The past few days I have been having flu like symptoms. Yesterday it got bad enough that I decided to skip the run. I still went to work though so I don't think my body got the full rest it needed. Last night I had the worst sleep I've had in months. I kept waking up to cough up some really yummy looking stuff :P Even though I didn't sleep too well, I felt a whole lot better than the previous day. Good enough to give speed work a go.
I got to the park a little later than normal and started my first warm up mile. I felt pretty good. Hmmm, maybe my speed workout will be ok. At the end of the 1st mile I saw Sean and he recommended that I do the speed work tomorrow. I told him that I think I could do it and be fine. During my second warm up mile I could clearly see that I wasn't a 100% physically. It didn't matter because psychologically I had already committed to doing the work out.
Today's speed workout would consist of 4x1 mile at 5:05-5:11 pace with 3 minutes rest. On a healthy day I think I could do this workout. But could I do it today? I started my first rep and everything seemed fine. I seemed to run on pace except at the end I fell off pace just a little bit. I sped up to make it in at 5:10. I didn't feel too winded or tired. So I thought to myself, I have a chance.
The second rep went in similar fashion to the first rep. I ran on pace until the end and had to speed up to make it in at 5:11. I felt some fatigue but mentally and physically I thought I had some more in the tank to hold me through the workout.
During the third rep fatigue clearly set in. It wasn't noticeable physically but I noticed that I wasn't running on pace despite similar effort to the first two reps. I managed to speed up to keep it close 3 quarters to the end but I just didn't have anything at the end and finished at 5:17.
I did my best to stretch and keep loose for the fourth rep. I knew that I probably didn't have a good chance at hitting my mark but I thought maybe I could hit 5:17 again. So I started the last rep. Boy was it very clear that I didn't have anything in the tank. Breathing-wise I wasn't having any difficulties. But my legs lost a lot of their power and were not carrying me as far per stride as they were previously. I realized that this rep was hopeless a quarter of the way in but it is very hard for me to give up what I start. So I just kept plugging away making sure I wasn't over straining to the point of injury. I finished at 5:24.
It's pretty clear to me that I wasn't physically up to the task of speed work today. Maybe if I had done it tomorrow I would be in better shape physically to do it, or maybe not. Right now as I type I definitely still feel a little weak but I think I'm on my way to getting over this bug. Here are the splits:
4x1 mile @ 5:05-5:11 with 3 minutes recovery
| Mile 1 | 5:10 |
| Mile 2 | 5:11 |
| Mile 3 | 5:17 |
| Mile 4 | 5:24 |
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2 comments:
Grasshopper. Many people in Houston believe they have the flu (or flu like symptoms) when what they are REALLY fighting are allergies. I use to get sick almost every spring, but haven't been sick in maybe five years now - not even the common cold. FWIW the steps I take that seem to work:
1) Do not sleep with the windows open - it allows all that pollen and crud into the home for you to breath.
2) Wash the pillow cases and sheets every weekend.
3) At the first sign of a sore throat I start gargling frequently with either mouth wash or warm salt water to kill any gunk that may be trying to colonize.
Oh wise one,
Thanks for the sage advice. #3 definitely sparked my interest. Although I've heard people add baking soda along with the salt.
Bill
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