Yesterday Hal Higdon wanted me to run 10 km, with a couple of km at marathon pace. And today, just 6km easy.
They couldn't have been more different. Well, they could have been, but saying so has less dramatic effect.
So yesterday, to start it off, my S3 Footpod, for my Polar HRM, decided to take a day off. That thing, I swear, is the worst piece of circuitry I've ever used. For no reason what so ever, it just didn't register. I replaced all the batteries, multiple times, and nothing I could say or do would get it to be read by the watch. I'd replace it but I refuse to buy another one just now given the amount I was swearing.
But that set up something interesting. I was supposed to go out and run a "mile" whatever that's supposed to be, at marathon pace. I was counting on the footpod to do the measuring for me since I having marked out any set distance around here.
Instead, I cruised on out to the 5km turnaround, which I do know exactly where that is, at a comfortable, but steady pace. I got to 5km at the 29 minute mark. Not bad. My legs felt good, as did the rest of me.
Turning around, I had planned to run for 10 minutes at what I guessed would be marathon pace, and then shut it down the rest of the way. I got to the 10 min mark and just kept going, as I was feeling solid, my HR around 150.
I did the last 5km in 25 minutes, 5 min/km, a decent amount faster then I wanted to. It was a very good feeling, probably my best run in the last year.
Today was a different story, although much shorter.
My footpod suddenly came back to life. For no apparent reason. I didn't kick it, or even swear at it. It just magically started working. Bollocks.
But my easy 6km felt like crap. I had no spring in my step and my quads were tired. At least my heart rate wasn't elevated. I guess that's what I get for running too hard.
One more tempo run tomorrow, a bit of speed next week, a couple medium length runs, and then marathon time.
Time to go stretch, go to bed, and get some rest.
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