I have been looking forward to this run all week! First speed workout after marathon! Met Josse and Kent at the mouth of Provo Canyon, then we drove up about 4 miles to Vivian Park. There we met Steve from Heber and ran up that South Fork Canyon for 4 miles, then back down 1 mile to the start of the 10 mile race we'll be doing in two weeks. My goal was to do a six mile tempo in 6:00-6:15 pace. I also wanted to check out the course and better set my expectations for the race. I am also going to be quicker tempos through July to try to quicken my marathon pace by October. It turns out this course is 3 miles of good downhill, then you hit the Provo River trail, and the trail is downhill but doesn't feel like it. Mile 1 - 6:07, Steve and I set our pace, Kent and Josse are behind us taking it easier (ok so Steve was taking it easy too, it's just me who's going to kill herself today)
Mile 2 - 5:58 Mile 3 - 5:56 already starting to work in this mile to keep pace Mile 4 - 6:10, much flatter, Steve and I don't see the turnoff for the trail at the beginning of this mile at Vivian Park, but find it pretty quick Mile 5 - 6:22 (tempted to lie on this split :) , but it is what it is) a struggle the whole mile, wanting to quit, tons of walking pedestrians we get to weave through. This mile shows I am not fully recovered from the marathon.
Mile 6 - 5:58, see the light at the end of the tunnel and am able to pull out another sub 6, 36:33 for 6 miles or 6:06 ave
We stop the tempo and I cry a little. That's when I know I gave what I got. It felt pretty similar to a 10K pace, though I think I could have gone a little faster in a race scenario. So though I would love to break 1:00 in the 10 mile race coming up, this workout says I'm not ready to :( I am guessing I am closer to 1:02. The race seems like it will be hard, like a bait and switch, first three miles fast downhill then more rolling/downhill but much less grade. We ran the rest of the run easy, though we did clock a 7:15 in one of the remaining miles. A special thanks to Josse for organizing the run and driving us up, and to Kent for driving us back to Josse's car. It was nice to get to know Steve C.
Ave pace 7:41 Jamba juice (orange/strawberry/banana with protein) and pumpkin chocolate chip bread from Great Harvest on the way home :) Ice bath at home. Good times! |