Jenny Poore: Challenging Workouts are the Best
Jenny Poore writes about what she calls "big, scary workouts" — 10 x 800s and hard 10-milers.
It’s important to have a lot of variety in a training plan. You developed different systems and work different muscles by running speed workouts, tempo runs and long runs on a regular basis. I have a hard time choosing my favorite running workout because of that variety! I think my favorites tend to be the big, scary ones that you run near the end of a training cycle in peak week.
As an example, 10 x 800s and a 10-mile steady state run near goal marathon pace are two examples of workouts that scare me. You see them on your training calendar early in the cycle and you think, “how the heck am I going to be fit enough to do that?” You begin to wonder if your coach is either insane or just finds pleasure in your pain. But she is not and she doesn’t. Your coach simply knows what you’re made of before you reach your peak. You work so hard in the first 12 weeks of a marathon training cycle that once you reach peak week, you know you can conquer those big, scary workouts head on.
10 x 800s is a keystone workout for many before they run 26.2. If you follow the Yasso example, you can predict your marathon finish time with the average of each 800 repeat. For example, if you run 3:05 for each 800 (and you’re fit enough to run all 10 in that time), you are hypothetically ready to run 3 hours 5 minutes in the marathon. I’m not sure whether or not I agree 100 percent with this correlation, but I know for sure that this workout gives me a big confidence boost leading up to race day. When I find a certain rhythm to this workout, I come home feeling both exhausted and confident that my legs are ready to really race.
A steady state workout can also be a big confidence boost. While the pace isn’t as fast as a typical tempo run, you’re running 10 miles close to goal marathon pace. If you can find rhythm, stay within each mile and focus on an efficient stride, this workout can really make you feel fit and ready for race day.
My favorite workouts are scary and daunting at the beginning of a training cycle, but you know you’re fit, fast, and ready to race 26.2 by the time you get around to running them.
For more on the Saucony 26 Strong program, which pairs up 13 coaches with 13 marathon rookies, visit 26Strong.com.