My Loco Training Partner
What goes on in your head when you're running?
What are you thinking?
I often get these questions quite a bit from non-runners who can't conceive the idea of spending 1-3 hrs on the road training. If you have ever gone out for a long run on your own, you just can't help but allow your mind to wander off. The mind works at light speed - one second it's thinking about running and the next it's thinking about when you will find time to repair the leaking kitchen faucet. My mind is no different from any other runners. I think about many things while I'm running. These thoughts keep me busy and entertained in some obscure way. I like to refer to these thoughts as my running partner in my head. My running partner can sometimes be helpful in keeping me from over training (i.e. going too fast or too long) during the onset of an injury. Pretty much, most of the time he is the antagonist of my entire running program. He wants to call it quits soon after I start my run. I want to go 10 but he wants to go 8. But, I have found ways to beat my running partner. One of these ways is by running 'out and back' courses instead of loops. I can usually convince my running partner into reaching the planned turnaround point. Sometimes I can even sneak in an extra mile or two on the turnaround. But as soon as I start doing loops, he wins hands down. I just can't count the number of times that he has convinced me to cut one and sometimes even 2 loops off my normal 2 mile loop course around my neighborhood. Suddenly, my 8 mile workout turns out to a 6 mile running log entry.
Well, recently during one particular training session at the local high school track, my running partner kept me somewhat entertained during my entire workout by quarreling with me. So much so that I decided to write about it. It all started that morning at work when I was updating my running log spreadsheet. Tuesdays are normally my speedwork days, so I knew exactly what was in store for me that evening at the track. The only question we needed to answer on the commute home was - what would my speedwork consist of. Would it be Yasso's 800s, 1-mile repeats, or the stair step workout. After some thought, we decided that it would be Yasso's 800s. Besides this would be the true test to see if I was ready to break 3 hours for the Houston Marathon. (Go here to find out what Yasso's 800s is all about) I dread speed work, but as most of us know it's part of a good training program and essential for becoming a faster runner. When I arrived home that evening (about 6:30ish PM), my running partner immediately stepped into his antagonist role. He kept stalling to head out the door, almost as if he was waiting for something to happen or waiting on some sort of shocking news from my wife to prevent me from being out for so long. If this were to happen this would essentially change our plans for speedwork. My speedwork would without a doubt become a normal run. He waited for the word - for all it would take is "I'm not going to keep your dinner warm, so be back soon", or "You need to talk to your son - he's been a bad boy today". It had worked all too often in the past. Fortunately, for me no issues came up. Instead, my wife said, "Have a nice run" and we were out the door.
We finally hit the track around 7:10. Luckily, the track was empty. We would have the track to ourselves - thanks to a cold night and people busy with holiday shopping, baking, etc... My partner and I knew exactly why we were out there - Yasso's 800s. I had already told him that I would be running 10 x 800's at 2:55 pace with a one lap recovery jog. We did our three mile warm up quietly without much discussion. But soon after, he started questioning my training session plans.
"It's getting kind of late maybe you should cut your 800s short."
Nah, there's plenty of time; we don't have to work tomorrow so we can take it easy - plus we haven't done speed work since Sunmart.
"Sunmart!, that's right, it's too soon after Sunmart to be doing speed work - you can easily get injured – maybe you haven’t fully recovered from Sunmart.”
Let' do a couple of 800s and see how we feel then we can decide from there.
“OK”.
First 800: 3:02. What's going on? It felt a lot faster than that.
“You're muscles are tight, you're still not loose, maybe you should only run 6 800's. You might get hurt if you run any more than that.”
Let's run another one. Usually the first couple 800's are slow. The body's still trying to get used to the faster pace. They normally get faster as you do a couple.
Second 800: 3:01. “You're expectations are too high, it's too cold out - maybe 2:55 is too fast for you or maybe you should just do 8.”
[The mind games are starting to work on me.]
Maybe I should just do 8 x 800s. I really need to do 10 though. Remember were going sub 3 hour marathon and we need to get a good speed workout today.
Third 800: 2:52. Now that's a little more like it. It feels good to get a good one in.
“That took a lot of effort though and you're breathing too hard.”
But it felt good - we can definitely do 10 today.
“It's taking awhile to recover during your recovery lap. I think 8 is the right number for you today.”
