View Workout (Matthew Simonson)

Return to Log

Now for mile 4, the hardest mile of the 5k

October 22, 2019 (Night)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Stressful day with only 3 1/2 hours sleep and a big presentation at the MIT Security Studies Working Group right before practice. I made the questionable of decision of eating the free dinner they provided approximately 1 hour prior to the workout. When I arrived at the BAA's weekly practice, the track was enveloped in a thick drizzle mist. The workout sounded hard and it was: 800m "hard," 4 x mile easing off a bit, and then another hard 800m w/ 1 lap rests between each. It was supposed to simulate a race where we go out strong, settle in, and then have a powerful kick. To me it just sounded endless.

I never heard a suggested pace, so I just charged on out for the first 800 at close to a 5min pace, faster than I'd run all season. There was a big pack of the BAA "racing team" (semi-elite runners) ahead of me going for 2:20 (though in reality they were probably closer to 2:10) and what should have been my pack somewhere behind me in the fog. I felt winded afterwards, but the real intimidation didn't kick in until halfway into the first mile repeat, when I swore to myself I'd never be able to keep up this pace for 3 1/2 more miles and wondered if there was some reason I should drop out. No, I concluded, there's nothing wrong with me today aside for a being a bit worn down. This workout is designed to be hard for all of us. It didn't help that I was alone nearly the whole mile chasing the leaders of my group from afar. Mentally exhausing.

The next 3 miles however were magical. I fell into a sweet swift rhythm, watching the legs of the guys in front of me and just holding on. With each passing lap I grew more confident, especially as I focused less on my pace and more on trying to feel good and relax my breathing while gluing myself to the pack and singing "A Whole New World" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You" in my head. With 1 mile to go I knew I could do it, but even still I was pleasantly surprised when I managed to finish 6 seconds faster than my other pickups. The final 800m as I predicted was not worth saving for; it simply took care of itself.

Given that my race pace last Saturday was about 5:50 on a cross country course, I think 5:40 is right about my current 5k pace on a track. Not my best by a longshot but better shape than I've been in for "shorter" races in several years. It feels great to have done a total of 5 miles at a 5k pace or faster and I feel so much more alive and happy and confident now and destressed. I love track workouts!