Big workout. 8 x mile (1:00 rests) in 5:13 avg.
5:14, 5:12, 5:16, 5:09, 5:15, 5:10, 5:16, 5:06
No sprints because my right peroneal tibial tendon is still a little sore, and I'm being cautious. The sprints put a lot more stress on it than LT pace.
I felt GREAT. I was tired by the end but never felt like I got bogged down by acid accumulation. Which is the point of the 1:00 rests. Coming in I wanted to average about 5:15 for the first 4 and work down to 5:10 for the last 4. I started way too hot with a 72/73 first quarter and then settled in. I finally have to admit that one direction of the levee is faster than the other, but I have no clue why. There might be 1 foot elevation change over the mile stretch I use. Usually I have a head wind to blame it on, but there was maybe a 1-2 mph breeze on the odds. I couldn't tell the difference either direction. But the same effort produced 5:10 going one direction and 5:15 the other.
There have been a few times in my running experience where training just feels magical. Once was after I moved from Utah and came down to sea level. Another was my first XC season with WWU. I'm in another one. Training is just clicking.
I don't have the blood data to back it up, but the common theme in each of these periods has been iron supplements. I got a little lazy with them the last few years, but this cycle I rededicated to taking them daily. I'm speaking a little prematurely as I don't have race results to support this feeling yet, but I think those are coming. It's clear from training that I'm in much better shape than just the training can explain.
Anyway, I'm on a bit of a post-run high and enjoying it. Looking forward to more work, and even more so to upcoming races.
| 