After a few exhausting days of driving to and from Bulgaria and not getting enough sleep, I was running on fumes. But there’s something magical about running that just pulls you in. Despite the fatigue, I couldn’t resist hitting the road today. There’s nothing like the feeling of your body in motion, the familiar paths, and the joy of pushing your limits.
Interval Training on the Calendar
Today’s workout was all about intervals, as scheduled in my training plan. I started with a warm-up for a few minutes to get my muscles ready. Then, it was time to dive into the main event: four intervals of two minutes at my 5k pace, followed by one interval of two minutes at my 1k pace, and then repeating the sequence. These intervals are a fantastic way to get familiar with different paces and maintaining them without going all out.
Cadence Boost: A Small Change with Big Results
One of the highlights of today’s run was experimenting with my cadence. I decided to increase it from my usual 170 to around 180. I wanted to see how my body would react and how my legs would handle the faster turnover. Surprisingly, my heart rate didn’t spike, but my speed definitely did. It felt like I was running faster with the same amount of energy. This was a game-changer for me, and I’m excited to incorporate this into my future runs to see the full benefits.
The Cooldown: A Fun Observation
After the intervals, I transitioned into my cooldown. What was funny, though, was how effortless my usual cadence felt after running with a higher cadence. I checked my pace during the cooldown, and it was quite higher than usual. It felt like I wasn’t putting in any effort at all, which was a pleasant surprise and a great way to end the run.
Learning from the Run
Intervals, especially the longer ones, are fantastic for getting familiar with different paces and learning how to maintain them. Comparing today’s data with my previous runs, I can see significant improvement. Early on, I would start too fast and then slow down to the correct pace. Now, I’m more consistent and can maintain the desired pace from the start. This improvement means that I’m using less energy on corrections and more on achieving my running goals.
Technical Details
- Distance: 6.31 km
- Time: 38:18
- Pace: 6:05 /km
- Elevation Gain: 32m
- Shoes: HOKA Mach X
- Weather: Cloudy, 21°C (feels like 21°C)
Final Thoughts
Today’s run was a powerful reminder of why I love running. It’s not just about physical endurance but also about mental strength. Pushing through the intervals and experimenting with my cadence was challenging yet incredibly rewarding. And to top it all off, when I finished, my wife was waiting for me at the office with a kiss – my personal medal for a job well done. ☺️
Strava Activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/11531438687