Finally, a Tuesday workout to be proud of! Maybe it was the lack of a long training run this past weekend, but for once I felt like I was control of the workout, rather than the other way around.
The training plan called for the usual 10-20 minute warm up, followed by 10x400m repeats @ 77seconds, with a 400m rest interval. The cool down was the usual 10 minutes of easy running.
I actually warmed up for close to 30 minutes. I ran too far in one direction before I realized where I was and then had to turn back to where I planned on running the 400m repeats. Oh well, it gave me a chance to stretch my legs out and run some “striders” to prepare myself for the faster pace required.
The first 5x400m were all completed under the 77 seconds goal time – 74, 75, 76, 75, 76. I must say having 400m to recover definitely helped compared to previous weeks where the recovery period was shorter.
At this point in the workout I was pursued by 4 dogs that were running loose. Their owner was fairly close by but didn’t seem to have much control over them at all. Luckily they appeared to be quite friendly and just wanted to chase me, but after slowing to a walk they seemed to lose interest and ran back to their owner.
The dog episode must have upset my concentration as the next 400m was a slower 81 seconds, but I managed to regroup and finished with 4 x 77’s to finish the workout in good style. By no means was it easy, but tonight was the first time in ages I’ve achieved what was required in a Tuesday workout. Now I have to prepare myself for Thursday’s 8 mile tempo run….