Very hard workout today. Initially I was told that the
workout would be 12 x 800m on the 4 min, between 5k and 10k pace. We met
at the track and went out for a 5k warm up. At the workout it was Alison,
three or so of her pacers, Roberto, and I. It was 28C (82F)/85% humidity at the
start and 29C (84F)/80% humidity by the end. Oppressively hot & humid, with an 18-21
km/h wind. I was really nervous for this workout after Ali told me that
Coach had told her yesterday that the pace would be 2:40. Crazy! So
when he said 2:50 when briefing us I felt much better. He also said we
would go on the 4 min for 4, then 4:30 for the next four, then on the 5 min for
the next four, due to the humidity and heat. So our rest increased
slightly over time. After only two reps I already felt yucky and like
this would not be such a great workout. My splits for the first reps
were: 2:50, 2:50, 2:49, 2:50, 2:54. I felt so gross and done after
#5, so Coach allowed me to sit out everyone else’s number 6. I took a gu (I had also been sipping a sports
drink between most reps because of the profuse sweating). I jumped in again and my #6 felt much better
2:49. On #7 I felt fine starting, the
rest seemed ok, but after 150m I felt a side cramp come on which only got worse
through this rep and I hobbled in at 3:03.
It was bad. Roberto hung back
with me and advised me to stop, but I think he thought I had a leg cramp. I took the next one off, and got more rest,
and the cramp went mostly away. There
were now only 3 more reps for everyone and if I could do them then I would have
10. I did them and survived them ok:
2:49, 2:49, 2:43 (Coach told us to do a 2:45 on the last one).
So while this was less than a stellar workout, I am happy
that I stuck in there and did what I could for the day and the conditions. Alison kicked butt on the workout, and this
is her last hard one before a marathon in 12 days. | 