I’ve been running as a form of exercise for years now. It’s something I try to do at least twice a week at a minimum. While I have improved over the past year, I feel like I’m hitting a kind of plateau with my overall speed and pace.
Back in my teen years, I started running with my mum on an 8km track we mapped out in the car. The route wasn’t flat, and actually involved a few hills and steep inclines, which likely attributed to my overall time being 55 minutes to an hour. Since then, I’ve taken to going on smaller (roughly 4km) runs around my neighbourhood.
Last year, I decided that I wanted to make it more of an even number to work with, so I mapped out a 5km route in my area using paths and roads that were reasonably flat with little elevation. I’ve now got a decent 5km “track”. The only downside is that there are still some changes in elevation and a few places where I need to cross a road (thankfully they’re almost always empty of cars). This consistent and flat route means I can focus more on form and pace than the exertion of running up a steep hill.
In saying all this, I’ve hit a point where the only way I can get a sub 25 minute time is if I absolutely push myself, running for the entire thing. Right now, my best time sits at 24m36s. Most of the time, I’m hitting in the mid-25 minute bracket. The only time I slow down past the 26 minute mark is if I’m running the day after a leg day.
Do any Shackers here have any running goals or means of improving time? I’m trying to do sprint-jogs at least once a week, but damn it if they aren’t the most brutal thing. Perhaps I just need to mentally get over the fact it’s exhausting and just continue doing sprint-jogs until I condition myself better.
I’ve also found a good running track at the local sports centre complete with 8 painted lanes. I do enjoy going there and running laps until I hit the 10km mark and seeing how my time and pace compares. I don’t really have a desire to do a marathon, I guess all of this is just for personal growth and improvement.
