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Monday, June 21, 2021

I DID IT! Reflections on my 1-mile time trials


I did it! 

Yes, me. The gal who is not especially fond of the track, spent four weeks running 16 circles around it.

Whodda thunk, right?

For those who have not heard, I'm telling you now...I did four weeks of 1-mile time trials in May. Amazingly, they weren't so bad. Granted, they were not easy...but I walked away from them, literally, with no regrets and quite grateful for the experience.

First off, let me say that I have never been a track lover. I like variety, and I honestly don't get that on the track. Even when I vary the distance (number of laps) or speed, the scenery never changes. For me, that can be a buzzkill and/or a bit of a deal-breaker.

But, alas, I survived this self-imposed challenge.

Here are a few thoughts, observations, and reflections on the experience...

I was somewhat familiar with 1-mile racing, since I had previously raced the Grand Blue Mile twice (in 2018 and 2019), finishing in 7:52 (3rd place AG) and 7:23 (4th place AG) respectively. To say I had some pretty high expectations, for these trials on the track, would be an understatement (especially considering the GBM race course only had two turns and was predominately a straight-away route).

at the 2019 Grand Blue Mile (Des Moines, IA)

These time trials were both mentally and physically challenging. It's one thing to get (and stay) motivated to show up each week, but also drawing on the physical stamina to hold a fast-for-me pace (for an entire mile...you know, four continuous laps) was out of my comfort zone. 

This 4-week gig gave me some serious performance anxiety. Why? I made these time trials public knowledge, and posted my results each week. While my finish times probably didn't mean anything significant to anyone else, to me they were a means of accountability. I believe in keeping it real, so what happened on the track was for everyone, especially myself, to see and scrutinize.

To me, the track symbolizes competition and racing. While I usually dread that aspect of running, these 1-mile excursions, on said track, weren't as dreadful as anticipated. After all, I was only on the track, each week, for less than 10 minutes. Also, I was only committed to doing four of these time trials. These trials were all on me...and I would never have to do them again if I chose not to.

The first 1-miler was run on a chilly mid-week morning (May 5th). I had not done any speed-training over the winter (due to my stress fracture recovery and slow-paced rally-back).  When I clocked a 7:21 for that first 1-mile time trial attempt, I was not only a bit surprised (because it bested my previous PR of 7:23), but also worried that I had already set the bar pretty high. 

Week1 - 7:21

When I'd run the Grand Blue Mile, I'd finished feeling quite accomplished. After all, I'm pretty much a middle-of-the-pack runner, and was not blessed with obvious finesse, grace or speed (to give you some perspective, the 2019 female GBM champion clocked a 4:30). I'm more of an endurance junkie, and that suits me fine. After my 7:23 finish at the 2019 GBM, it took me a couple hours of coughing to clear my throat and several days for my legs to recover. This first 1-mile time trial left me feeling proud and excited, but I didn't have that feeling of "leaving it all out there." While I'd run that mile strong and steady, I kind of held back on my energy (out of fear of crashing too soon)...thus, I needed to figure out a better strategy of pacing myself a bit faster without depleting all my juice before the finish line.

A week later (May 12th), I ran the second time trial. The circumstances were less-than-ideal...I'd been up since 4:30AM (and had spent the morning chauffeuring the hubby to an appointment) and ran this about 10 hours later, in the heat of the day. Boom...somehow, I managed an 8-second improvement over the previous week's time with a 7:13 finish. Also, if you look closely, there's a bandage on my arm from my second dose of Covid vaccine (about 40 minutes prior). 

Week 2 - 7:13

When it came time for the third 1-miler (May 20th), my body just wasn't feeling 100%. It had been a week since that second Covid vax, and I'd been hosting a nasty head cold ever since. The humidity was a lovely 98% and there also was a 13mph wind to battle, but it was a "dry" window of opportunity to get the run done in the midst of several continuous days of rain. The result- 7:39. Not my fastest, but still decently speedy for me. Although I had hoped to run these time trials with faster finish times each week, this was the best I could manage on that morning, and I was quite content with my effort given the circumstances.  Moving on...  

Week 3 - 7:39

At long last, the grand finale was on Wednesday morning, May 26th. The temps were on-point; even though the air was damp from the overnight rain, the sunrise was beckoning and I was feeling good. I wasn't able to snag a PR, but I came close, clocking a 7:14 ... a mere second from tying the 7:13 from two weeks prior. Disappointed? Nope! I'd just run my second fastest 1-mile, how could I be disappointed?

Week 4 - 7:14

So, why did I do this to myself? Why impose that kind of pressure, doing something so hard (physically and mentally)? 

There were several reasons:
*I wanted some kind of challenge for the month of May, to usher me back into a "racing" mode after my stress fracture rally-back
*To get my buttocks out of that comfort zone. We don't grow without challenging ourselves, do we?
*As mentioned, the track just isn't my gig...so disciplining myself to go there each week was a good thing.
*Speed-training also ain't my gig, but it is a necessary evil in this thing called running. Even for those who don't wish to "race," developing the fast-twitch muscles aids one's overall performance.
*I live just a few blocks from this beautiful Grinnell College track, and it's free to the public...why not utilize it?

So, that's a brief synopsis of my first-ever series of 1-mile time trials. It's been almost a month since I ran the last one, and I have not been back. I am tempted, though, to return (maybe on a monthly basis?) and do some 1-milers to monitor my progress. I do have a marathon to train for this summer...a little bit of speedwork certainly won't hurt that cause.  

Do you do speed-training routinely? If so, what's your favorite kind of speedwork? Ever done a series of repeated time trials?  

