I'm Getting Faster

Good morning.

Another sunny day in Chicago! What's going on? It sure puts me in a different frame of mind. Even though I choose to live one day at a time and make the most out of my days with enjoyment, it gets magnified to an even greater optimism when it's sunny. There is something happy about sunshine. This time of year, if it is sunny with no wind with temps around 25 dgrees, it actually feels warm out. Maybe it's just me.

I had one terrific run yesterday. The Boston Bound program called for a 7 mile tempo run. I decided to make it 8 on my regular 8 mile route which takes me east past Wrigley Field to Lake Shore Drive. I then head south on Lake Shore for about 3/4 of a mile and turn west on Belmont Avenue. Belmont always has interesting characters to watch as I run. Running entertainment. I run west for a while and then meander my way through Roscoe Village and before I know it I am home.

I started the tempo run with a goal to increase my pace slowly each mile and hitting approx 10K pace around mile 4. But, all of my runs are done by feel. I like to listen to my body and mind during the process. So, if all is going well and the pace feels really good I might stay there for a while. After I hit my max pace of 6:45 in mile four I backed off a little, like we are supposed to do in a tempo run. My first pull back mile was at 7:03. Then I slowed to 7:23 for mile six. I felt so good at this pace that I decided to run at this pace for mile 7 and then finish stronger in mile eight. All in all, this was my fastest 8 mile route ever. I wish I would have been paying more attention to the "total elapsed" time on the Garmin. I would have pushed it a little more to break through the one hour mark.

I could not be more pleased with this effort. Even though I did not follow traditional tempo run format I felt like listening to where my body wanted to be. I figure the only way to reach new territory with my running is to break through current resistence levels and enter new found territory. The only way to know if you can do it is to try it. It is a journey and I am enjoying it. Stats below:

Split Time Distance Elevation Gain Elevation Loss Avg Speed Max Speed Avg HR Max HR Steps Calories
1 0:08:34 1 85 39 8:34 7:05 121 133 0 82
2 0:07:51 1 82 36 7:51 6:51 133 140 0 84
3 0:07:19 1 56 75 7:19 5:34 142 147 0 85
4 0:06:45 1 138 98 6:45 5:08 150 155 0 83
5 0:07:03 1 180 164 7:03 4:37 151 155 0 87
6 0:07:23 1 59 125 7:23 5:40 149 155 0 86
7 0:07:26 1 43 62 7:26 6:42 150 152 0 90
8 0:07:13 1 13 20 7:13 6:34 149 155 0 86
9 0:00:30 0.08 0 0 6:44 6:35 155 156 0 7
Summary 1:00:08 8.08 659 623 7:26 4:37 142 156