So hoping to get another crack at this.Run tall, head up, looking ahead to your goal, 👀 on the prize.
Whether I do or can’t, thank you for setting this up.You have opened a door for me.Simon said on Strava, slow is sanity, speed is vanity.
First time ever I have pushed.It has been a big step, sounds ridiculous,but initially to run faster you first have to run fast.
Going to take a short break after the speed challenge and return to 100/200/400/800 for a couple of weeks to try and appreciate the involvement in sprinting.
Speed is not necessarily vanity. Speed is also individual, and it can help us improve our running. But we must be careful with it, and in all honesty seeing people struggling this time is making me question the relevance of this challenge 🤔
This challenge has been great for too Abi. Yes I've had problems but it's made me focus on something I find difficult and work through the reasons why x
I seem to run that much better after performing poorly at a race. Today was a nice surprise. No walk break, and 9 short sprints of increasing length. Time spent on my 4 km track run = 25:41 - i.e. a pace of 6:18. I think that's 31 seconds better than last week.
I haven't seen times like that in a long time, so thanks for pushing me!
Sorry, I will not be submitting a week 5 result. I ran 10k on Monday as usual with the club but we did the route in reverse, a totally different kettle of fish. Can't compare apples and oranges so I'll stick with my 4 weeks of data.
I have had such an interesting 5 weeks.Have learnt so much.Thank you for that and setting it up.
As you know my other world chosen route ,in the park,delivered for me, an other world 4:44. ie, Ave 28.4 secs/100m.
So after getting advice on here, gps, zig zag avoidance,straight open route, etc, I have spent time exploring alternative routes and played with a few.
I have certainly gone from a trotting 8-9 mins/km band into a cantering 6-7 min/km band and just maybe into a galloping 5-6min/ km band.🤔
Already recorded my third PR in a row, discounting of course the other world result. Yesterday 6:44 or Ave 40 secs/100m.
Sorry for all the detail,but this novice is trying to embrace reality,while capturing self continuous improvement and the delights of the gift of running.
So here is hopefully my plan for the remaining 3 days.
Run the other world route again today.Run the self imposed open straight route on Sunday.I have a 6:44 in the bag from yesterday.
For me Abi all the data is good at my stage.I just want to know how fast I can travel over all ground, by any means,without comparison.It is exciting, constructive and very beneficial also to see other runners achievements, journeys and solutions.💥
The quicker the better, eye balls on stalks and eye on the prize.💪👀🤣
Will let you know what my week 5 entry will be.Since writing this, been out and ran 7:15, will not be posting that, but it clears up my pace confusion.🙈🤣.
There is one thing that has been bugging me a bit, and it's this business with eyeballs on stalks. Now, I do understand what Lordi 's getting at (I think it was Mr Lordi that coined the expression?) - the strain of the effort figuratively forcing the eyeballs from their sockets!
But there is a certain inappropriate animal species, famous for having their eyes on stalks... 😉🤣💥
OK, the final week! Tried prepping by doing some intervals on Tuesday and speeding up my hill circuits on Thursday. I now realise that’s a good idea but not in the final week (case of remembering to engage brain before trying to think)!
The first k was in sunshine which is why I was wearing sunglasses in the rain. Still, I deployed my strategy for rain (“get wet”) and got on with the run. Anyhow, I remembered to take it easy and avoid hill climbs on the warm up then went fast on the first part of the 1k (slightly downhill) and did my best to keep my pace over the rest of it. Maintaining my pace felt easier this week which is probably a combination of being fitter and putting in less effort? The resulting time was 4:34 which is 1s slower than my best time (in week 2), total distance 17k.
Still, this weeks “warm up” was 3k longer that in week 2 so I think I’ve done OK to only drop 1s. On the plus side, this run earnt me my 10 mile badge (shiny new badge should be visible against my name)!
Think I’ll carry on speeding up for my final k but I’m going to try and find one that’s a bit flatter and work on doing it at a more consistent pace. I need to add another 4k for my HM at the end of September so no pressure there (I’m aiming to get to around 20k by the end of June which will give me three months to work on speed and hills).
Congrats to everyone on the challenge and cheers to Abi for organising it!
I tried a couple of runs on Sunday and one this morning.Combination of Anglesey windy conditions and me feeling stiff and tight.Not able to post in the 5’s.
But although I can not yet sustain it over one km and I am very pleased to see the start of 30sec/100m over 400m and half km.
This is giving me such hope and plenty to work on to progress to a sub 30min 5k.
I have learned such a lot Abi being on SSC and all the magic forums.
On the IC still and was a bit disappointed with my last result of the Challnge.
As you know I got the twinge, Achilles/Soleus muscle... and I had to pull up... I am sure I would have made a just over 5 minute K. But, I didn't... so my last result will have to be, Week 5.......is.....5.57.
But on reflection I am thrilled. This challenge has been great, thank you. I has focused me and shown me what am capable of when I challenge myself... and push that little bit harder.
When I started this, my 1K after climbing off the IC after the pollen allergy! was over 8 minutes.... but, by taking it steadily and building up properly.. I got to my fastest 1K ever...
So success!!!
Thanks for doing this.. it has helped me enormously! x
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