Now that I am back in full scale half marathon training, the speed work is back in effect! At home, I usually do my speed workouts on a treadmill. Doing the workouts on a treadmill makes it easier for me to keep a consistent pace and make sure I am staying there for the duration of the interval. Since I am away this week, my weekly speed work session had to occur on the road. This was definitely a different experience for me, and I was worried about keeping on pace for my intervals.
I didn’t have the Garmin 305 yet, so I relied on my iPhone GPS app for distance and pacing. I actually convinced my husband to go along on the run with me (this occurs about as often as a lunar eclipse). Because he hadn’t run since the CVS Downtown 5K in September, and I REALLY wanted a running buddy, I didn’t tell him I was doing intervals or that the run would be a six miler!
Being the great sport that he is, he ran the two mile warm up and the first 5 minute interval with me. Is it bad that it gives me a perverse sense of satisfaction to know that I am a faster runner than my husband?
I was on my own for the next twenty-five minutes of the workout. Surprisingly, I felt really strong and powered through the rest of the workout staying as close to the pacing as I could with my GPS app. I really enjoyed doing the workout on the road, and in my book, the road beats the treadmill any day. I think doing the workouts on the road was also great for simulating what it feels like during a race.
I will definitely be doing more speed work on the road, especially now that I have the trusty 305 to help me with pacing and distance!
Do you do your speed work on the track, the treadmill, or the road?