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

I'm also linking with Debbie, DeborahLisaLaura and Jenn for the Runners' Roundup

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28 comments:

  1. Well done on your 1-Milers, Kim! I love this idea - also of continuing to run one monthly, just to monitor how things are going.

    Did you see that your last 1-Miler was 1.01miles long? That might account for that extra second. Which would mean you actually ran it in 7.13 like in week 2.

    So cool that you live so close to a track! So do I - it's very convenient.

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    1. SO many fellow runners LOVE running on the track, I feel pretty guilty that I have easy access and don't share in that love LOL But, like all things, doing the tough things does make us tougher...it would be a boring journey without any obstacles to overcome, right?

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  2. A very good job on the track. I don't love to do it, for the speedwork I use the old fartlek system.
    Indeed when I was younger I went weekly to run on the track but at that time I had different goals.

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    1. Oh, I much prefer the fartlek system, too!! Some embrace the structure of the track, but I'm more whimsical...

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  3. A great way to get back into the racing mode and step out of your comfort zone. I am not a speedy runner but I am sure I could benefit from something like this as well

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    1. I can handle speedwork (some days LOL), but it's definitely not my favorite aspect of running.

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  4. This is just brilliant Kim! The fact that 3 of your 4 trials were done in better times than your last PB pre-challenge! Love it! I haven't been to a track since June 2019 but I loved running on that stadium surface - always made me feel like such a hero! All tracks have been closed since the pandemic started (I think only open for professionals) but would love to go back and maybe even do a challenge like yours!

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    1. Thank you, Shathiso ;-) It was a nice surprise to see these finish times since I had not been training for them, at all. I honestly believe all of my stair-climbing and biking have been the game-changers for me.

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  5. Great idea. And speed is relative so your one mile time seems pretty speedy to me.

    I used to work right near a track and then I used to run on it more often. Now I could run to it but its a few miles away and so it is easier to drive. I rarely do it for lack of time with my work schedule.

    I agree. The track is the best way to do speed drills. I have only done 200m drills.

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    1. I think my whimsical (?) nature likes to rebel against the "structure" of the track...maybe that's why the treadmill doesn't appeal to me much these days. The track definitely means business (because it's kind of too boring to be enjoyable for me LOL).

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  6. You did great, especially you had a lot going on during that time.

    I actually disagree about speed training being necessary. Yes, I do it, and yes, sometimes I enjoy it. But running can just be running, and speed work is a choice.

    Ok. Moving on. :) I do like a challenge, too! You're lucky to have the track available to you! I used to have a HS track, but last I knew, it was closed to the public. These days I'm mostly seeking some shade!

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    1. I totally agree that running can be just running (and should be, once in awhile at least). I think that's why the track is a tough set-up for me...it forces me to be focused and "on track" with my workout.

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  7. This was a great challenge! I did a 1 mile timed trial last summer and it was tough. I think its great you were able to do this a few weeks in a row to try to improve or at least work on your speed. Great job!

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    1. I didn't mention it, but last April I did a simulated 1-mile virtual Grand Blue Mile (after it had been canceled, due to Covid). It's tough to race that distance with no fellow runners or crowd support. I'm glad I don't do it very often LOL

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  8. I love this! I've never done more than 2 mile trials a year and I think it would be a really valuable experience to do one a week like you did. Mile trials are terrifying but oh so rewarding.

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    1. The 1-mile distance is tough! It’s over & done (relatively) quickly, so there’s no time for messing around.

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  9. Awesome job! I think it is a great challenge and love the reasons you stated for doing it. I've done one 1-miler time trial and to date it's been my fastest mile. Maybe in the Fall I can have my coach assign these for me. I enjoy doing speed work and love the variety that my coach gives me.

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    1. I think variety is key to enjoying speedwork (at least in my book). ALL of these "same" 1-milers got a bit stale, but thankfully there were only four of them LOL When I did 12 weeks of 5K's (last year)...UGH.

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  10. Damn lady, you're speedy! And honestly now I kinda want to do a series of one mile time trials myself!

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    1. Looking back, these were kind of fun, but I felt a lot of pressure to run them progressively faster each week even though I wasn't really doing any other speedwork in between each of them. DUh LOL

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  11. What a great idea! I've never done a mile race or time trial, and now I want to (well, not now- when my hip heals. Sigh.) Your times are great- considering that you call yourself a middle-of-the-pack runner, you're coming back from and injury and haven't done speedwork, 7:13 is amazing. You're very lucky to have a track you can use- and yes, speedwork will help your marathon for sure. Those fast-twitch muscles can pick up the slack later in the race when everything else is fatigued. Maybe you'll end up liking the track after all!

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    1. Well...maybe I'm more towards the "front" of the middle of the pack LOL I'm definitely not leading the way. But thanks, Jenny ;-) I was really surprised (and pleased) with those 7:13/7:14 times.

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  12. Really awesome job on your 1 mile time trials #kimtwin! Also, you're speedy my friend!

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    1. Well, although these times may seem fast, they were just one mile LOL. There's no way I could have held that pace for even a 5K, let alone any further. But, it does feel good to know I can do it for a short while ;-)

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  13. This is so great. I love that you put yourself out of your comfort zone to try this. I do hill workouts every week, but we don't have public tracks so it's hard to get in track work like this.

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    1. This was WAY out of my comfort zone. I'm lucky to have this track so close by. It's very generous of the college to keep it "open" to the public.

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  14. Great job on your time trials. I like the idea but I'm pretty sure I'd feel a little depressed when my one mile times are slower than what I once ran a full marathon at.

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  15. Great job on those time trials! I've never done a mile time trial on a track; my fastest mile to date was from trying to race a Strava segment mid-run (while looking out for cars).

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