Running in place
Last Saturday I ran six miles. I didn't try to control my pace and I was thinking about stopping when I realized that I haven't been setting any goals lately. I've just been going out and running until tired and then quitting. So I decided right then I would go six miles.
I think it was the first lap of mile four when I made this decision. I wasn't on pace for a personal best or anything. For the next two miles I kept asking myself why I should keep going. Near the end of mile five though I realized that I really wasn't making bad time. If I pushed a little on the next mile I could finish right at an 11 minute pace. Sweet.
So today I went out there with a six mile goal in my head. Today though I wanted to control the pace. I'm was thinking I need that control for maybe running longer distances in the future. The first three miles were dead on the desired pace (something just under 12 minutes).
The next lap it felt like I was running faster. I slowed down a bit only to find that it was my slowest lap yet. I tried to pick the pace back up, but it just sort of spiraled down from there. I wound up doing the next three miles at a pace just under 13 minutes.
It may have been the run on Friday morning that caused me to lose the pace. That was only a three mile run. I did kick it out the last half lap to finish right at 28 minutes. I would think I had recovered from such a short run, but I have not run as fast as that half lap in quite some time.
Anyways, it doesn't feel like I'm making real progress on either of my goals. I like to think each run is a building block though. Maybe one day they will all fall into place.
I think it was the first lap of mile four when I made this decision. I wasn't on pace for a personal best or anything. For the next two miles I kept asking myself why I should keep going. Near the end of mile five though I realized that I really wasn't making bad time. If I pushed a little on the next mile I could finish right at an 11 minute pace. Sweet.
So today I went out there with a six mile goal in my head. Today though I wanted to control the pace. I'm was thinking I need that control for maybe running longer distances in the future. The first three miles were dead on the desired pace (something just under 12 minutes).
The next lap it felt like I was running faster. I slowed down a bit only to find that it was my slowest lap yet. I tried to pick the pace back up, but it just sort of spiraled down from there. I wound up doing the next three miles at a pace just under 13 minutes.
It may have been the run on Friday morning that caused me to lose the pace. That was only a three mile run. I did kick it out the last half lap to finish right at 28 minutes. I would think I had recovered from such a short run, but I have not run as fast as that half lap in quite some time.
Anyways, it doesn't feel like I'm making real progress on either of my goals. I like to think each run is a building block though. Maybe one day they will all fall into place.