Ladyless

[spyro]

We were ladyless on Monday and again on Wednesday. What gives, ladies?

(Excluding Kyla, of course, who made a surprise appearance last night.)

[Aldo]

Possibly stuck on traffic, like me, who then decided to give up and return home

Looking at the plan for the next two Wednesdays I noticed that they are identical and comprise a substantial total of 8.4 km of speed work. The obvious question would be "Why so much all of a sudden?" and "Why are they identical?", (an error or possibly for comparative purposes?).

And then, on the following Wednesday, the last of the month, we fall back to just over 4 km of speed work? Why such a drastic difference form week to week?

[Sheila]

My train was late going home. I would have only made it around 7:45. I didn't want to rush into a mid-workout workout when I haven't been to track since last Fall.

Aldo, I don't know the answer to your question. Perhaps ask Javier next Wednesday.

[paul]

Looking at the plan for the next two Wednesdays I noticed that they are identical and comprise a substantial total of 8.4 km of speed work

1 - They're almost identical but not quite
2 - Did you read my accompanying email?

[Aldo]

You are right, Paul!

I did not notice the additional 1600 m tacked on after the 5x400m (for a total of 10 K of speed work). I don't recall that much speed/distance at track since the days of Yves Fournier some 20 years ago, the first Boreal coach and founder, who once had us do 6 x 3200 m (???, is that possible? Sheila, do you remember that workout at all or am I imagining things?)

Having said all this, I prefer longer track workouts (if I am rested and free of injuries).
So the question remains why such a drastic cutback on the following Wednesday? Just to recuperate?
(Or, if it is up to the athlete, I prefer to tranfer the 1600 m of the 4th week onto the 5th week)

[Sheila]

Yup Aldo I can never forget the 6 X 3200m track workout. I only did 5. It was a bit much for the middle of the week or for any day. We were younger and faster and crazier...( well maybe we are more crazy now) in those days!

I think it is quite common to have a shorter week after a couple of intense weeks. I think you are correct to assume it is a recuperation week.

[Aldo]

Looking over my running log, we actually did those 3200m not once, but three times. On April 30th, 1997, 6x3200 @13:35, on June 11th, 6x3200 @13:38 and then on July 16th 1997 when I only did 5 at 13:40 average but noted on my log that the temperature was 27 C.

Just a few months earlier, in the fall of '96, you will recall for sure Sheila that we ran the Montreal Marathon together at a "leisurely pace of ~4:45" until about the 32 K mark at Parc Lafontaine, where I slowed down slightly at a water table and then continued at just under the 5:00 pace to the finish with a 3:21 at the Old Port, but never caught up with you who ran the last 10 k at a blistering pace of 4:30 to finish with a 3:13:06. (You must have taken a shortcut down St-Laurent instead of running all the way to the old Forum before heading south to the Old Port ! )

And a similar relative story in our last two marathons, except that we see the finish line some 40 minutes later than some 20 years ago.
Ahh !! Those were the days !!!

[BrianGee]

When we realized there were no women there last Wednesday, Javier said we should run anyway. He wasn’t able to answer my question, “But why?”

[spyro]

I came to running late in life, so I never experienced it when my body had more to give (I was playing team sports instead at the time). Reading the workouts you endured and times you had (Aldo and Sheila) makes my head spin.

[Sheila]

We also used to do on a pretty regular basis 8 X 1200 meters.... yup..we had younger legs back then....

[spyro]

OK, stop it. You're making me feel worse and worse.