A few of you know that since the marathon in December, I've had a hard time getting motivated to do much running. So I signed up for a class taught by the folks at Luke's Locker to get me back in the groove and maybe give me some speed for marathon training.
This morning we finished week 4 of The Quick Beat program. The program is specifically designed to get you to be a faster runner. The speed will show up mostly in your 5k and 10k times, but it should also transfer over to distance running.
Initially, it's been a little hard getting back into it. The runs are short, and they're supposed to be faster than usual. It's been cold (yes - I am a wimp when it comes to the weather, having lived in Texas for 10 years, but 40 degrees is still cold). Luckily the program doesn't start until 8:00 a.m. (so it's light) and we've been lucky not to have rain, or sleet or "wintry mix" - so far.
While the program is not as structured as the marathon training, and the coaches seem to be less specific about their plan every Saturday, today was actually a pretty good morning. Here's what we did:
Started with 1/2 mile warm-up over grassy terrain, then some stretching. Then we went out for a 30 minute tempo run. Tempo is supposed to be about 20 seconds per mile slower than your 5k pace (assuming your running hard for the 5k). Because I'm pushing a little harder, 30 minutes starts to hurt at about the 20 minute mark. Speed is not my comfort area. But distance didn't used to be either so I have hope. After the run we did an extra mile cool down - very slow jog and came back to the parking lot for drills.
Drills are running exercises that help you be more efficient and more effective. We do skips and bounding, we do calf raises and leaps and butt kicks and things that look like dance moves. Drills make you lighter and quicker, even though today I felt like a lumbering bear....
I never took track in high school or college. I never ran anywhere. I read about people who go out and do their first marathon in under 4 hours and I don't understand it - who are those people? I think they're the people who started running before their 40th birthday. The ones who did a little track work once a long time ago. The ones who do drills.
I like the challenge of this class. I'm hoping it will make me a lighter, faster, more efficient, better runner.
I'll keep you posted.
Up and running - again - posted at Sun, 24 Feb, 11:10 Central
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