Bryan's Running Blog

December 07, 2025

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Location:

Nashville,TN,USA

Member Since:

Sep 18, 2006

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

2:55:40 marathon (1997 St. George). 1:20 half marathon (1997). 5:00 mile (1997).

Short-Term Running Goals:

Sub 5-minute mile. Run Music City Marathon in April. Qualify for Boston in October (ideally get below 3 hours). Run Boston marathon 2008.

Long-Term Running Goals:

See above. After I've done that, then I'll retire. Well maybe not. I want to run the NYC marathon sometime and I want to do some triathalons.

Personal:

Married with 2 kids, born in 1975. I live in Brentwood, Tennessee (just outside Nashville).
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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Thu, Oct 19, 2006
Total Distance
3.00

I'm getting slower!!!!

I tried running a fast mile today on the track. After a half mile in 2:37, I decided to give up. (I ended up jogging a couple of laps and running two quarter miles in 1:18 each.) This is somewhat frustrating because back in June, I ran a 5:15 mile on the same track (it was a race, which tends to make me run a little faster). I've definitely done a lot of running since June.

Maybe today's mile-attempt was slow because I went on a long run at a little faster pace than usual yesterday. I should probably also discipline myself to run the entire mile, instead of stopping early when I'm not going as fast as I'd hope.

I definitely I prefer long runs. I'd rather go out and explore a neighborhood and enjoy my run rather than killing myself running circles around a track. But I still want to break the 5 minute mile mark -- and hopefully by the end of the year. Oh well.

Comments
From Sasha Pachev on Thu, Oct 19, 2006 at 12:55:56

Bryan:

Your sustained daily mileage in the last few months was around 3 miles or so, or probably less. With that background, 8.5 miles is quite a bit of a stress on your body. It would make it very difficult to run a fast mile the day after.

I recommend sticking to 6 miles of 8:00 pace a day for two months to build aerobic fitness with no mile time trials. In a year of consistent training, you'll be able to break 5:00 three times in a row.

You only need to be able to run a 5:50 mile all out to go sub-3 in a marathon if you have proper endurance base. But if you don't, a sub-4:00 mile will not save you. You should start worrying about not being able to break 5:00 on the mile when your marathon PR gets up to 2:35-2:40 range.

For a speed time trial, I recommend running 100 meters after a thorough warmup (without one the risk of injury is very high, and you will not run as fast). It is not as stressful on your body as running the whole mile, and it gives you a better idea of your speed.

If you want to run a fast mile for its own sake, spend some time building a solid aerobic base, and then sharpen your speed with workouts like 8x400 in 70 seconds with 400 jog recovery.

From bryan on Thu, Oct 19, 2006 at 19:21:01

Thanks for the advice Sasha. And I guess I should work a little more on my base. 6 miles a day at 8 minute pace seems very easy though -- not really pushing myself. I guess it would strenghten my legs a little. I have always thought of there being two parts to running: cardiovascular and leg strength. Running 8 minute miles does not seem like it will help cardiovascular but rather just leg strength. But I guess I need to develop both. So your strategy is to develop leg strength first? I will give it a try. I do not like running fast miles anyway.

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