Yesterday I got in another track workout. Does anyone else get a little nervous before doing these? Kind of like before a race? I think it’s because I know it’s going to hurt.
Anyway, I did some 400’s with a 200 jog in between each one. I’ve been running each between 80-90 seconds. Granted, I’m not going 100% on these repeats, but still that’s a far cry from high school when I ran them averaging around 55 seconds per. Ahh well, that’s the sweet bird of youth for you.
Anyone want to go to the Prom with me?
Maybe if I stay consistent with my track workouts, I’ll start creepin my times back down towards my high school self. Anywhoodle, it was super windy again. Sustained 20mph winds with gusts a lot stronger. So half the track I was running straight into a wind wall.
The flag is holding on for dear life.
After I finished my 400’s, I decided to reward myself. Here’s how: I ran two more laps, jogging the 200 into the wind, and then sprinting the 200 with the wind at my back. Some might call this cheating, but it was my reward, and it felt good to go short and fast!!!
Hello 400, we meet again.
How bout you? Anyone else ever reward themselves after a tough workout with a little ‘cheating’ run? Do you ever compare your olden days times with current ones? Anyone else a lil nervous before track work?
-Scott
Piratebobcat 
Track workouts are definitely a little scary but they definitely help you get faster. You look so serious as a high schooler!
Haha, I was serious enough to use starting blocks for a 400! You’re right, they do help with the speed!!! I’ve already seen an improvement in a month or so.
A run with a tailwind feels so good! It’s not really cheating is it? I’d be especially nervous to run on a track considering I’ve never run on one. Track or not, I do get nervous before doing any interval work as I know they hurt.
I figured I’d already done some hard laps into the wind, and wanted to just feel the tailwind on a couple. Nah, it’s not cheating! Yes, interval work of any kind will hurt! If you do ever come through Texas, before we get tacos, we’re doing a track workout!
Deal!
Any type of speed work makes me nervous. I think it is because I don’t know how to slack. I get too competitive and have to push myself. Apparently making yourself feel sick is the level I like to run at. Great work on the track. I do believe that would be considered a reward.
Ha, very nice! I don’t see anything wrong with pushing yourself. As long as you can handle the sick level. 😉 It’s better than the opposite – I’ve seen people at track workouts who are doing the repeats at the same speed as their long slow runs. They definitely won’t get the benefits that way!
I’ve grown to really, really like track workouts. Especially because I’ve seen significant improvements in my times.
I typically reward myself with a Coke after 🙂
Yes, they do really help you overall speed! I secretly enjoy them too – I ran track in high school, but hadn’t stepped on one since then until just a couple years ago. It feels kind of good to be back on it – and it’s a nice change up from the long slow runs.
I definitely get a little nervous before track workouts too! I can still hit pretty close to my high school times but I’m sore for about a week afterward 🙂
Ha, very nice! I sometimes wonder what would’ve happened if I had gotten into running these long distances right out of high school instead of my early-mid 30’s. Oh well, onward and upward!
Great job!! Love the picture and yes, I get very nervous before track workouts/speed work!! They’re very scary to me!! I don’t trust myself 100% yet!
Thank you! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one! don’t worry, you’re such a great runner and only going to get better!
Awww, thank you so much!! Such a nice thing to say!!! I really appreciate it!!! XOXO!! Have a great weekend!!!
I read somewhere that if you’re going to reward yourself, reward yourself with something that’s good for you (like running with a tailwind) rather than food (like brownies). Now, that you gave yourself a good reward, you should reward yourself with some brownies. I’m just sayin’.
ALWAYS nervous about track workouts. Never compare myself to high school runner Amy because she doesn’t exist. I didn’t really start running until about a year ago!
I’m really glad to hear that I’m not the only one!!!
No worries about the comparison because aren’t you like two years out of high school?
PAHAHA I want to say 7 years actually but I’m pretty sure that still makes me sound young.
I always get nervous before a hard workout – they are the only runs I have to psyche myself up for. Lucky (?) for me I’ve no teenage times to compare myself with.
Ha, I actually was pumping some top 40 music on the way to the track to try and get psyched! Yes, be glad you don’t have a way to know of how fast you used to be. Haha!
Funny, I was thinking about my high school track days just the other day. I don’t know if I can compare anything from then to now though. LOL!
