Confidence level for Chicago: On the rise.

Today's workout with Gilbert's Gazelles: 4x 1-mile repeats with a 2 to 3 minute rest between each session.

 

Gilbert gave us a little formula before our run. Whatever time we plan on running for the marathon, we should double that figure, and the result should be the min/mile speed we maintain during our workout. He then added this, "if you can't keep that speed, you have no business aiming for that time on your marathon."

 

For instance, I need a 3:20 to qualify for Boston. When you double 3:20, you get 6:40, and this is the time, in minutes per mile, that I needed to be able to hit in each of my mile repeats this morning.

 

My splits....

 

6:32 - just a little warm-up

6:26 - getting into a groove

6:27 - wishing the recovery period was a little longer

6:12 - Let myself go knowing it was the last repeat

 

Clearly, it looks like I'm in shape to run a 3:20 marathon. And from this workout, it looks like I could run anywhere from a 3:16 to a 3:06. Ha. Ha. Ha. No need to get greedy for me. When marathon day gets here, I'm sticking to a 3:20 pace until well past Mile 20.

 

Still, I've put together two good quality workouts in a row for the first time this summer. And today's workout came even though my legs were still a little - no make that, a lot - rubbery from Saturday's 22-mile jaunt.

 

Confidence level for Chicago: On the rise.