Week 8: BQ Training with Run Less Run Faster

Sep 16, 2013 by Greg Fowler

Here is my report for week eight of sixteen of my Outer Banks 2013 marathon training. I am following the 3:25:00 Boston Qualifier plan outlined in the book Run Less Run Faster.

To review past weeks, click here.

Short version: Very good week.

For the long version, keep reading.

Cross Training. Tuesday

Successfully completed the two prescribed swim workouts – swim 25 minutes continuously. Did them both on Tuesday.  First was at lunch, then I went back to the gym after work with my son.  Not sure if both in one day is cheating, but that was the best option for me this week.

Grade: Pass

Run workout #1. Monday

You should know by now, if it is Monday, it is track time.  This week was two sets of 6 x 400m at a 1:32 pace with 90 second rest intervals. There was a 2:30 rest interval between sets.  That’s a total of twelve 400’s.   The weather was mid eighties, but the humidity was very comfortable.

Results:

• 400 #1: 1:22
• 400 #2: 1:25
• 400 #3: 1:21
• 400 #4: 1:27
• 800 #5: 1:23
• 400 #6: 1:22
• 400 #7: 1:22
• 400 #8: 1:27
• 400 #9: 1:25
• 400 #10: 1:27
• 800 #11: 1:27
• 400 #12: 1:24

Grade: A. After completing these in an average 1:24 vs. a 1:32 target, I was worried I may have overdone it.  I ended up with some soreness in my hamstrings, but since I was able to meet the other two workouts, I guess I was OK.

Run workout #2. Wednesday

No mid-week cross country meet meant I could stay on schedule for my runs.  This week’s tempo run was six miles.  The first two miles were easy warm up, followed by 3 at a target pace of 7:04, then a one mile cool down.  The low humidity was still hanging around:

• Mile 1: 9:12
• Mile 2: 8:53
• Mile 3: 7:01
• Mile 4: 6:58
• Mile 5: 6:54
• Mile 6: 9:23

Grade: A. Ended up with a 6:58 pace for the three hard miles.

Run Workout #3. Friday

This week’s long run called for 18 miles at an 8:19 pace.  The fastest 18 miles target to date (week 5) was 8:34, and I did that one in 8:30.  Started out about 7am, and it was 75 degrees.  The humidity had crept up again (90+%), and I knew I would be at my heat index limits for speed by the run’s end.  I had a good first half, around an 8:15 pace, but as the day heated up, my pace started to slip a bit.  Still managed to make the  time goal and came in at 2:29:43, an 8:18/mile pace.

Grade: A-.  Met the time, yes, but didn’t accomplish a negative split.

Week Eight Summary

Nice to have back to back really good weeks.  I can feel and see real progress in my abilities.  There’s finally definite hints of fall in the air, and I’m looking forward to the great running weather that is just ahead.

Here’s a graphic showing hit or miss on the workouts over the past eight weeks. For the tempo and long runs, I included mileage and pace targets (not including the easy warm up and cool down miles for the tempo runs). The actual pace result is in parentheses:

Up Next

Here’s what is in store for week nine:

Run #1: Track work. 2 x 1600m in 6:31 each with 60 second rest intervals, followed by 2 x 800m in 3:08 with 60 second rest intervals
Run #2: 1 mile easy, 4 miles @ 7:19/mile, 1 mile easy.
Run #3: 20 miles @ 8:19/mile.

Cross Training: Swim, of course.  10 x (2 lengths, rest 15 seconds); 4 lengths kick; 10 x (2 lengths, rest 15 seconds)

Going to be a tough week all around: Running & family/work schedule.

 

Stay tuned and POFIFOTO!