Do the Speed Work!
Hey there!
Guess what time it is? Yep, it's "Do the Speed Work" o'clock!
So, I'm diving into my 20-week build for the summer races, and after the thrilling "lottery" season (I was 1 for 2), it feels amazing to slap some races on the calendar and get down to some serious training. Now, my training looks like what I give the runners I coach; it starts with a fitness-building block, and you know what that means... INTERVALS!
I totally get it – when intervals show up on the schedule, there's this collective groan, right? "Why do I have to run fast? I'm an Ultrarunner!" But deep down, we know they're the secret sauce to great fitness. It's like convincing yourself to put down the garbage food and pick up the healthy stuff – necessary for a healthy running life!
And here's the thing, after the initial warmup and hitting that first 3-minute interval, magic happens. My body wakes up, remembers the thrill of running fast, and suddenly, it's like a breath of fresh air. Sure, it's hard – sweat flying, heavy breathing – but by the time those 3 minutes are up, the slow recovery feels like a gift from God.
I love the cycle of it. You catch your breath, savor the reprieve, and then BOOM, you're ready to dive into the next round. Yesterday, I did this dance six times followed by a sweet 30 minutes at endurance pace.
By the end, my body was tired – that good kind of tired. Mentally, I filed away this workout as my secret weapon for when those pre-race doubts sneak in. Looking at the heart rate/pace chart in Training Peaks, those interval peaks stood out like victory flags. I showed it to Jennifer, and we shared a moment of, "Yeah, work was definitely done!"
So, here's the golden nugget of wisdom: Do the speed work. Physically, it's your fitness architect. Mentally, it's the doubter-dispeller. And emotionally, those peaks on the chart will make you smile – probably after a well-deserved shower and some post-run grub.
Keep rocking those intervals!
On the journey (with intervals),
David
|
P.S. Mine Your Ultra Potential! If you're considering running your first or furthest ultra or looking to take your running to the next level, I'd love to chat with you about it! Click here to learn more! |
Run the Riot
Greetings Fellow Distance Junkies! When it comes to ultra-endurance races, having a solid support crew can be as crucial as your training plan. Whether you're tackling a 50-mile race or pushing the limits with a 200-miler like the Summit 200, a dedicated crew can be the difference between reaching the finish line or calling it quits. I've been fortunate to have amazing crews in many of my races when I run with a crew. Jennifer and my parents have been amazing in keeping me moving and sane in...
As runners, we've all faced our fair share of challenges, both physical and mental. One of the most common obstacles to putting in all the miles we want to run? Knee pain. It can be frustrating, discouraging, and even debilitating. If you listen to the podcast, you know I recently had my knee scoped about 7 weeks ago. I’m getting my mileage back up for High Lonesome 100 in July! It’s coming quickly! In our recent conversation on the podcast, John Calabrese shared his experiences as an...
An Ultra Running Parent’s Anecdotal Guide to Sleep… or Lack of. By Coach Chad Hetrick I’m not a doctor. This is not medical or sleep advice. Talk to a doctor if you can’t sleep. It could be something serious…. Sunday 8:22 PM – Put 2 year old daughter to bed. Sunday 8:30 PM – 6 year old son goes to bed. Sunday 9:00 PMish – in bed and asleep to get ready for a big week of running and work. Sunday 11:42 PM – 2 year old wakes up screaming and I attempt to console her. Sunday 11:55 PM – All...