{"id":4909,"date":"2012-04-23T17:55:15","date_gmt":"2012-04-23T21:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.glutenfreeislife.com\/?p=4909"},"modified":"2012-04-23T17:56:26","modified_gmt":"2012-04-23T21:56:26","slug":"slow-down-you-move-too-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glutenfreeislife.com\/?p=4909","title":{"rendered":"Slow Down, You Move Too Fast"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you would have told me 2 years ago that I needed to slow down in order to become a faster runner, I would have laughed.\u00a0 Why would I do that?\u00a0 I was of the mindset that each run in my training plan should be run at a fairly fast pace, including my long runs.\u00a0 Speed work, what is that?\u00a0 Aren\u2019t you supposed to run fast all of the time? That plan didn\u2019t work out so well for me, as evidenced by this gorgeous footwear that I sported for several weeks.<\/div>\n

\"boot\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Once I was permitted to run again, I asked my sports med doctor about training smarter.\u00a0 He suggested I join MIT<\/a> and that is when I found out about heart rate training<\/a>.\u00a0 Being the crazy<\/span> OCD, Type-A personality woman that I am, I follow directions, plans, etc pretty much to the letter.\u00a0 If the plan calls for a 4 mile recovery run, then I will run as slow as I have to to keep my HR in Zone 1.\u00a0 The HR training was frustrating at first, because I felt like I was crawling, but this year I have really started to see some positive results.<\/p>\n

My Zone 2 runs have been faster.\u00a0 My speed workouts have been done as prescribed, despite my bitching and complaining about Yassos.\u00a0 My recovery runs are completed, though I feel like a turtle at times.\u00a0 I toss in strength training, yoga and lately PT for my lower back (a non-running injury) and there you have my training plan.<\/p>\n

Yesterday was the Earth Day Challenge Half Marathon \u2013 the first of 2 spring half marathons I had signed up for.\u00a0 I had planned on running it as a training run, but a few friends suggested it was a great course to try to run a PR (personal record) on.\u00a0 Cap City Half<\/a> Marathon is a crowded race and I want to try focus more on fun and friends for that one in a couple of weeks.\u00a0 So, I had a couple of goals in mind for Earth Day:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Run faster than my previous PR last October 2011<\/a> \u2013 1:57:31<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Run a 1:55 half marathon.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Break 1:55 (pipe dream)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Met up with my Run DMC friends before the race \u2013 we all create quite the supportive community at races \u2013 it is truly amazing!<\/p>\n

\"rundmcgred\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It was cold \u2013 like 38 degrees and overcast at the start.\u00a0 Better than the 87 degrees that Boston had for their marathon last Monday, though.\u00a0 I did appreciate that we were able to stay in the athletic complex until almost the last minute to avoid freezing our tails off.<\/p>\n

Just after 8 AM we were off!<\/p>\n

\"edchallstart\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Look how small the race was!\u00a0 I am used to running huge races, so this was a nice treat.\u00a0 There was no weaving in and out of people \u2013 it was a great set-up!<\/p>\n

The first four miles were hilly, to say the least.\u00a0 Check out the elevation profile below.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Talk about waking up in a hurry!\u00a0 I tried to take the big hill conservatively, but it took me a little while to recover.\u00a0 First mile was run at a 9:16 pace.\u00a0 A little discouraging since I knew I had to average a 8:47 to hit 1:55.\u00a0 I told myself to relax, there would be plenty of time (and flatter course) to make that up.\u00a0 I was told the rest of the course was flat, which I don\u2019t completely agree with, but certainly better than the first 4 miles.<\/p>\n

Once we hit the Kokosing Gap Trail<\/a>, things got a little boring, but it was perfect for me to find my zone, listen to my music and settle into my goal pace.\u00a0 Things started to get interesting when the leaders were passing us on their way back and then when we turned around and were passing the others on their way out.\u00a0 This picture was taken by a fellow Run DMC runner on my way back down the trail.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_7439\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Miles 4-13 were run between 8:23 and 8:48\/mile.\u00a0 The race finished on the track of the Kenyon College Athletic Center<\/a> and I had no idea coming in what my time was, but I knew I was under 2 hours.\u00a0 I was tired of running at the pace I was running.\u00a0 It was weird, it wasn\u2019t like I couldn\u2019t continue to run it, I just was ready to be done!\u00a0 This picture was taken by a fellow MIT friend in the last mile.\u00a0 I had no idea she was there!<\/p>\n

\"IMG_1201\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I picked it up in the last mile (8:23) and as I came around the corner of the track and saw 1:53 on the clock, I knew I had to make it in before it hit 1:54.\u00a0 I did it!\u00a0 1:53:52 was my official time!\u00a0 I came in 2nd in my age group!\u00a0 <\/strong>I cut almost 4 minutes off of my fall half marathon!<\/p>\n

Since I began religiously following the heart rate training program laid out for me, I have only gotten faster.\u00a0 I had to slow down to do it, but it has paid off.\u00a0 This is not the kind of thing that happens right away, or even in a few months.\u00a0 I began HR training in February of 2011 and I didn\u2019t PR a race until October 2011 despite trying twice before that race.\u00a0 However, since then, I have PR\u2019d every race that I have run \u2013 2 half marathons and a 5K.\u00a0 I truly believe that HR training has taught me how to listen to my body.\u00a0 I am able to get my required training in at the appropriate intensities, while allowing my body to recover so that I don\u2019t overtrain.<\/p>\n

So, what is my next goal?\u00a0 A friend mentioned a sub 1:50 fall half marathon.\u00a0 We shall see \u2013 it is \u201conly\u201d <\/strong>4 minutes faster than I ran yesterday.\u00a0 \"Winking<\/p>\n

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