Friday, June 24, 2011

Intervals!

The Top of Utah Marathon is less than 3 months away. I'm trying not to pee my pants about that over here.

I took the beginning of the week off to rest from the race last weekend, and I started running again on Wednesday. I ran a 4 mile recovery run at an 8:29/mile pace, and then last night- on the hottest day of the year so far- I did my first interval workout.

IT. KICKED. MY. BUTT.

I can only blame myself because:
  1. I chose a route that had a huge hill in it at the beginning.
  2. I decided to sleep in which means I ended up running in the evening in temperatures that I am not used to AT ALL yet.
I've learned my lesson!

It's obvious to see where the big hill is when you look at my intervals- 7:46, 8:52, 7:26, 6:46, 6:59, 6:56. The first 2.5 miles are up hill (with the biggest hill in mile 2, and the last 4.5 miles home are a gradual down hill). I did a half mile cool down at an 8:30. To be honest, I had no idea I was going to be able to run ANY intervals at under a 7:00/mile pace. My goal was to keep them under 8:00, so I am very very happy with what I was able to do.

Running these intervals makes me so curious as to what I will be able to do a marathon in. I keep thinking that I want to just take it easy and get some experience first, but I feel like if I just push myself a tiny little bit, that I will be able to walk away with a Boston Qualifying time...

What should I do? Take it easy? Go for it? What would you do? I'm searching for any advice here from someone that has run a marathon!

On Saturday I am scheduled to run 14 miles- this will be the furthest I have ever run. I'm both anxious and excited. Aaahhh! Let the marathon training begin!!!

3 comments:

Tricia said...

enjoy your long run! reaching new distances is super exciting

kalie said...

AMYLEE! That is amazing. I am so inspired by everything about you. One of my favorite running blogs is www.mile-posts.com. She is training for the Marine Corps marathon and she always has lots of good information. If you haven't checked it out already, you should.

AND I AM COMMENTING. ARE YOU PROUD OF ME? :D

Cory Reese said...

You are running super speedy!

Only my two cents, but I'd say just go have fun on your first marathon. Everyone told me not to go for a certain time on my first but I didn't listen and then I crashed before mile 20.

Plus, it's hard to really understand what those last 6 miles feel like until you do it. After your first marathon it's a huge mental boost to know you CAN do it, then you can plan more wisely for #2. There will be plenty of other marathons where you can BQ but this will be your only 1st Marathon.

Just my $.02. You're doing AWESOME!!!!!