Last "threshold" workout before Philly Half RnR. Workout was 6x1 mile repeats at HM pace, with 3:30 mins jog recoveries (I found that doing "distance" recoveries only encourages me to move slower and/or walk, whereas I jog at a reasonable clip for time intervals)
Splits: 6:48; 6:38; 6:45; 6:34; 6:37; 6:34. Recoveries were all between 8:35-9:00 pace.
I have never, ever run this fast. Probably the best HM workout I've ever done; even best workout, period. I have no idea where this speed came from. It was a morning run, so usually my legs are a bit slow to wake up. I also ran on an empty stomach; only coffee before hand.
Here is what I can surmise: (1) lots of carbs last night (I ate ALL the foods! An entire large bag of pop chips, reese's peanut butter cups, a small bag of tortilla chips and an energy bar in addition to my dinner - hungry girl, haha!); (2) weather was perfect here in Philly (here for work); about 65 degrees, and light breeze, low humidity; (3) had enough sleep; (5) perhaps I had this fitness for a while now, and Ive been battling some reasonably tough weather lately. But I honestly think I am just eating appropriately (albeit not terribly healthily last night) with enough calories in a way that I haven't been doing in previous training cycles. Im certain that has made the biggest difference.
Whatever it was, I really can't get over it. Part of me is wondering if somehow my garmin was wrong. Every time I tried to dial the pace back, I fell back into the comfortably hard LT pace feeling that I'm used to, and these are the paces that came out; i.e. I wasn't pushing it. By the end I was definitely fatigued, but not ridiculously so.
Anyway, it has given me confidence for a strong HM next week. Lets hope the weather is good!
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