Picking It Up

When I first started to run for the sake of getting faster, I absolutely hated tempo runs.  They really exposed my weakness, which was holding a faster pace for more than just a few minutes.  Many years went by before I added tempo runs into my schedule, and that is the honest truth.  I think some people naturally gravitate towards running fast in workouts, and others are speed wimps, like me, that can go long and easy or short and fast, but are missing that in between gear.

I would say that around 2011, I become much more comfortable with tempo runs.  Why?  For one, they were always on my schedule, so I didn't have a choice.  But two, I was fit.  I realized that when I was fit, the tempo run, while hard, was always doable, and it became like a game to me to hold certain paces.  I could feel myself getting stronger.

I haven't quite revisited the tempo run yet, but I got one step closer today with some half marathon pace miles.  I determined my paces from Jack Daniels' formula, and made myself work.  I was absolutely terrified to pick up my pace in training.  Terrified of what?  I finally realized I was terrified I would be slow and couldn't do hold the pace.  It is the fear of the unfit.  It is lack of confidence.  It is the fear that prevents me from taking the first step, if I let it. 

Giving myself a pep talk to hit the road.  There is a lot of girl power in those Smash shorts and Enell Bra.  3 cheers for female owned companies!

 

After hemming and hawing, I got after it this morning and ran the paces.  Done and done.  It was a great starting point for some real training. 

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way."  ~ Babe Ruth