I am having fun!
I survived Tempo. The rain didn't stop us. No lightning today and no flash flooding to block the trail at the 1/2 mile marker. It did rain on us though, and pretty hard for a bit. Running in the rain can be refreshing, and I always feel like a "real" runner if I'm out there in the rain.
I had a plan to go at a 10k pace. I even printed the Science of Tempo, but I forgot it at home (doh!). I did tell the class all about it and made sure Gilbert knew what it said. He called me "Tempo-phobic." Yes, I am Tempo-phobic. Anyone else in my corner?
Today was actually pleasant. I cannot believe I'm writing that, and it is really me writing this post. ;-) I started out easy with Minnie and some others, and we chatted for the first 1/2 mile. Well, I figure if I'm chatting, then we are going at an easy enough pace. At the 1/2 mile marker, I was pressing my lap button (we only do a 2-mile tempo), and Gilbert taps me and tells me to stop looking at the time. Where did he come from? He's so quiet and sneaky. I tried not to peek at my time, but I saw it. I was shocked b/c we were running much faster than my plan. It didn't feel like that fast. Hmmm...
At this point, Gilbert runs with me and coaches me a bit. Minnie and the other Gazelle (I think her name is Kathie) moved ahead about 10 meters. Seeing my time got me worried I was going out too fast, but it was a comfortable pace still. I was grateful not to have to chat anymore though.
Gilbert ran ahead and coached everyone along the way. At the turn around he told me to catch the two Gazelles in front of me. I tried a little bit, but I am always so conservative...saving energy and effort for the end.
< insert small aside >
I don't know if the other classes do this (I sure hope so), but I love cheering on and being cheered on as we pass other Gazelles. Every single person in our class got a cheer from almost every single other Gazelle, even if the only thing that can be managed is a smile of acknowledgment or a head nod.
< end small aside >
Back to my tempo run. I always try not to look at my watch at the 1.5 mile split...I just push the button. I don't want to know if I'm going slower here (which is often the case). Gilbert came running back around this point, and I made a conscious effort to not let him suck me into running faster than I was ready and wanting to run. Minnie was still a bit ahead of me, and I saw her fall prey to The Lion. Oh, Minnie. And he had her go faster up the hill past the 1/2 mile marker.
I saw Minnie stop and walk as Gilbert sped up to the next runner. I had to look down and focus so I wasn't tempted to walk. At this point, I was not so comfortable. I didn't think I was running faster, but the run was feeling a bit hard and walking looked sweet. Minnie only walked a few paces and then started up again, thankfully before I got to her and felt a strong urge to just walk along beside her.
I chased Minnie to the finish. I debated if I should run my last 400 really fast since Gilbert says we shouldn't come to the finish line huffing and puffing. If I run the last 400 fast, I will be huffing and puffing. So I kept my pace and tried to go a bit faster. I didn't sprint until Gilbert yelled for me to. I crossed the line and pressed my stop button. I was huffing and puffing - oops. Gilbert is yelling that it is my fastest time (it's not, btw, but shhh...don't tell him that). He wants a high five from me, the Queen of the Tempo-phobes. I can barely catch my breath and barely get one hand up.
In retrospect, I think that was my best Tempo run. My fastest time was an awesome run, but I went out way too fast in that one and am not sure I could repeat that time since it was a full minute faster than this run. I haven't been able to come close to that time since then. I think I finally found a pace where I am running "comfortably hard." Don't get me wrong, I wanted to stop several times in that last 1/2 mile.
I don't think I could maintain this pace for a 5K, so I'm far off from running tempo at my 10k pace. No surprise there since I don't know a Gazelle that actually runs tempo at their 10k pace (or MGP like the Science of Tempo recommends). If you are a Gazelle who runs tempo at 10k pace, make sure to introduce yourself to me and tell me all your secrets.
So, for a rare time on tempo, I can say, "Get off me! I am having fun!" Oh, but I did eat the cookie...or at least part of one when I got home. :D
Grudgingly, I shall provide this:
Overall time: 19:35:98
Splits:
4:50:39 (pressed it before the marker accidentally)
5:04.99 (a wee long due to the above)
4:48:89
4:51:71
I had a plan to go at a 10k pace. I even printed the Science of Tempo, but I forgot it at home (doh!). I did tell the class all about it and made sure Gilbert knew what it said. He called me "Tempo-phobic." Yes, I am Tempo-phobic. Anyone else in my corner?
