Didn't have much time for a run today so I ran fast and short, averaged 6:20 with mile 2 just under 6:00. I feel like I could run under 1:25 for a half marathon right now. Maybe I'll try that this weekend, give the shorter stuff a break. I think it's better to concentrate on building mileage right now anyways and then get back to track workouts a couple times a week once I'm used to 30-35mpw. I'll still do hard runs and get some running in at 800/mile/5k paces, but just as part of my long runs. Once I run a sub 1:20 half I think I'll sign up for a marathon and start doing some 16-20 mile runs a couple times a month. Hopefully I never spend much time below 20 miles per week again, it's hard to get fast again after a few years of being a slouch, it amazes me that in 2020 summer I was able to pick up after a year and a half of very little running and get into low 17 minute shape in like a month or two. Now I've been slowly building back since March 2022 and I'm still not quite back there. What happened between the summer of 2020 and 2021? It seems like I used to be able to jump back into 17 minute shape with just a few weeks of good training and now it's taking forever to get there. But now I am healthy and my achilles pretty much healed finally after 7 years, I'm enjoying my running injury free. So my slow and patient approach has paid off even if I don't feel like I'm in great shape yet. Things are just starting to pick up, I think I'm going to start seeing good returns these next few months once I'm averaging over 30 miles and am deep into my core/lifting revival as well. |