Maybe you're right.
“Besides if we only do 8, then after this next one it's down hill the rest of the way.”
But what happened to the sub 3 hour marathon and the good work out for today.
“You're in good condition - you don't have to do 10 800's to prove you can do a sub 3 marathon.”
But that's not the Yasso's 800 workout.
“Who cares! -- hey, someone else is here on the track.”
[NO IT'S NOT ANOTHER ONE OF ME]
It's a girl. She's running at a good pace.
“Yeah, they usually come out and run all out a couple of laps then they slow down or walk the rest of the time. See if you can lap her on the next 800. You need to look good. Keep your running form up and don't breathe too hard when you pass her.”
Oh! All of a sudden you want to run good now, huh?
[Start the 800]
“Your doing good. Keep it up. Don't slow down. Hey, I can see the Fiesta Grocery Store sign from here. You know I could probably run to the grocery store if I ever found a need to one of these days. Hey, there's that girl on the track - she looks pretty good from the back. Wonder what she looks like from the front. I'll check her out later. Finish on the straight - you're almost there.”
Shoot! Damn! I pressed my damn lap button on my watch too many times. Now we don't know what we ran on that last 800.
“Let's call it 2:56. It definitely felt like a 2:56.”
That felt good. At least we have some consistency.
“And you ran 2 laps and some change for every one of her laps.”
[Lots of calculations going on in my head to see what the other runner on the track is running.]
“That's it, were over the hill now. Last 4 800s and were finished. We’re almost done with this torture.”
Who says were doing 8. I thought we were going 10.
“But it's getting kind of late, I'm getting hungry and it's taking most of the recovery lap to recover - why put your body through all this pain?.”
Yeah, I guess you’re right. I really don't have to prove anything to myself today. Besides, it's Christmas time, we can take it easy for Christmas. All right! I'm convinced - let's do 8 800s. But let’s put some effort in these last four.
“OK”
Fifth 800: 2:54. “That took a lot of effort.”
Yeah but there’s only three more to go.
Sixth 800: 2:50. - Wow, I could tell I was going faster on that one. Hmmm, you know if I were to run 10 x 800s at this pace, I could run a 2:50 marathon. (according to Yasso’s 800s). That is fast.
Seventh 800: 2:53. ”Wow, good time but I am exhausted – only one more to go and were done.”
Too bad I'm not doing 10 800s. It would be cool if I could do 10.
“It's getting late though. It's probably pretty close to 8:30.”
Man, I am getting a good workout today. Speed work is hard but it definitely pays off. Hey, I need to start calculating how many miles I will run today for my log entry.
“Here comes the start point for the LAST ONE.”
Last 800: 2:56. ”Whew, I'm tired. I need to walk a bit of the recovery lap to catch my breath.”
That was a good workout.
“Can't wait to get home.”
That’s too bad I'm not running 10 today.
“OK, let's start jogging the recovery lap.”
You know, I bet I can do one more. I could try to run it all out and I could probably run a 2:30 or better. That’s a 5-minute-mile pace.
“You’re CRAZY.”
Yeah, but I know it will definitely be the last one and no way I will have any energy to run any more.
[Start 9th 800]
“This pace feels really fast. I can’t believe people run marathons at this pace.”
Don’t look at your watch after one lap. Try to stay consistent.
“I want this to be over!”
Almost there.
Ninth 800: 2:43. WOW, that felt really fast.
“I knew you couldn’t run a 2:30. Now we’re really done. “
Good workout!
“You managed to sneak one in on us. That was pretty tricky.”
[Big smile on my face - laugh out loud]
Wouldn't it be funny if I could write about all this stuff that's going on in my head during just one training session. I bet every runner goes through all this when they run solo.
[Finally, the big question of "What do you think about when you run?" could be partly answered.]
“What about the cool-down. Let’s do 1 lap and go home.”
We always cut our cool-down short. Let’s do 1 mile maybe 2.
“How many miles will that be? That’s too late to get home.”
[Calculations going on in my head]
9 x 800s, that’s 4½ miles plus 9 recovery laps is …
[More thinking and talking with my running partner continues ...]
I usually run with my "loco partner" on weekdays. On weekends, I let my partner take a break and I run with real people in the Houston area.
That’s why I’m the “Loco Runner".
