Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

I hate speed work. I hate it. I love long slow runs that provide a serenity and calmness and where you feel like you can go forever. I do NOT love sprinting at max effort. But, it's a necessary evil for marathon training. This past Wednesday was our first speed workout of the season. We did quarter mile repeats (sprint for a quarter of a mile, slow jog for a quarter of a mile, repeat 6 times). You have to run as fast as you freaking can during the sprinting segments. Your breathing is high and so is your heartrate, and it should feel like you can't sustain it for too long. As Michael Conlon so eloquently put it, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. I hate the discomfort - I haaaaate it. Did I mention I hate it?

Being the geniuses that we are, during the first repeat we completely missed the quarter mile marker that the coaches had drawn into the path with chalk, so we sprinted the entire half mile. Then, when we reached the turn around point, it should've been time for another sprint, sooooo we sprinted the next quarter mile so as not to screw up the segments. For you math majors, that's 3 quarters of a mile at a dead sprint. Not. A. Fan. This resulted in me only doing 6 repeats instead of the 8 I'd wanted to do. It's a long season, I've got time to make up the missed reps, but from here on out I want to be sure that I complete the max reps recommended for my level (I'm following the intermediate plan this season), provided I'm feeling well and injury-free.

I actually asked coach Jason to be on my ass this season, because I want to be pushed and I want to gain some speed. He pushed me in the best of ways - keeping an eye on me, but not being up my ass, and being motivating and encouraging without making me feel slow, and it definitely helps you push when you know you're being watched. I'm sure at some point I'm going to regret asking him to push me, but I'm so grateful that TNT gives you these awesome coaches so you at least have the option of getting your ass kicked.

Coach Jason - runner, coach, warrior