Monday, March 12, 2007

Last Week's Training: Dismal Failure

52¼ miles for the week

M – 4¾ miles, recovery run, pace 8:36 minutes per mile, beautiful starry sky and 40°F at 4AM Very cold for March!
Tu – 5¾ miles tempo run, average pace 6:41 mpm with the measured “Dow-Minus” two miles in 13:09 and 12:54 (at least I didn’t slow down, but these really should be faster especially on such a nice morning), 51°F at 4AM
W – 5¾ miles with 3x1Mile/400rec, 7:02 mpm overall pace (Miles in 5:59, 5:57, and 5:53), 61°F at 7PM
Th – 4 miles, recovery run, pace 8:25 minutes per mile, 56°F at 4AM
F - 8¾ miles, very easy at 8:56 mpm, I meant to run shorter but my dog wanted to run too, getting humid again 72°F at 10AM
Sa – 9½ miles with a 10K Race, race at 6:31 pace, sunny with some fog, 62 to 64°F in Houston from 8AM (it was 72°F down on the coast where I live at 8AM)
Su – 13¾, average pace 7:17 mpm, 72°F mostly cloudy to partly cloudy, starting at 10:30AM. During Sunday's run I saw a cottonmouth in classic cottonmouth pose, coiled up and ready to strike with fangs exposed and white mouth wide open!


OK, it's time for an honest assessment. My racing performance lately has stunk. I've been just plain awful. How can someone race a 10K slower than what they ran 10K during a marathon? I just did it.
Why?

My weight is well up in the 180s. That isn't where I should be. I've been eating way too much junk. Those 4 for a dollar candy bars are killing me.

I'm supposed to be training for short races. My mileage has been down, but my intensity hasn't improved. I've run pretty well on my medium long runs but I've been lazy on my tempo runs.

I've gotten negative too early during my races. Racing isn't easy and until you overcome the initial discomfort you can't reach your best. When things get a litte difficult, I've gotten lazy and just struggled in to the finish.


I really need to do something different before the 8K race.

2 comments:

GB said...

Nuke, you may think you stink right now, but damn you inspire me! You're so fast! Can't wait to see what you do differently for the 8K. I'm hoping to learn some good tricks.

Mir said...

Hey Nuke, thanks for stopping by. I hope things start to look up for you soon. It sounds like you are just in a rut and ready to break out soon. I'll stay tuned and keep my fingers crossed for you!