So now that you've already committed I get a chance to complain. And what I'm complaining about this week is pretty much the same thing I was complaining about last Wednesday. Sore legs.
There not sore this week from doing a measly four stride-outs like last week when I was soft. This week those four stride-outs were just the appetiser. The main course was so much more special than 1k reps. We got to do as many 200m reps as our little hearts desired in 45 mins.
I've done this set before. Many, many times. And I don't actually mind it normally. But this week it was kind of special. I got to have my own personal trainer/sergeant major/crazy dictator run with me to gently encourage me to give it my all.
Somehow one of my squad buddies had misunderstood something Coach Chris had said. Either that or they were in league against me and wanted to see me suffer. And knowing Coach Chris it's hard for me to discount that option. My personal torturer thought that he was tasked with pushing me on every rep and that at all costs we were meant to stay together.
And stay together we did. Despite my numerous attempts to shake him. I tried to palm him off to other runners. I tried dragging my feet and whining so he'd get sick of hanging back. I tried pleading with his wife to help. But I've never met a man with more tenacity and ability to ignore a complaining woman. Every rep, he was there. Just in front of me. Yelling at me to stay on his shoulder.
It wasn't so bad for about the first ten reps but when I got into double digits there was significant pain. Sure I could have faked a toilet stop. Or an injury. Or I could have hidden behind a tree (although I'm pretty sure he would have sniffed me out because he has to have a bit of terrier in his DNA). But I didn't do any of these. Yay me for that small victory!
And the reason I didn't give up is because I'm a runner and we just don't give up when the going gets tough. And even though I may have whinged, complained and doubted my ability to finish, somewhere deep inside I knew that if I could survive that session I would be stronger mentally and physically. And if I did get to puke-point I'd know exactly where to aim.
So thanks Tom for the session yesterday. It was great. I think.
First, I HATE that feeling. Ugh. I completely avoid speed work because of that feeling. And because I'm slow. And I fall a lot.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I hope you will tell us Yanks what whingeing means. I might want to use it :)
Hooray for Tom for pushing you and for you for keeping up with him!! When you write about your group you train with it makes me (almost) want to start running with other people again!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm with Carilyn - what is "whingeing?"
Whingeing is best imagined as that noise that two year olds make when they're tired and hungry and fed up. Complaining/crying/mini-meltdown.
DeleteThis reminds me of why I don't enjoy speed work. I'm wondering, though. Don't you think you're pushing Tom a little, too?
ReplyDeleteNot really. He's a lot faster than me. And a lot younger.
DeleteOK so tell us more about the session:
ReplyDeleteWhat times were you doing?
What rest were you taking?
and how many did you end with?
these little things we need to know...
Average time was 44 sec - so no, I won't be going to the Olympics. It was a 200m float recovery that got a bit slower as the session went on. And I got 17 done.
DeleteSo do you runners give yourself 48 hours to rest your muscles after a big session so they can recover or do you tough it out?
ReplyDeleteI try to. But that's because I'm a mature runner. Some who are younger don't need as long to recover.
DeleteWow that sounds brutal. Good for you for pushing through that. I'm sure the rewards will be many.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure my idea of hell is doing 200-meter repeats for 45 minutes, so you shall have hero status from me!
ReplyDeleteHe really gave you the opportunity to do a tough speed work.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't gave up when the challenge .got tough. Great!
Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteGreat work! I whinge endlessly in my PT sessions, but I always keep going. My trainer asked the other day why I immediately complain about having to do 5 or 10 more when I can easily do them. I told him it was a habit! (Plus it makes me feel better!) :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the shorter repeats. It's the fast 800-1200meter repeats that exhaust me.
ReplyDeleteI loathe short reps...give me miles at 5K pace any day. 200m reps for 45 minutes sounds like my idea of a nightmare! (And I inevitably have an asthma attack during fast 400s.) You might whinge, but you can also be proud of yourself for sticking it out.
ReplyDeleteJust read your comments. Thanks. But remember I DID jump out of an airplane.
ReplyDelete