Back at Red Hook

I joined Coach Cane's group out at the Red Hook track last night for what was the start of my structured training for my attempt at going sub-3 in the marathon. It looks like I've finally settled on the race: Dallas White Rock Marathon on December 5th. The weather in Dallas in December can be a crapshoot, but then again, no one expected it to be 92 degrees in Chicago in October of '07.

The track workout was definitely easier than a couple weeks ago, but I don't feel strong or comfortable out there yet. Its going to take a while to get that back. I haven't done speed work with any consistency in a long, long time and its showing. I dropped all speed work when I went into IM training last year and then didn't need speed work training for Bear Mountain 50 this past spring. My form is terrible, my body is rebelling at the notion of moving quickly, and my mental toughness isn't where it needs to be.

That being said, I suffered.

2400 warm up
1200 @ ~6:20 pace (1:35, 1:35, 1:35)
400 recovery
1200 @ ~6:17 pace (1:30, 1:34, 1:35)
400 recovery
800 @ ~6:04 pace (1:30, 1:32)
400 recovery
800 @ ~6:06 pace (1:32, 1:34)
400 recovery
400 @ 1:23
200 recovery
400 @ 1:28
200 recovery
400 @ 1:30
200 recovery
400 @ 1:27

800 cool down