Today was actually pleasant. I cannot believe I'm writing that, and it is really me writing this post. ;-) I started out easy with Minnie and some others, and we chatted for the first 1/2 mile. Well, I figure if I'm chatting, then we are going at an easy enough pace. At the 1/2 mile marker, I was pressing my lap button (we only do a 2-mile tempo), and Gilbert taps me and tells me to stop looking at the time. Where did he come from? He's so quiet and sneaky. I tried not to peek at my time, but I saw it. I was shocked b/c we were running much faster than my plan. It didn't feel like that fast. Hmmm...
At this point, Gilbert runs with me and coaches me a bit. Minnie and the other Gazelle (I think her name is Kathie) moved ahead about 10 meters. Seeing my time got me worried I was going out too fast, but it was a comfortable pace still. I was grateful not to have to chat anymore though.
Gilbert ran ahead and coached everyone along the way. At the turn around he told me to catch the two Gazelles in front of me. I tried a little bit, but I am always so conservative...saving energy and effort for the end.
< insert small aside >
I don't know if the other classes do this (I sure hope so), but I love cheering on and being cheered on as we pass other Gazelles. Every single person in our class got a cheer from almost every single other Gazelle, even if the only thing that can be managed is a smile of acknowledgment or a head nod.
< end small aside >
Back to my tempo run. I always try not to look at my watch at the 1.5 mile split...I just push the button. I don't want to know if I'm going slower here (which is often the case). Gilbert came running back around this point, and I made a conscious effort to not let him suck me into running faster than I was ready and wanting to run. Minnie was still a bit ahead of me, and I saw her fall prey to The Lion. Oh, Minnie. And he had her go faster up the hill past the 1/2 mile marker.
I saw Minnie stop and walk as Gilbert sped up to the next runner. I had to look down and focus so I wasn't tempted to walk. At this point, I was not so comfortable. I didn't think I was running faster, but the run was feeling a bit hard and walking looked sweet. Minnie only walked a few paces and then started up again, thankfully before I got to her and felt a strong urge to just walk along beside her.
I chased Minnie to the finish. I debated if I should run my last 400 really fast since Gilbert says we shouldn't come to the finish line huffing and puffing. If I run the last 400 fast, I will be huffing and puffing. So I kept my pace and tried to go a bit faster. I didn't sprint until Gilbert yelled for me to. I crossed the line and pressed my stop button. I was huffing and puffing - oops. Gilbert is yelling that it is my fastest time (it's not, btw, but shhh...don't tell him that). He wants a high five from me, the Queen of the Tempo-phobes. I can barely catch my breath and barely get one hand up.
In retrospect, I think that was my best Tempo run. My fastest time was an awesome run, but I went out way too fast in that one and am not sure I could repeat that time since it was a full minute faster than this run. I haven't been able to come close to that time since then. I think I finally found a pace where I am running "comfortably hard." Don't get me wrong, I wanted to stop several times in that last 1/2 mile.
I don't think I could maintain this pace for a 5K, so I'm far off from running tempo at my 10k pace. No surprise there since I don't know a Gazelle that actually runs tempo at their 10k pace (or MGP like the Science of Tempo recommends). If you are a Gazelle who runs tempo at 10k pace, make sure to introduce yourself to me and tell me all your secrets.
So, for a rare time on tempo, I can say, "Get off me! I am having fun!" Oh, but I did eat the cookie...or at least part of one when I got home. :D
Grudgingly, I shall provide this:
Overall time: 19:35:98
Splits:
4:50:39 (pressed it before the marker accidentally)
5:04.99 (a wee long due to the above)
4:48:89
4:51:71
Labels: Running
posted by Jessica at
10:14 PM
2 Comments:
hey jessica
now i probably seem like an online stalker- i'm not, i promise ;) i definatly wasn't running at a 10K pace, or anything close to it. i wonder if there's any benifit to running hard for two miles? anyway just thought i'd stop by and say hi- i'm trying to bookmark some gazelle blogs to pick up pointers. it's nice to read one where they're not talking about a 7 min pace for 18 miles.....
By
Kathie Sever, At
7/27/07 9:59 AM
Kathie, you are funny. You are not a stalker anymore than I am. I read all those blogs, too, and I click all the links, too. :o)
I guess the benefit of our short tempo is to get us ready for a longer tempo and to prep us for 5ks. Tempo run is really the only time I run uncomfortably for more than 1/2 mile, so if anything, it can help us work on running hard even though we want to stop.
You should blog, too. We need more women bloggers to read.
By
Jessica, At
7/27/07 10:28 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home