After yesterday’s failed attempt at the Yasso 800s – a popular pre-marathon test which allegedly will accurately predict your marathon finish time – I was keen to have another go today. Also, with Saturday’s Dismal Swamp Stomp Half Marathon fast approaching, I wanted to keep Thursday and Friday free from any quality runs to leave me as fresh as possible for the Half. I figured the Yasso’s would be a good test for the brand new Newton Gravity shoes too!
I jogged the mile and a half to the local HS track and immediately ran the first 800m – no time to spare as I was on a lunch break and couldn’t hang around stretching and all that good stuff. To accurately predict a marathon finish time, the idea is to run 10 x 800m with a 400m jog recovery. The past couple of weeks I’ve run a fast 4 x 800m but today’s workout was a whole different animal – I’d need to wisely pace myself otherwise I’d never get to the end of the session. Back to repeat #1 – it came in at 2:49 which was about a second slower than I’d hoped to average for the 10 x 800m. Not a problem, plenty of time to ease into the workout.
I jogged one lap of the track to recover but quickened my pace as I hit the start line. I enjoyed a nice tailwind in the first couple of hundred meters, but coming off the bend before the home straight the wind hit me and tried to slow me down. I shortened my stride, quickened my cadence and pressed on. Repeat #2 – 2:46. Excellent!
After the third 800m, I was noticeably winded. The split was another 2:46 but I had to work hard in the blustery conditions to make the time. A driving rain had started, and in my mind I told myself I’d be happy to get through 6 x 800s instead of the planned 10. I’m typically not one to wimp out, but with Saturday’s race in the back of my mind, I didn’t want to do anything foolish.
Repeat #4 and #5 were both completed in 2:46 – pretty consistent if nothing else. I figured I would do one more and then call it a day, but amazingly in the sixth repeat I got a second wind. I did this one in 2:45 and in all honesty, it wasn’t that tough. The Newtons seemed to be doing their job and helped propel me forward around the track.
Repeat #7 was the quickest to date – 2:44 – but the wind had picked up and it took a lot out of me. I tricked myself with a “just one more” and ran an even-paced 2:45. Could I do two more and finish off the workout? Yeah, let’s go for it…
#9 was a tough 2:45, but I knew when it was over I’d only have 2 more laps of the track to run. I made the most of the 400m recovery and kicked off for the final 800m – keen to get it done. I finished with a 2:44 for an average 2:45.6 – a Yasso 800 lifetime best by a long, long way.
I’m not naive enough to think a 2:45 or 2:46 marathon is possible at Frederick next month, but today’s workout does give me confidence that I’m in pretty good shape. I’m also positive the Newton shoes were a major factor in the speedy workout and hopeful that Saturday’s half marathon will be another indicator my current fitness. Bring it on…..
Stats: 10.63 miles ~ 1:10:04 ~ 6:37/mile
Splits:2:49 2:46 2:46 2:46 2:46 2:45 2:44 2:45 2:45 2:44