Thursday, February 3, 2011

Power Station

Day 4: Today is my first TEMPO RUN of half-marathon training.  It's sub-zero temps here today, so I head down to the basement treadmill while the little girlies nap.  Easy warmup for first two miles, then ramped it up to 6.4mph on the 'mill, which equates out to a 9:22 pace.  Hold that pace for 3 miles... Whew, hold on Jess!

As I completed the 1st tempo mile, I surveyed what I have come to call my "power station"... the treadmill dash.  I'm kinda silly and decorate it up.  Hey, whatever gets you through the boredom of treadmill running, right?!   So take a look... No power station is complete without posted goals, quotes, photos, big screen remote control (Fox-News or Sex & The City reruns are my viewing choice), huge water bottle (gift from hubby's last deployment), hand weights (for a punishment run after a bad meal! Just try it - you'll sweat like a pig!), built-in fan (absolute must for me!), and even Life Savers candies hiding behind the weights (for an energy boost on a long run).  I change it up from time to time, but that's where I go to work...


Okay... so by the 2nd tempo mile, I'm starting to feel a muscle twinge in the back of my right thigh that throbbed right to the end.  I'm hoping it's nothing, but to be sure, I'm icing it now as I type.  Amazingly I finished all three miles at the prescribed short-tempo pace!!  The harder I push myself, the more and more astonished I am at the results.  Finished up with a 3/4 mile cooldown.
TOTAL:  5.75 miles in 57 minutes.

Up Next (Friday):  REST day with Yoga.   (Saturday)  LONG RUN - 7 miles at a consistent 10:24 pace.  Pace seems a little slow compared to the runs I've been through this week.  I think I'm gonna start to look forward to the "long run" more than anything on this new training program!

6 comments:

  1. Love your inspiring treadmill decorations!! Keep up the great work, Girl! : )

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi! Just found you via Just Trying is for Little Girls. I'm starting my Run Less Run Faster program next week and am NERVOUS so it's nice having other folks out there to inspire :) Our schedules are similar - training for a half marathon in the spring (Indy mini marathon) and then training for my first marathon in the fall (Portland, OR). Good luck & enjoy your rest day today!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I LOVE what you've done with your 'mill. What a great idea! I may have to copy you. I promise to give you credit, though. :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't have a race in IL lined up yet but will be in St. Charles for a wedding the weekend of July 16 and I also have some work training that I'll be going to in Chicago in May or sometime later in the year. Probably easier for me to line up a race when I'm out for work...but we'll see. I might be able to get the wedding party to sign up for a race the next day??

    ReplyDelete
  5. Awesome treadmill! Once again, way to hit the goal times. This plan is going to work I tell ya!

    ReplyDelete
  6. OMG!! I love this so much!! What an awesome idea! :) I look forward to following your training...keep up the great work! :)

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your feedback and comments!