This week I also started and finished the "Galloway Training Programs" book (and actually I ordered it as an actual book in class I wanted to take notes or something). The book did not tell me a lot more than I was able to get from the website but it did offer some real world stories of how his method helped runners and made running a longer distance something anyone can do. After reading this and working with his training programs for almost 4 months, I see what he is talking about.For my run today I decided to use the biggest advice from his site and the book: Start slow and maintain the slower pace until the end. This has been hard for me. I want to do this all FAST! I mean come on, I should be doubled over and about to puke when I am done with 7 miles right? That was how it was in high school when we did any kind of distance runs. I should also be sore when this is over. Well, following his plan I was able to do all 7 miles at a 12:40 minute mile for the entire time. Now, I want to be down and closer to the 12 min/mile or even 11:30 for my race in 2 weeks. I hope the competitive nature of a race will lower my time a little. Plus when I was done today, I felt great! I wasn't sore, I didn't feel bad and I could have kept going (but I am working hard to trust the plan).
It is kind of fun to be able to look at the map and see that I can do this! 7 months from today we will be arriving down in Florida. It means I have a lot more training to do, probably the hardest training since it will be during the school year but I have time and I can do this!
I love using the princess map to track your long runs. Great job! You're halfway there!!
ReplyDeleteHave you been using walk breaks as well? I'm still trying to play around with using those in my runs but still haven't mastered intervals for that yet. Like you, I just want to go, I don't want to stop and walk lol. I don't use them in my shorter runs, but anything 5-6+ I think I'll have to use them, and use them early... What intervals do you use, if you walk too?
I use the walk breaks. I have found a 2 minute run and 1 minute walk keeps my pace really good for my long runs. For races I think I will use a 3/1 ratio but we will see. Galloway recommends a training pace about 2 minutes slower than a race pace and I have a hard time not going really hard at the beginning. Using the walk breaks from the beginning keep me steady and I end feeling great. Even with 7 miles I finished going faster than I did at the beginning and I felt GREAT!! Have you checked out his website? He has a ton of information on the run/walk/run method! www.jeffgalloway.com
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