December 11th, 2008
Yesterday was weird, it was 60 degrees and on the verge of rain, so mucho humid. I was suddenly transported back to summer and how much harder it is to run when it’s warm…and it was only 60! You’re not supposed to feel a performance hit till temps go over 60, but I definitely lacked the pep I’ve been feeling these past few weeks. I guess I”m officially a cold-weather runner.
Too bad I’m not a wet weather runner. Challenging speed workout today, not only because it was long intervals but because it poured rain the entire time. I didn’t reschedule because of the oft-quoted wisdom that says it takes 10 days for a speed session to “show” and my race is nine days away. Plus it’ll be windier tomorrow and between water or wind, gimme water.
Continuing with my ritual that speedwork a week before a race must be something I dislike (read: long intervals…because extra masochism has to give me an edge come race day 
) today’s fun was 3 x mile w/4:00 rests.
It wasn’t a great session – I was suffering and my splits had a big fizzle at the end: 7:16, 7:19 and 7:26 for a 7:20 average. Probably didn’t help that this is my 8th day running, either. Regardless, I still feel a big dollop of satisfaction at dropping another coin in the speedbank, so all is good.
And that’s about it. Sorry I’m so boring lately, hopefully I’ll have an adventure or two to relate soon, but for now…zzzzzz.
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Your forgiven for being boring. Usually your much more entertaining but we all have our off times.
Its my 15th day in a row but I havent done speedwork. Races yes but no speedwork.
i definitely slacked off with the pouring rain today, so extra kudos to you to getting out there and just doing it! way to be tough.
Well, Monday was my first day off for quite a while, but I was pretty darn sore from that little jog on Sunday.
You got me thinking about goals, Flo, with your cheerful suggestion of 3:10. My initial reaction: The Mens Open BQ time? That’s crazy talk. Guys half my age are struggling to get there!
Second reaction: Um, lets not start using age as an excuse. I looked at the CIM results. I was 49th in my division. The top 16 (in my div) broke 3:10, and the top 9 broke 3:00. So we 50-plus guys can still run at a good clip, it seems. But can I? I’d better find out.
Bruce, whoa, you’re a running fiend right now, good for you! Races are speedwork so you’re doing it without even realizing. “What? I’m soaking in it?” Bet the youngsters that read this stuff won’t recognize the Palmolive reference. Tsk, tsk.
Lindsay, I totally would have slacked off if it wasn’t for the race the weekend after next. Races are still enough of a novelty to me that each one gives me butterflies, even a dinky ole 5K.
Jim, for a fast runner, your brain is kinda slow.
Of course you can get 3:10, no question about it. You’ve only done two marathons and have seen great improvement between them, your work ethic is great and you still have the newbie veil over you. What’s 16 minutes in the scheme of things?
wow day 8! you’re bound to feel a little fizzle, kick ass times none the less.
And oh man how I love those you’re soaking it in ads!
I usually LOVE running in the rain, but yesterday sucked and I cut my run short, just wasn’t feeling it and I’m pretty sure my gait was affected since nothing I could do would keep the rain from hitting me RIGHT IN THE FRIGGIN FACE. Oh well.
I am all for the temps going back below freezing and staying there. I am like you – I have accumulated a nice arsenal of cold weather gear and genuinely like running in the cold (and for me) darkness of 5:00am. Going out in the morning in December when it’s 60 degrees and humid out just bites.
Not sure my last race could count has speed work under any terms lol. you can see my picture from it to see how “serious” I ran it on my blog.
“Extra masochism”. I love that.
Don’t discount the effect of running in the rain on your paces. I find it as mentally draining as I do physically draining to try to do any sort of decent workout in a downpour. I could barely manage strides yesterday, let alone full on intervals like you were doing!
I wrote my usual informative and witty comment. But it’s disappeared. Oh, well.
Julie, your informative cleverness is still in existence, for some reason it landed on the moderation list, maybe WordPress prefers the e in your name.
I appreciate your saying that, btw. As is my nature, after the session I did some Google searches for rain and speedwork to see if it was normal to slow down, didn’t find any info on it, so your contribution is helpful.
Progman, you too, it’s always good to know you have company in discomfort, so thanks for sharing yours with me.
Bruce, what a cool race (and photo)! Wild to be running in the dark. You certainly do have a lot of variety over there in Ohio.
Heya doggie poo!
Haha, Guilty as charged – fast legs, slow brain.
Hey, Progman, You know that hat I mentioned the other day? I first got it for wearing in the rain. The bill keeps it out of my face (mostly).
Here’s a picture of me, with hat, at about mile 20
http://images.partypics.com/events/26340854/00374/0049.jpg
I’ll have to remember to only use my gangsta rap name only on gangsta rap blogs.
Lol Julie (aka Gangsta Runner) Jim’s last post also needed to be moderated for no reason I can see. I think it’s because I did a major WordPress upgrade yesterday (it’s hugely different on the back end) so it’s having some quirkiness.
Jim, I LOVE the photo, you look great. Progman will get a kick out of the hat since yellow is his chapeau color, too. It’s helpful for having strange runners you don’t know that well (like me) find you in a crowd.
We all have avatars now? Nifty. I’m not sure what mine represents exactly, but it looks nice. I like Bruce’s growly face!
Didnt notice the avatars till Jims comment. I do notice the reseblance in mine.
I just found the avatar setting a few minutes ago. They’re randomly generated, so it’s no statement on your personalities. You guys can get your own gravatars if you like that you can use in every blog you visit, just go here http://en.gravatar.com/
Well, I did all that, lets see if it works…..
Hmm, no change on the avatar yet.
Hah, I see it, little yellow hat guy.
You might have to clear your cache.
Yup, see it now. Google images found it for me. It’s actually a bicycle bell!
I never heard the 10 day speed session thingie before. You are a wealth of info. Probably won’t help my snail slowness anyway.
Hmm, I tend to think of speed sessions as instant benefit, but I suppose that’s just the teaching-the-legs-to-go-fast aspect, which also dies away quickly. Flo must be referring to the longer-lasting conditioning benefit, but 10 days? Really?
Jim, I hear you…I usually feel speedy the day after a fast workout but I’ve read a few places that it takes 10 days for real adaptation to the session. The only source I can track down at this moment is Glover in “Competitive Runner’s Handbook”, but it’s spare:
…your last hard interval session should be 10-14 days before your goal race; if it’s much earlier, you may peak too soon; if it’s later, you may not get sufficient adaptation in time and may not recover adequately prior to race day.
I’m glad you questioned it, I made a thread on the forums to see if I can get some substantial facts on it. Btw, I’ll still do a speed session this week (tomorrow probably) but it will be a very light one.
Dave, no “snail talk” allowed around here. If you’re working on improving, you’re headed in the right direction and it will make a difference. In the meantime, speak nicely to and about yourself! It’s part of the improvement.