I walked off the track last Thursday night, confused at what I'd just done. The numbers were bloody awful. 6:06.10. Six! How could a time for a 1500 metre race start with a six? So, in a four-week period I've run my best (Stromlo), and worst (Interclub/Vets 1500m), races of the last five years. Being so bad is making me mad.
The months of Hadd-training hasn't miraculously turned me into a good miler. I guess I shouldn't have expected it to – 99% of that running has been slow. I've done nothing at 1500m goal-pace or faster. Truthfully, I seriously doubt if I have the speed right now to run 800 metres at 1500m goal-pace. Two minutes 56 seconds. I don't think so. At least my kilometre intervals at Stromlo yesterday morning felt easier than last time, although slower. 3:58, 4:03 and 4:04, with 1k jog recoveries in just under 8 minutes. Why can't I race 1.5k at 3:58 pace?
The departure of my speed (not that I had much in the first place), has made me re-think the 10,000 metre Championships next Thursday. Should I run them? I'll wait until the night. If it's hot, and/or I'm tired from work, I think I'll give it a miss. Whatever I decide, I'm putting Hadd-training on hold for the next two months. I have a reasonable base – an average of 91 weekly kilometres (56 miles for up-over readers) for the past 24 weeks. It's time for some speedwork.
As a footnote, I'd like to thank you for taking time out of your day to read my blog, and wish you the best of running in 2008. To put a smile on your face, if you haven't seen it already, take a geek at this Youtube video I saw over at Scott's blog.
The months of Hadd-training hasn't miraculously turned me into a good miler. I guess I shouldn't have expected it to – 99% of that running has been slow. I've done nothing at 1500m goal-pace or faster. Truthfully, I seriously doubt if I have the speed right now to run 800 metres at 1500m goal-pace. Two minutes 56 seconds. I don't think so. At least my kilometre intervals at Stromlo yesterday morning felt easier than last time, although slower. 3:58, 4:03 and 4:04, with 1k jog recoveries in just under 8 minutes. Why can't I race 1.5k at 3:58 pace?
The departure of my speed (not that I had much in the first place), has made me re-think the 10,000 metre Championships next Thursday. Should I run them? I'll wait until the night. If it's hot, and/or I'm tired from work, I think I'll give it a miss. Whatever I decide, I'm putting Hadd-training on hold for the next two months. I have a reasonable base – an average of 91 weekly kilometres (56 miles for up-over readers) for the past 24 weeks. It's time for some speedwork.
As a footnote, I'd like to thank you for taking time out of your day to read my blog, and wish you the best of running in 2008. To put a smile on your face, if you haven't seen it already, take a geek at this Youtube video I saw over at Scott's blog.
25 comments:
It's been a pleasure reading your blog throughout 2007 Ewen.
I suppose you could say that you've Hadd it :-)
Cheri
Seems like you just had a bad run. Your run a month ago shows that you are doing something right and are pretty fit.
You've Hadd it! Very clever, Cheri. I wish I had thought of it!
You'll get some great results from that base over the coming weeks. I had quite an awakening after a similarly long base phase. It wasn't a few weeks of transitioning to speedier stuff, and I was nearly setting PRs. A good base will pay off quickly with the right sharpening.
Good luck, and thanks for the comment!
So you "feel the need, the need for speed", eh Ewen?
Just a pity they make those Navy pilots shave cause I could, more, easily imagine Steve Lacey as "Maverick" and you as "Iceman."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekXxi9IKZSA&feature=related
Are you sure it's not just a once-off bad run. We all have 'em.
So you Hadd a bad day on the track.
As you know getting it right on the track is a much more precise business, maybe some 200's,300's,400's,500's, 600's will help to finetune the speed...
Its hard to get optimum performance over every distance at once, slow twitch/fast twitch muscles balance may have a bit to do with it. 4minutes per K = 6min per 1500. Doing 4x1k reps trains your body to run a 3k or 5k at a speed just slower than the 1k rep times. To run a fast 1500, you need reps shorter than 1k IMO.
I'd keep the 10k on the agenda.
But maybe focus more on reps, with just an obligatory long run.
Ewen,
Do not despair. Your main interest is in the longer distanes where you have had recent impressive breakthroughs.
It would be frustrating that 10 years ago that time for the 1500 could have been achieved with your tracksuit pants around the ankles.
I notice that on the same night the extremely talented Mick H. only managed a 59.7 400. Perhaps he completed the lap with the starting blocks attached to his spikes!!!
Continue with the way you are going. You will enjoy many more thrills than disappointments this year.
Don't worry Ewen. You know one sparrow doesn't make a summer. So one bad race doesn't mean much. Attack the 10k next week.
Stop beating yourself up. That is for me to do next time I see you with a triple blogger belly punch. Just quietly I think 6:06 is a pretty decent time.
Why not treat the 10000m as a tempo run? Or go out and pace somebody and help them achieve their goal?
I agree with the others, just a bad run, nothing more. You have an excellent mileage base, cut down some of that and include a speed session or two. With your fitness I believe you will be carving up the track in no time.
And I wouldn't dismiss the 10,000m, treat it as a training session work on your pacing or if nothing else at least you are clocking up some K's on the track.
P.S I like the youtube clip, very funny :-)
Just put it down as a bad day at the office and look forward to the next one.
Hey Ewen, great dummy spit. Don't worry mate, it can only get beter.
Damn, that is some good consistent mileage.
I love your dummy spit, so mild mannered and polite.
Love the u-tube! Don't give up on the 10km on Thursday. You just had a bad run (for you - it's all relative) and Thursday will be better.Just stay injury-free and don't give up on the slow running or I'll never be able to run with you again!!
It's coming ET, you just have to get your head right, you are scaring the crap outa me at training.....grrrrrr, just attack the next one :o)
KT
That video was hilarious!
I don't know much about Hadd. What was the temp when you raced? I know the summer months drain me. Maybe an off day? + heat? Also, if you haven't been racing 1500s, it is much different than longer distance - so maybe you had your long distance hat on?? I wouldn't worry too much about one race, although I do know what a bummer it can be. Hang in there!
Ewen! 56?!! That's darn good. I'm always tired from work, so keep using that as an excuse!
(Don't tell anyone I work at home)
It was just a bad run day. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!
oh my god, you had a 1500 start with a six? duh. that's lame. should start with a nine. nine is so in right now. it's the new black. trés chic. the mode. you're putting too much depeche into it.
6
9
sure, they look the same, but really 9 is neater. it's balancing that big ball on that little bitty tail.
Happy New Year to you and I'm sure your speed will return with some coaxing..
i love it ... there is no magic formula .... you grit your teeth you give it everything and then ... and only then .... perhaps it's nice to you and you post a good time .... wouldn't have it any other way ... visiting a Ewen in 2007 has been a pleasure ... thanks
Sorry your run wasn't as you expected, but that's still an impressive time. Sounds like you are looking forward to some speedwork so have fun with it! :)
Some very good advice there Ewen. A 10k is a totally different animal to a 1,500m. Your HADD training is more suited to the 10k - go for it.
Don't let one bad run discourage you from the 10k! Just to sound like a broken record....we all have them. (I feel like I'm preaching to the preacher!)
Ewen, you mean you aren't reading my blog purely for the running? I'm shocked!
Wake up, time to blog. :-)
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