It’s probably not a good idea to compare. Haha!
I reward myself after a hard run with a little cheating brownie! Like Amy, I don’t really have anything to compare myself to as I only really started running a year ago. Don’t do ‘track work’ as such as we don’t really have tracks here, but I do try to do at least one interval session a week 🙂
Ah yes, intervals work too! Anything that gets you out of your comfort zone! Brownies would be a good treat, but I go for tacos myself!
I think you’re justified in cheating with winds that strong! In my olden days I wasn’t a runner, so when I compare, it always makes me feel good. 🙂
It was such a beat down to run right into the winds that just wanted a couple runs where it was only at my back! 😉 You should probably be glad you don’t have anything to compare, haha!
I love track workouts, then again, I have yet to run them with my Garmin. When I start back up in May, let’s see if that holds true! In high school I played tennis and did dance, so I ran only when forced to 🙂
Ha, I actually do really enjoy them, I just am a little apprehensive because I know they’ll hurt. Very cool! It’s funny, I have a friend who owns a dance studio here and she always says how she can dance all day, but will be exhausted if she runs one mile!!! Ha!
The good thing about being 43 when you take up running is that I don’t have a younger self to compare myself to. Good thing, because I’d probably be discouraged by my recovery needs in addition to my speed.
It was super windy here today too. I swear no matter which direction I ran, the wind was in my face.
Love your high school nikes. Very retro.
Ha, yeah, good point. Part of me wonders if I can ever get back to those times, but part of me is a little disappointed that I didn’t pursue running these distances earlier in life. Oh well!
Haha, don’t you hate that! The wind is usually pretty sustained in one direction here, but some days it seems like it keeps changing!
Thanks!!! I still have them somewhere. BTW, you might not have noticed, but on the heel – the black writing is an autograph from Olympic 400 former world record holder Butch Reynolds. He lived in my hometown and I’d run into him at Krogers from time to time.
I have yet to do my first track workout, but I have been planning on using that same blog post title for months now… damn! I imagine I’ll be nervous too, I seriously get nervous about everything.
Ha, sorry to beat you to it! Good luck on your first workout (whenever that is) – if you do it right, it is uncomfortable! But it does get ‘easier’ if you stick with it over time. Don’t be so nervous – Or is that what the wine is for? 😉
haha, you may be onto something…
That’s a GREAT retro shot of you!! And you totally deserve the reward of running with the wind at your back at the end!
I would definitely be nervous before a track workout!
The few times I’ve been back to an indoor track I used to frequently race at in my day, the smell instantly makes my heart race and hands clammy 🙂
Thank you! My parents took it at one of my meets. Yes, it was such a challenge running into the wind on the 400’s that I wanted to do just a couple sprints where it was only at my back!
I actually like the track, but I know how uncomfortable it is running at those paces, so that kind of gets me nervous before hand.
Very cool! in high school in the winter, we’d have some meets at an indoor track near by at Ohio State University. It was half the size of a normal track, and was crazy to go zipping around it. I know what you mean about the smell! That sort of rubbery scent always gets me too!
Considering I don’t do “track work” other than slogging around it at my normal slow pace, I’m gonna vote no, I don’t get nervous. LOL
I love the high school shot.
Ha, yeah, it’s never so bad when I’m doing my warm up/cool down, but the speed work is what gets me!
Thank you! those were the days!
The first picture is AWESOME! Caught you in action 🙂
Thank you! My parents took it. Glad they brought the camera that day!
I like your shoes 🙂
Why thanks! Mee too!
Was that picture really you? You look…taller! Not that you’re short! It just doesn’t look like you…all gangly arms and boneless hands!
Ha, it is the teen version of me. Yes, gangly and boneless all over! ….er, uh, what did I just say?
Well, hopefully you fixed that problem once you reached adulthood!
Totally, bones everywhere.
I totally cheat on my long bike rides! I check the direction of the wind and then do an out and back with the wind at my back on the way back. Got caught a few years back when my out felt so good, I did more distance than usual. Then turned around and hit a wall of wind. Thought I’d never make it home that day!
Haha, I know what you mean. I do that on some of my runs too. There’s nothing worse than cruising along and turn to run home and you have to fight the wind!