.  The recovery time is a full recovery and in my opinion, way too long of 3 min, 2 min, 1 min then 5 in-between sets.  The 5 minute in-between the set makes sense but the other ones are too long.  Once the workout started the heavy legs left but I still felt winded and slow.  My times on the first set weren't too bad considering how I felt and I was certainly slower the second set but the times are better than I thought

Set 1 3:30, 1:39, 47, 4:28

Set 2 3:33, 1:42, 51,4:26

So I am glad that I got out there that I pushed through the sluggish and heavy feeling and got a quality run in.

Happy Running!