Speed Work? Working on It!!

As slow as I'm training these days, I find it difficult to claim that I am doing speed work. However, the fact is, I am. During the month of October, my efforts have mainly focused on rebuilding my base by ramping up my mileage. Over time, this has proven to be an effective way to develop speed as I increase my endurance.

Another form of speed work is losing a few pounds by watching my diet. It is a known fact that the less a runner weighs, the faster he or she can run. So far, I have lost 10 pounds.

Using a heart rate monitor to dictate my pace has forced me to slow down. This has proven to be a good idea during this time of mileage increase. As my heart rate increases, I am forced to ease up on the pace. As a result of this work, my resting heart rate has gone down and stayed down. I have also found myself recovering more quickly post run.

Real speed work such as good old 400 meter repeats will begin as I continue down this path and develop the ability to maintain a running pace without over-stressing my body.

This week has been great! I've racked up 28 miles! I am at the point where I can complete a half marathon without concerning myself with speed. That's exactly where I need to be right now. The real speed is yet to come. I will be discussing my efforts in that direction in due time. For the moment, a slow to moderate jog will rebuild my fitness.