By Amanda Gonzales
“Track, Track, Track!”
That is the subject of the email I receive two times a week on Tuesday and Thursday from my running coach. I see the email and take a deep breath to calm my nerves. Then, I double click to unveil the torture that will be awaiting me at the track that morning. The most feared and dreaded email is the one that delivers the message that simply states, “Hills, bring lots of water.” After receiving that email once and enduring that workout, I am slightly relieved for every email I open that does not deliver that message.
Why am I doing this to myself you might ask? It is simple. I do it for the love of running I have developed. Running is now a passion and a hobby of mine and I want to improve my speed, my form, my endurance and hone the skills I already have. I am also doing it to prevent future injuries. By learning proper running form and breathing techniques, I will hopefully be saving my body from future injuries that can occur from having poor form and stride.
I want to become a faster runner. My goal is to be able to run a 10 minute mile pace and be able to maintain that for 13 to 26 miles. I currently wog at a slow pace of 15 minutes per mile. I am not ashamed. I consider myself a strong runner.
Since I started running two years ago, I have completed a marathon and two half marathons in addition to several shorter distance races.
It is simply that after two years, I am ready to improve, I really want to improve. I am not satisfied being the last finisher in every race I enter anymore. Again, not that there is anything wrong with that, I have been doing it and proud of it the past two years. It is always easy to find my race time by scrolling to the bottom of the race standings and discovering me in the bottom five.
I have, in previous races, been passed by walkers. I’ve tried to catch up to walkers only to be unable to catch them. I have been passed by 80 year old men. I have gone out for a run with a friend I have inspired to try running and been left in the dust by that friend on her first time running. Oh and I have been passed in a race by an amazing woman running with one leg on stilts. I think I have some room for improvement.
My local YMCA offers my track class by an incredible person and coach who is track-certified, a personal trainer, local college track coach, and most importantly, a runner. He knows what he is doing and specializes in making runners run until they are light headed and feel like they might puke. Ok, maybe that is just me who gets that effect!
I emailed the coach asking him if he would be willing to accept a runner who is overweight, slow, and in need of massive improvement. His answer? “You bet, just do it!”
My first class was a tad intimidating. I showed up and guess who is in my class with me? Six women, all intelligent, incredible moms who are all about six inches taller than me, perfectly fit, average about 100 pounds less than me in weight, and run anywhere from a six to a nine minute mile.
I took a deep breath, smiled, introduced myself, and told them I was here to make them all look good! Inside, I thought to myself, “Here I am a heffalump among gazelles.” I have to say that every single woman in that group is amazing and cheers me on. It is a supportive environment and that is one of the things I love about it.
You may wonder, “What is the speed work?”
Every class starts with a warm up jog anywhere from 1×400 (one full lap of the track) to 4x 400. Then we move on to agilities and plyometrics. After that we stretch and then, we are given our workouts, which are variations of what was in the dreaded email. The fantastic thing about our coach is that he takes the time to vary everyone’s workout based upon ability, race schedule, and injuries.
My last workout was 2.5×400, 2×400, 1.5×400, 1×400,1×200, and finally 1×100. Each of these are to be run at a speed that is race speed or as fast as you can run with a two to three minute rest in between each leg. In other words, torture! It is very challenging.
Would I ever do this to myself? No Way! That is why this class is amazing and why I am hoping it will improve my pace over time. There is also something about being in a group of people cheering you on with a coach that is watching you when your run, helping you improve your form that just makes you push yourself harder and work harder than you would on your own.
There is nothing like the feeling of finishing a track workout, feeling like you might puke, feeling your heart race and jump, feeling sweaty and sore and sometimes hobbling off the track, but knowing you left it all on the track and you did it!
TRACK, TRACK, TRACK! I love it!
I strongly encourage you to go out and try it! Check your local YMCA and running clubs for Track classes or speed training.
Like my coach said to me, “Just do it!”
My improvement so far in four weeks had me running a three minute 400 two times in a row, which would be a 12 minute mile, so I think it is working for me!
Thank you so much for this blog entry. I had no idea that there was someone else out there like me. This was very inspiring! Thank you so much!