The need for speed

For starters, the title is not a rejection or rebuttal of John Bingham's No Need for Speed (which I've heard is excellent).
It has not even been a year since I started to include speed in my training. That happened in February, and my friend Mary handed me the gauntlet workout (2 mile warm up, then 1600, 800, 400, 200, 100). For the 1600, it had to be run in less than 7:10. I told her I wasn't even sure if I could run under 8:00 and she though I would break 7:00. I ended up running it in 6:49 and was quite surprised. Since then, I've incorporated speed training and found that not only has it helped drop my times, but I also like speed work.
What?!
I used to hate running fast. I ran the 1500 in 9th grade (then PR of 7:14) and got lapped. I just couldn't go fast.
I still cannot sprint - I just cannot get my legs moving immediately, but I can pick things up and pass people in a race, even at the end (thanks to the training). And I've found I like running on the track. It is the only part of my training (other than races themselves) that I get butterflies before. I know there are expected times to hit, and standing at the starting line, I always wonder if I'm going to hit them. But once I start my watch and take off, the butterflies fly away and I just get in a groove. Yasso 800s, mile repeats, cutdowns (where you start at a certain pace and get faster and faster each interval), they are all exciting. I find good music to crank me through the intervals and I just go. I suppose it's also an opportunity for me to get a little aggression out because I can just dig deep and run hard.
Today was a big workout. 2.5 mile warm-up; 2 mile cut-down on track, start at 2 minutes for first lap and try to cut-down each lap by 3 seconds or so; 3 mile run; 3 lap (1200), 2 lap (800), 1 lap (400). Jog 1 lap between each rep and lap results 5:45, 3:42, and 1:45. 2.5 mile cool-down. Total mileage: 12.25 miles
While I had to do it on the treadmill with the snow, I did have lots of company. My dad, who is quickly becoming a gym addict (in a good way), was on the treadmill next to me. Then later, my grandfather (his dad) was on the treadmill. And then my two tri-buds Adam and Mark stood on a treadmill talking to me while I was doing my recovery laps. Those 2 guys crack me up. The first time we ran a half-marathon course together, they finished the course pushing and shoving each other like two kids. How funny. I was fortunate enough to train with them a bit this break, but we didn't get in as many runs together as hoped (but I did get a lot of pool time, which was excellent). But there will be other opportunities to run with them.
Here's my schedule for the week:
Tuesday, January 5: 2.5 mile warm-up; 2 mile cut-down on track, start at 2 minutes for first lap and try to cut-down each lap by 3 seconds or so; 3 mile run (can be done off the track—probably better to do so!); 3 lap (1200), 2 lap (800), 1 lap (400). Jog 1 lap between each rep and aim for 5:45, 3:42, and 1:45. 2.5 mile cool-down. Total mileage: 12.25 miles

Wednesday, January 6: 6 miles easy

Thursday, January 7: 8 miles easy

Friday, January 8: OFF

Saturday, January 9: 14 miles easy

Sunday, January 14: 7 miles easy

Total Mileage: 47.5 miles
It's a little crazy to already be running so much. When I was training for MCM, I didn't run that much until week 12 (for those keeping track, this is week 3). But, I'm actually not feeling tired. I'm sure it helps that I've been off from school, but I think it also has to do with the fact that I'm just getting used to running a lot. My friend Sarah, who is the one designing my Boston plan, currently runs 70mpw. I hope to get up to that point someday. Speed will get me there! The action not the drug, in case you hadn't figured that out. ;-)