Some Solid Intervals at the Track

It had been a long time since I'd hit the track. A looooooong time. As in nearly 6 months.

At my last track workout, it was 39 degrees early in the morning in mid-October, and I ran 3 x 1600 every 8:00 (so that's around 2:15 rest) in 5:52, 5:40, and 5:41 (average of 5:44.3). Here was my view of the dark track back in October:

October 10, 2012

Then I tried hitting the track back in December, but I found it covered in snow...

December 3, 2012

... so I did some mile repeats on some nicely plowed St. Thomas sidewalks: 3 x 1 mile every 8:00 in 5:50, 5:45, and 5:46 (average of 5:47.0).

Well, I had a half hour opening 2 days ago, so I hit the track. I wasn't sure what I could run after running varied-distance intervals at the Dome about 6 times in the last 2 months, but I was ready to give it hell.

3 x 1600 with 2:00 rest:

My first interval felt good. I was working, but things felt OK. I was happy with my splits:

• 2:48, 2:50 = 5:38

Half way thought the second interval (when I usually start to get depressed and it starts to hurt), I actually tried to imagine Ben Kampf (the runner for the "Gold Gopher Guys" team who's challenged Pete and I to a relay race at the Gear West Duathlon this spring) coming up behind me. I had to hold him off! It wasn't a "strong" vision, but apparently it was enough to make me kick that final 800 in the ass:

• 2:48, 2:42 = 5:30

I kept it strong for the final interval. I thought about stopping after 1200, but I used the potential show-down at the Gear West Duathlon to push me through that final lap (and ANOTHER speedy final 800!).

• 2:44, 2:37 = 5:21

Average of 5:29.6 / 1600!

That felt good. It made me feel like those intervals at the Dome over the winter had done some good. I went from a 5:44 average 6 months ago, to a 5:47 average 4 months ago, to a sub-5:30 average right now! I've gotta keep this up to try to whoop some booty at the Gear West Du...

Oh, and one final thing: I always find myself running intervals hard in case there's anyone in the athletic buildings at the University of St. Thomas watching me. I know, I know... no one is REALLY going to be tracking my splits and judging me (as a stranger) running intervals on the track. But on Tuesday, I WAS actually being watched!! Julie tweeted me right as I got to work:

Well shoot. That's only going to make me run harder next time.  :)