Might I Actually Be Getting Faster?

This morning we all ran a 5 mile race in the park - it was the Poland Springs Marathon Kickoff 5 Miler. The  NYC marathon is officially a week away, so this little race was the first of many events this week leading up to the big one next Sunday. I was tired, and had just planned to run the race nice and easy. I ran at a pace that felt easy, and I wasn't checking my watch often, and I ended up PR'ing the race! Who AM I?! My breathing was relaxed, my legs felt strong, and I cruised my way to a really great time.

I think today was just this strange combination of great running weather, great energy, a decent course, and apparently a strong performance from yours truly. I also think it can be largely attributed to the speedwork I'm suffering through this season. Last Wednesday night is the perfect example:

We did a "Halloween run" where we dressed up in costumes. My mentor group dressed up as Pheidippides, the ancient Greek warrior that ran the first marathon ever (side note: he died at the end of it). We knew we'd be running hills that night and togas were an easily-removable costume if they proved to be too much of a hindrance, and we thought it was clever. We did NOT, however, know we would be running Harlem Hill, as opposed to Cat Hill. I'd had a really solid hill workout the week before on Cat Hill and was looking to repeat. Harlem Hill is allegedly shorter (we used the back side, not the evil side) but it felt just as long to me, and man that thing is absolutely steeper. I ran 6 strong repeats up that damn thing and every time felt like I couldn't breathe when I got to the top - which, by the way, is the entire point. Coach Jason ran repeat number 4 with me, which was, of course, my strongest one all night, and he kept yelling "This is how you get faster!!!". The son of a bitch is right, apparently. He was also wearing a warrior costume, which made it kind of funny, even though I had zero air left to laugh.

I have to say, seeing the hard work pay off really makes you want to keep doing it. I never thought I'd really get much faster; stronger, and more comfy at a slow pace, yes. But faster? I kind of can't believe it's happening.