Finally Feeling Better

So last night we had our speed workout. The football team wasn't practicing, and it had been overcast and rainy most of the day, so the temperature was tolerable. And I felt really pretty good through the whole workout. I felt pretty good on Sunday on the long run too - so I think I'm finally getting back into shape. I am determined this time not to lose all my fitness gains after the marathon. In this month's Runner's World there's even an article about how to keep your fitness level after a marathon. So I'm going to do it!

Anyway, the workout last night was 3x1600 meters at 10k - 35 to 40 seconds. Which puts my time in at 9:20 to 9:25. It puts Brant's time at 7:50 to 7:55. He ran his first one in 7:55 and his second to under 7:20. That boy can run fast for short distances.

My plan for the workout had been to run exactly on pace - not letting myself go under and therefore not tiring myself out too much. Running on pace would be laps of 2:20. When I got there though, I felt just great. So I let myself run. And I felt good. The second piece was a little harder, but I still felt pretty good. The third one I was definitely more tired, but still pushed it hard through the end. I was a little disappointed, because I think I could have pushed a little bit more in my third and kept it within pace. However, I'm still thrilled that I did the first two under pace, and the last one wasn't as far off pace as I've been on other nights.

Here are my splits:

1. 2:14:98
2. 2:12:75
3. 2:12:20
4. 2:13:34
Total: 8:53:27
Average: 2:13:31

1. 2:15:95
2. 2:17:43
3. 2:21:11
4. 2:22:00
Total: 9:16:49
Average: 2:19:12

1. 2:20:17
2. 2:18:40
3. 2:29:63
4. 2:23:54
Total: 9:31:74
Average: 2:22:93

I remember that third lap - my legs were really burning. When I finished I was tired, but not dead, which is why I feel I could have pushed it out and finished that last mile within pace. Next time. I'm still much happier with last night's workout than with any of the other speed workouts.

Today, I plan on finally getting in some cross training! Can't run again until Thursday because of meetings, so I might as well get some exercise. I did do a 20 minute Pilates tape this morning, which is something I guess. Brant's been doing the Pilates pretty much every morning and says it's really been helping. Anyway, I'm glad that things are finally feeling better!