Per Half Mile

OK, so there was a little misunderstanding on my last post. When I wrote that I was run 3 800m laps and needed to do it in a 5:10 pace, some of you thought I meant I needed to run at a 5'10" per MILE pace. No no people - let's get real. I needed to run the 800 METERS in 5'10" which means I would have roughly been running a 10'20" per MILE pace. So anyway, I ran them last night and did fine. It was a little bit of a struggle, but not anything overwhelming. This is what was on the training schedule for this Sunday in an attempt to run the Detroit Half-Marathon in 2 hours and 20 minutes. Galloway mentions in his book that if you're not able to complete the 800m runs in the assigned time, your time goal is probably too ambitious. Does this mean I'm on track for a 2'20" half-marathon? It's not likely - in fact highly unlikely. One reality check will be a 5k scheduled in two weekends. The training calls for a <29 minute race time which if my calculations are correct would put me at a 9'20"/mile pace. I don't see it happening - running is not like a team sport where there's always a chance for a suprise last second field goal or walk-off homerun. You get what you train for and sometimes not even that. I guess I won't make any predictions and just run this 5k and try to hit the 29-minute or better finish and see where I wind up. I still need to get new shoes - my shins can be really problematic - not splints, but just uber tight!! Happy running. :)