Tempo run

Running diaries: 26/10/2021

After about 12 hours, I was up and ready to go for a run again. Given I had run in the evening yesterday, and it had been a fast run — I had a bit of doubt in my head. However, knowing that it was a tempo run — which meant that I would have to run both fast and slow gave me confidence that I could do this.

Originally the training plan only required me to run 4.1 kilometres today. But I have been sticking to a motto for myself for the past two months “It’s either (at least) 5k or no k”. Therefore, I would run the entire 5k. The plan today required me to run

• 10 Minutes @ 7:55 mins/km — 9:00 mins/km
• 5 Minutes @ 6: 25 mins/km — 7:00 mins/km
• 5 Minutes @ 5:50 mins/km — 6:00 mins/km
• 5 Minutes @ 6: 25 mins/km — 7:00 mins/km
• 5 Minutes @ 7:55 mins/km — 9:00 mins/km

I did try my best to run the first 10 at the specified pace. But since I have trained for the last two months before starting this plan. It was difficult for me to slow down and run at that pace. But I did try my best to run at the advised pace. The second tempo pace was relatively faster pace, and I was able to keep up with the advised pace. I, however, ran the third tempo pace much faster than the time that was advised. The third 5 minutes stint was rather brisk as I pushed me a bit further knowing that I would have a ten minutes session where I could slow down.

Overall, I enjoyed the tempo run. I did not follow the advised tempo to the tee. But overall, I was able to maintain some kind of a tempo and did follow the philosophy of a tempo run. I look forward to other tempo runs as I really enjoyed the idea of picking up the pace, and then again going slow. I also am looking forward to the longer runs and faster runs this week.