On Tuesdays, Patty from My No-Guilt Life and April from Run The Great Wide Somewhere are going to be hosting a Running Blog Meet up so of course I am going ot participate. Make sure to visit some other blogs from their websites!
Since Patty was one of the starters, I am going to piggy back on a post she did last week that inspired me. She ran a mile without stopping and had great results. I haven't run a mile without stopping in ALMOST 5 YEARS! Crazy huh? Once i realized this, I decided I had to do it.
I would plan for 2.2 mile run. A short rest warmup walk and a short rest in the middle. I would do the first mile without stopping and then do the second mile in intervals and compare the 2.
As I was getting ready to run, I was VERY NERVOUS. I hadn't run without stopping since 2010, when I was so injured while running the DL Half the first time. I knew I could do it though.
So after stalling by going grocery shopping and prepping food, off I went.
BUTTERFLIES in my stomach! Crazy.
So I stretched before and then did 1 minute walking before taking off. I used my new 5k/10k playlist (post coming soon on its awesomeness) and off I went. It was 10am.
uh oh! Shoe came untied. Like really. Ugh. Stopped after 45 sec and tied it and off I went.
I knew I could run into trouble with lights so I decided if a light stopped me, I would just turn wherever I was and try and cross again.
Without intervals, I felt like I was going slow because I had to hold back a bit. Also, sun was shining bright (June gloom burns off early in Pasadena) and knew I should have brought a hat. Oh well. I kept strong. Oh did I mention it was a bit humid? And I didn't bring water? Rookie mistake!
I was good for about .7 of a mile and then a light. so I turned and decided to cross farther up and it worked. I hadn't stopped yet!
Finally farther down, I heard the 1 mile complete of nike plus! I did it! I knew I had a bit more to go (about .15) so I guessed and I guessed right! I finished in about 10:15. Not bad for my first mile nonstop in 5 years! Not to mention, I still had a bit of gas in the tank too.
Onto to plan 2, I walked for a bit and switched into 2:30/:30 intervals. WOW those intervals were killer after 1 full mile. But I pushed on. I was able to finish strong(I was able to push it into the 9 min category).
It looks like my interval may have been slightly faster but I do know over the course of a race, my intervals would definitely be faster as I could not mention my form and time at a 10 min mile.
What did I learn? I definitely have more endurance than I thought and would love to make a goal of running a 5k straight in the next year.
However the effect on my body was insane. I was TIRED. and not to mention hungry! Hungry all day. But also jittery because I have coffee in the morning so being tired but alert is not fun!
I know see what my body does on intervals. I knew what it does but now I really know. And I like them. I like the way I feel on them. I like how I get a good workout in without being exhausted or feeling like I will eat the whole house.
I do plan on doing this again without the caffeine so I can see my time and compare.
Have you ever challenged yourself to see how fast you run a mile?