Return to track

With group-size restrictions in place through phase one, the Powermilers took a long break from track workouts to allow us to subdivide into smaller groups. These sub-groups met at different locations for road workouts (mostly fartleks, some tempo). Now that we're in phase two...for now, cases are sky-rocketing across the state!...we got back on the track. We're generally spaced out on the track anyway; it was really more about all meeting in the same place that created concern.

Last night was our second track workout. After the first workout I realized:

Track makes me sore. 

Regardless of the work I have consistently put in off the track, running around that little oval does something to make my muscles scream! Our first workout back was a short one: six repeats of 300m with 2 minutes jog rest. Naturally, with such a brief workout, we hammered those 300s, and I woke up the next morning SO stiff. I had to do some light plyometrics just to get out the door. It doesn't help that I run with the stroller on Wednesday mornings, which gives me awkward form. I was thrilled that we have a new girl running with us who just graduated from Tulane. She ran for Tulane, and she and I are close in pace, so it's great to have someone else to run with on the track.

The next workout - last night - was a staple, 12x400 at 2 mile pace with 400m jog. It seemed easy on paper, if you ignored the 100% humidity. But we survived. We actually had a great group on the track: myself, Mary Catherine, Jeff, Ivy, and Sal; Casey, who is much faster than us, paced us for a bit since he's coming off injury. The pack has impact: we all ran well, with my laps 1:27, 22, 24, 23, 23, 25, 23, 23, 23, 24, 25, 23. I didn't feel like a trillion bucks, but I got it done.

And yep, super sore after! Maybe it's the surface, or maybe it's the lighter shoes (I did the 300s in the incredibly uncomfortable Saucony Type A flat, and the 400s in the New Balance 1400). Or maybe it's the squats and lunges I did after (hard days hard!). Whatever it is, I know two things: I'm very happy to be back on the track, and I'm very sore, too!