Today’s Workout – Short Speed Work
Total Mileage: 5.10 miles
Total Time: 00:45:10
Average Pace: 8:56 min/pace
I have never been a morning run. Ever. It has always been a struggle for me to get up and get moving.
I knew I had to work this Saturday and had been planning for it all week. I also knew that it shouldn’t mean I would completely take another day. There is nothing wrong with taking 2 days in a row off, but I just didn’t feel like I needed that right now.
I decided to use today to get a shorter speed work out. I played around with the idea of running after work around 4:00, but I know how tired I seem to get after working on Saturdays and decided the best idea is to get up early.
Thankfully since I only covered a total of 5 miles I knew I wouldn’t have a problem fitting it in before work.
My workout was:
1/2 mile warm up
10 x 200’s at a 6:50 pace (I ended up just running for 1 minute)
2 minute job in between each 200
1.20 mile cool down
I had set my alarm for 5:45 and ended up starting to run about 5:55. I honestly didn’t give myself a choice. I told myself the moment I went to bed you WILL get up and get your workout in tomorrowmorning. To my surprise the moment my alarm went off I popped right up and hit the treadmill.
On top of getting in my run, showering, and getting ready for work I also managed to feed the cats, take my dog out, put a load of laundry in, fold a loan of laundry, and put away clothes. I’d say that’s a pretty productive morning before getting to work.
A few things I learned from my first early Saturday A.M. workout:
1. Don’t give yourself a choice. If you allow yourself the option to go back to bed the chance of getting up is slim to none.
2. Have everything laid out and ready to go. I actually slept in my sports bra and shorts and just laid out my shoes and socks on the treadmill to put on the moment I woke up.
3. Give yourself a little extra time. I knew I needed to get started by 6:00 so I gave myself 15 minutes to start my morning off a bit slower.
4. Never forget the warm up. Doing speed work first thing in the morning can be difficult to get your legs into it, it is very important to warm up before jumping right in.
5. Remember the feeling afterward. There is nothing better than the feeling of being done with a workout so early in the morning. You can relax and enjoy the rest of the day without thinking about what you need to run later.
An in motion picture the husband took of me. Sorry it’s a little blurry!
What are your workout plans for the weekend?
I have a long run planned of 13 miles tomorrow. Long runs always make me a bit nervous, but still excited.
Awesome workout! I agree morning runs, especially speed workouts, are hard, but I always feel like a rockstar afterward. My husband and I actually joke around that I get to do the rockstar dance after morning speed workouts. I’m still recovering from my July 14th marathon, so my long run was 7 miles yesterday in gorgeous cool Oklahoma weather, which is unheard of for July. How did your long run go?
It was gorgeous and cool here too today! I don’t know what is going on with this weather – but I am loving it! My long run went wonderfully – the quickest one yet. Nothing crazy, but any improvement makes me happy! Thanks for asking 🙂
I sleep in my sports bra and shorts when I have a morning run planned too! That way, if I decide to not run, I have to change OUT of my workout clothes, which makes me feel bad. It’s all mind games. 🙂
But great pieces of advice! I’ve been doing morning workouts for awhile now, and I do think the more you do it, the easier it gets. It eventually becomes routine and your body/mind expect it.
I am really hope that it becomes routine for me! I don’t know if I will be doing it every morning, but I want to be able to do it more often. It does feel so great to have it done before you even get to work!