Morning friends! As you guys know, I ran the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon a few weeks ago. I’ve been keeping things pretty low key on the running front ever since – the first week because I was super sore, and the following weeks because I just wasn’t feeling it. Runs stayed short, on the slower side, and involved a fair amount of walking breaks, and I enjoyed doing more ClassPass classes and sleeping in/resting more days than usual, too.
But earlier this week, I was finally feeling ready to get back into training. My legs were rested and ready to go, and I was itching to get in a speed workout. The track is tough, but it’s also kind of addictive – running really hard and challenging yourself feels good in a weird way. So yesterday morning at 6:30 a.m., I found myself back at the track for the first time since early June.
I signed up to do another couple months with my track group, and since Washington & Lee High School track is under construction and closed for the summer, we’re meeting at Yorktown High School’s track for the meantime instead. It was actually kind of nice to mix it up – still a track, but at least the scenery was a little different. :)
Our workout yesterday was a tough one – at a 5k pace (hard/fast), we did a ladder/pyramid workout: 400 (one lap around track), then rest briefly, then an 800, rest, then 1200, rest, 1600 (4 laps aka 1 mile), rest, then an 800. Some of the others came all the way back down the ladder, but the coaches had me and a few others who are just back (or just raced) do a lower key version. Still so tough! My face was the reddest tomato ever. (My watch below does not include the breaks in between sets, or the 1 mile warm up jog and half mile cool down jog I did).
So, what am I training for right now? Next on the running docket for me is the Beach to Beacon 10k (<—recap from 2 years ago) in Maine with my Cabot friends as part of the Cabot Fit team!
I applied to be on the team (read more about the other bloggers I’ll be running with on the Cabot Fit Team page) to have the opportunity to run the race again this year and was accepted. I can’t wait! Race day is August 1st, so I’ll be spending that weekend up in beautiful Maine. Fingers crossed for a sunny race day this year!
I know how coveted bibs for the B2B 10k are so I’m extremely honored to have the opportunity to run it again. I’m hoping to race it and set a new PR – the one from 2 years ago is still my 10k PR (48:54 – average pace 7:53 min/miles), and considering I just did the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler this spring at a faster pace than that, I’m hoping I can crush it. We’ll see!
ALSO – my track coaches (who will also be in the Outer Banks next week for vacation, coincidentally) told me that there is a fun weekly 5k race series in the Outer Banks each summer. I’m thinking about signing up for next week’s, the Lighthouse 5k. It’s on Wednesday and starts at 8 a.m. up in Corolla. Have any of you done it before? :) I haven’t raced a 5k in AGES – I think it would be a fun challenge!
And now, back to work with my favorite furry coworker. :)
Have a great day, my friends! I’ll be back tomorrow with a fun cocktail recipe you won’t want to miss!
What are you training for right now? Any fun races coming up?
Proud of you, Anne! Wish we could do track workouts together — you would motivate me for sure! I do love track workouts but haven’t done one in ages. If you want a winter escape, you should come out for the Carlsbad half marathon here in January :)
I wish we could, too – on a baby blue track! :) Can’t WAIT to see you in a few weeks!!!!! And hmmm… might have to put that race on the potential list… I wouldn’t mind a little January vacay!
Very cool! I’m training for Beach to Beacon right now as well. Have several friends running who convinced me to search for a bib and I got lucky. I made it to my local track for the first time in awhile last week :)
B2B ftw! Good luck with training and see you out there! Also, great seeing you at the Golds event today. :)
I did the Village 5k two years ago (run by the same company, just in a different part of the Outer Banks, and on Thursday mornings!) and had a BLAST! Our group is going again this year and looking forward to it.
You’re getting sooo speedy!!
I love this! Congrats on being selected to run with Cabot. Looks like a great team. Maine is so beautiful. Good luck to you during training and the race.
I’m not training for anything specific right now, but a Maine race sounds like it will be beautiful!
Track workouts are so much fun- after the fact. Lol I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I am done with one.
I’m slowly coming back from a long break from running. I had zero interest in it for the past 6 months and something clicked last week that I wanted to run. and run I have! Does anyone else crave certain exercises more than others at different times?
Yes, for sure! I tend to do less running and more classes in summer when it’s super hot out.
Hooray for B2B! I recently moved to Maine and LOVE it! I’m hoping to make it to the race even though I’m not running it. Still such a fun event.
Hope to see you out there!
holy crap, you killed that workout! that speed workout sounds really good, i might give it a try. i havent done intervals consistantly in the past year, and they’re really tough mentally. this seems doable with a known push time/rest time
Yeah, having a structured plan definitely helps!
Congrats on the great opportunity from Cabot! What a fun race to run. You’re going to crush your 10K PR, just look at your times from the track workout!
I hope so! :)
Hi Anne! I follow fitnessista and got hooked on your blog through summer shape up :) i try to also live an intuitive eating lifestyle. I am wondering how that fits into post and pre workout nutrition. I find that confusing!
Hi Jen, Thanks for reading! :) Great to hear you’re an intuitive eating fan, too. Pre, post, and during workouts is when you sometimes need to eat even if you aren’t hungry, because it’s important to make sure you are fueled – especially if you are doing endurance workouts. I always eat a little something before a workout and refuel right after with carbs/protein. In summer, I do more liquid nutrition immediately post workout (and then have a real meal a little later) because I’m so hot I don’t want normal food for a little while!
I do need to get back to the track! I always find those workouts so energizing. The heat in Austin has been pretty intense so I just have to balance it with my schedule.
I’m excited to race with the Cabot team! You are super speedy.. I’ll be crossing the finish line a little bit later lol
Well, I’m not this fast when I don’t get breaks in between laps, but I’m trying! :) Excited to see you again soon!
So glad you posted this! I was just on their website trying to find the twice a week track workouts, but in DC. Is it Running 201 that I want? I wanted to add this as part of my MCM training.
The one I do, which is the twice a week morning coached workouts in Arlington, is the individualized program. Their website is unnecessarily confusing, so I’d probably just email them and explain what you what so they can direct you to the right program!
Good work getting back to the track. Takes discipline, obviously, but produces big dividends. Well done!
trying to stay off my knee but hoping to start training soon for a 20 km in October! eek!!
Eeee! So exciting!!