16-04-2026, 09:11 AM
I ran my Wednesday speed session with great determination yesterday as I was tired of the mediocrity and the lackadaisical feeling of lethargy. Remarkably it worked, not mind blowingly exceptional, but good enough to make me realize that so much of my resistance exists in my head. This naturally, I have recognized a long time ago, life sometimes however requires an aha moment to enable the creation of change. My knee, or rather the fear of its inflammation reoccurring has interfered with the progression of the program. I subconsciously have been inhibiting my potential speed as part of the defense mechanism to protect myself but subconsciously disallowed myself the privilege of running faster. I truly feel that yesterday was the beginning of unlocking the mental block to release the fear from which I have suffered, through the traumatization of being told by my Orthopod, that I will never run again. Thank you Gavin for highlighting this as the issue that has been holding me back. Hopefully we can start translating the slightly improved 1 and 2 K splits into a quicker parkrun. Herewith the session:
Warmup 8’00 @ 120 BPM slowish jog to session start.
1K @ 4’48.0 @ AHR of 148 BPM. Although I went into the session with full intent on running better than I have done since embarking on the program, I was also aware that my 1st K was going to be followed by the monster 2K segment.
2K @ 9’44.0 @ AHR of 155 BPM. I deliberately only allowed a 2 minute recovery from the first K as I didn’t want to over think this run, its I believe one of the things that has been subconsciously preventing quicker times. I ran through the 500 in around 2’24 and recognized that if I could hold the pace and finish fast this would make the session. Went through the 1k in 4’48 and focused on posture and form which was starting to go, I translated this into regathering my breathing rhythm and everything clicked to finish in around 4”20/K which translated into 9’44. Although I didn’t feel that in the moment that I could have run this particular 2k any faster, I recognized that perhaps next week or perhaps even next month there would be more to give to the effort.
1K @ 4’39.0 @ AHR of 153 BPM. Buoyed by my 2K time I again curtailed my recovery to just 2 minutes and went off hard @ 4’08/K dropping to an average of around 4’48 through the halfway mark. I managed to pick this up over the final 200m to the mid 2’20 ‘s. Although I finished feeling pretty spent I knew that the session was the beginning of better things to come.
This is in no way where I want or need to be in terms of reaching my goal of an eventual sub 23 minute Parkrun but I feel that this was the 1st breakthrough on my way of getting beyond a consistent sub 25. Thank you Gavin for your patience, persistence and continued encouragement, without it I may have settled for mediocrity.
Warmup 8’00 @ 120 BPM slowish jog to session start.
1K @ 4’48.0 @ AHR of 148 BPM. Although I went into the session with full intent on running better than I have done since embarking on the program, I was also aware that my 1st K was going to be followed by the monster 2K segment.
2K @ 9’44.0 @ AHR of 155 BPM. I deliberately only allowed a 2 minute recovery from the first K as I didn’t want to over think this run, its I believe one of the things that has been subconsciously preventing quicker times. I ran through the 500 in around 2’24 and recognized that if I could hold the pace and finish fast this would make the session. Went through the 1k in 4’48 and focused on posture and form which was starting to go, I translated this into regathering my breathing rhythm and everything clicked to finish in around 4”20/K which translated into 9’44. Although I didn’t feel that in the moment that I could have run this particular 2k any faster, I recognized that perhaps next week or perhaps even next month there would be more to give to the effort.
1K @ 4’39.0 @ AHR of 153 BPM. Buoyed by my 2K time I again curtailed my recovery to just 2 minutes and went off hard @ 4’08/K dropping to an average of around 4’48 through the halfway mark. I managed to pick this up over the final 200m to the mid 2’20 ‘s. Although I finished feeling pretty spent I knew that the session was the beginning of better things to come.
This is in no way where I want or need to be in terms of reaching my goal of an eventual sub 23 minute Parkrun but I feel that this was the 1st breakthrough on my way of getting beyond a consistent sub 25. Thank you Gavin for your patience, persistence and continued encouragement, without it I may have settled for mediocrity.