09Mar2018 - 8 miles no set pace
09th March 2018
In: Running 2018
After the wobble on Tuesday, Alex first suggested that I try to run the second half of today's 8 miles faster than the first, so start at 11mm and try to do the second half in 10:30mm. This was still worrying me though as I really didn't think I could do it. Alex asked if removing any pace pressure would help, and I thought it would. That would mean it would be like the runs I used to do in January with the big group. I'd just turn up and run at whatever pace they were running at, and not look at my watch at all. I used to enjoy those Sunday runs so this really changed my outlook on the 8 miles and I started to look forward to it, even though I would be on my own.
I had taken the day off work, mainly so that I could run without having the pressure of having to do it in a certain time. I also imagined I might get quite depressed afterwards and so didn't want to be at work in that state. So only after a few weeks' running, I've taken a day off to do my "long" run.
After toast and honey, I set off a bit later than planned at about 9:30. With no pace in mind, I just ran and felt that if I needed to, I would slow. I started running at about 10mm and was looking at my pace only to make sure I wasn't going crazy fast. It felt good so I kept going at the same speed, some miles a little faster. I knew the route as I was running the same as Sunday, so I knew that my sticking point would be 6 miles - the mile alongside the race course was to follow. I know I can do 6 miles at 10mm because I can do 10k runs at this pace. Anything after that at 10mm is unknown and that is what panics me. I did use the positive thoughts and breathing exercises that I'd developed at track on Wednesday and I think this helped. Just before the end of mile 5, I had some raisins, thinking 10 minutes would be enough to get a bit more sugar to my brain to cope with miles 7 and 8. I kept telling myself that mile 7 would hurt, but it was uphill so it was ok if I slowed a bit. And afterwards, mile 8 would start with a massive downhill to recover. And the end of mile 8 was the end of the run. This really, really helped me get through mile 7. On Sunday all I could think of was how many more miles I'd have to do after getting to the top of the hill and it slowed me down mentally. Today I didn't have that and I just kept going. I managed mile 7 in 10:07 minutes and was amazed. I kept going and pushed really hard on mile 8 to finish. I had no negative thoughts and was really proud of what I'd done on my own.
I jogged/walked just under a mile home and was really surprised to see my average pace was 9:53mm. Something is obviously pulling me back when I have to try to stick to a certain pace. I get so negative when I don't manage it and that just starts everything crumbling down. Running at the pace I feel comfortable with seemed to work a lot better. I still am worried about Maidenhead. I now know I am ok for 8 miles at 10mm but I don't know that I can do more, and I don't know that I will be able to do 7 and 8 knowing that I won't finish at 8. I won't do 10 miles at 10mm in training so race day will be an unknown and I don't think I like that very much.
Mile splits and the route
I had taken the day off work, mainly so that I could run without having the pressure of having to do it in a certain time. I also imagined I might get quite depressed afterwards and so didn't want to be at work in that state. So only after a few weeks' running, I've taken a day off to do my "long" run.
After toast and honey, I set off a bit later than planned at about 9:30. With no pace in mind, I just ran and felt that if I needed to, I would slow. I started running at about 10mm and was looking at my pace only to make sure I wasn't going crazy fast. It felt good so I kept going at the same speed, some miles a little faster. I knew the route as I was running the same as Sunday, so I knew that my sticking point would be 6 miles - the mile alongside the race course was to follow. I know I can do 6 miles at 10mm because I can do 10k runs at this pace. Anything after that at 10mm is unknown and that is what panics me. I did use the positive thoughts and breathing exercises that I'd developed at track on Wednesday and I think this helped. Just before the end of mile 5, I had some raisins, thinking 10 minutes would be enough to get a bit more sugar to my brain to cope with miles 7 and 8. I kept telling myself that mile 7 would hurt, but it was uphill so it was ok if I slowed a bit. And afterwards, mile 8 would start with a massive downhill to recover. And the end of mile 8 was the end of the run. This really, really helped me get through mile 7. On Sunday all I could think of was how many more miles I'd have to do after getting to the top of the hill and it slowed me down mentally. Today I didn't have that and I just kept going. I managed mile 7 in 10:07 minutes and was amazed. I kept going and pushed really hard on mile 8 to finish. I had no negative thoughts and was really proud of what I'd done on my own.
I jogged/walked just under a mile home and was really surprised to see my average pace was 9:53mm. Something is obviously pulling me back when I have to try to stick to a certain pace. I get so negative when I don't manage it and that just starts everything crumbling down. Running at the pace I feel comfortable with seemed to work a lot better. I still am worried about Maidenhead. I now know I am ok for 8 miles at 10mm but I don't know that I can do more, and I don't know that I will be able to do 7 and 8 knowing that I won't finish at 8. I won't do 10 miles at 10mm in training so race day will be an unknown and I don't think I like that very much.
Mile splits and the route