The hard part about running is that it takes a lot of patience and work. Oftentimes one doesn’t see the results of the work for a long time. In fact it usually takes at least two years or more of consistent work to see any results of consequence.
That’s probably one of the reason why people give up on the sport after just a short time of training and it’s just another in a pile of reasons why the sport is difficult. Running is hard, but then again it’s supposed to be.
Still, the good thing about running is that if one puts in the work there will be a reward. All it takes is hard work and that’s the easy part.
How hard is it to work hard?
Anyway, after years of consistent work that included a year at the University of Michigan before turning pro when he was just 20-years old, Alan Webb finally got the result that people had predicted for him when he was still in high school in Northern Virginia. Webb, 24, broke Steve Scott’s U.S. record for the mile by running a 3:46.91 in Belgium on Saturday. Interestingly, Webb broke a record that was set before he was born.
Some in the press or on the web wondered what took Webb so long. Wasn’t he supposed to be the savior of track & field in the U.S.? Why wasn’t he demolishing records on his way up? Well, it doesn’t work that way. Running isn’t like baseball, football or basketball. There is no rookie of the year awards or even trophies for good workouts. There are no signing bonuses based on draft position or potential. A runner has to win and produce the times in order to get paid. The trouble with that is running well takes time and for Webb the road to the record in the mile took at least four years.
Webb’s run was the eighth fastest in history and people are predicting that he will go quicker than 3:46.91. Better yet, some say he could go faster by the time the World Championships roll around in Osaka, Japan next month.
Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco owns the world record of 3:43.13. That’s probably not going to happen by next month, but maybe in a year or so Webb will be right there.
Meanwhile, the top American marathoners are missing out on some pay days because the Olympic Trials are on Nov. 3 in New York City this year, according to a story in The New York Times.
Anyway, here’s the week of July 16 to 22:
Monday -- 21 miles in 2:19:14
Ran well early on despite another achy stomach. Later in the run I was thirsty and edging on to dehydration. Other than that it was a good run that made me feel good when it was over.
There's nothing that a good 20-miler won't cure.
splits:
1st 5: 33:06
2nd 5: 32:16
3rd 5: 33:03
Tuesday -- 15 miles in 1:40:49
Steady and solid the whole way even though I very little turnover. I got a tiny bit tired at the end, but for the most part I was just locked in. I think I could have kept going at the same pace for a while, but it wasn't too bad for a recovery run.
splits:
1st 5: 33:40
2nd 5: 33:30
3rd 5: 33:38
Wednesday -- 16.1 miles in 1:49:49
I wanted to do a hill workout, but didn't get out until late because I stayed up until 3 a.m. watching baseball before spending the morning at the dentist. That's the way it goes sometimes. Either way, it seems as if it takes me two days after a 20-miler to get my legs back. I have the strength and the endurance, but not great turnover. Hopefully I can do a hill workout and/or some lactate threshold soon.
splits:
1st 5: 34:19
2nd 5: 33:30
Thursday -- 15 miles in 1:41:51
I had no turnover at all today. None. Nada. Zilch. I figured I would be recovered after two (relatively) easy days, but it wasn't the case. Perhaps it was the 3-mile walk I took at 8 p.m. last night in attempt to clear out the lactic acid or whatever. Either way, I was slow and a little tired.
splits:
34:20
33:57
33:33
These late-night baseball games have really screwed up my schedule and sleep.
Friday -- 16 miles in 1:46:56
Started out tight and slow (but strong) like yesterday and gradually picked up the pace. By the last two miles I was going 5:50s because I wanted to get a little bit of lactate threshold work in and try to get a "burn" and raise the heart rate a bit. Interestingly, 5:50s pace didn't do it. In fact, it felt rather easy. Since it felt so easy I guess I'll have to try to do it as much as possible.
Good idea?
splits:
33:53
33:19
32:09
Saturday -- 13.3 miles in 1:29:32
Felt worn out and like I have a bit of a cold. It was tough getting myself out the door, but once I started running I was my usual strong self. Regardless, I definitely had to work to keep the pace I ran. It wasn't taxing at all, but it took some soncentration.
splits:
1st 5 - 33:58
2nd 5 - 33:28
last 3.3 - 22:05
Sunday -- 6 miles in 39:51
This was the perfect Sunday run -- though I would have liked to have done a LT. Nonetheless, I ran free and easy -- with my iPod -- and felt like I could have gone all day.
I'm no expert, but I think this run could be just as important as the hard runs during the week.
Slow and hot, but I still got my triple-digit week. There’s 102.4 miles…