I’ve written a bit about my own running experiences, from wanting to increase my pace to my desire to run further distances. Previously, I wrote about a goal I had for March, which was to increase how far I’m running each workout with the goal being to increase my overall distance for the month. I’m pleased to report that I’m on track for hitting this target.
As of my last run, I’m sitting at a solid 30km, actually just shy of 31km. The running app I’ve been using does quite a good job of tracking my distance, speed, pace, while also estimating how many calories I’m burning per session. Now, that’s 30km after just five workouts. If I maintain this current schedule I should be able to hit at least 78km by the end of the month.
That 78km may edge closer to 80 given each run is a few hundred metres more than the 6km distance I’m aiming for each session. This actually gets me just 20km shy of my long-term goal of hitting 100km in a month. This will likely involve swapping out one run for one of double length – like a 12km run, though I think I could get away with 10km and change.
This increase to distance has actually had a positive effect on another goal of mine: trying to increase my pace. The latest workout saw my overall pace improve to 5:05 min/km, which – ignoring my PB 5km time – is an overall improvement to my average pace. I think the mental trick here is to conserve my energy on the first two kilometres and then really push through the third, which is the notoriously slow one for me (as it’s predominantly one kilometre of incline).
The biggest hurdle is certainly the mental one. I know my lungs have more in them and my legs don’t necessarily feel like they’re going to fall off (except after intense sprints), so it’s just convincing my mind to keep telling my feet to move faster and maintain the pace.
I’m actually looking forward to hitting the track again soon, as this will no doubt have a positive influence on my time given it is entirely flat. There’s no waiting for traffic, slowing down around sharp corners, dodging uneven pavement, or avoiding other walkers. But, because it is an “easier” surface it means I need to be extra vigilant to not let myself off the hook and to actually push myself harder than I do on the footpath.
Anyway, it certainly feels great to have set up a plan and be executing it and sticking to it. There’s still a whole lot left in March (I can’t believe it’s March again), and weather-permitting, I’ll be able to nail that 78km goal. There ave been some intense lightning and summer storms, which aren't exactly the safest to run in.
How about you my fellow Chatty runners and exercise aficionados? Have you set yourself any workout goals that you’ve been managing to hit or do you have some plans in the works you want to begin?
