I forgot about intervals.

Today I did something I haven't done in over a year.

I laced up, ran down the driveway, did a few miles of easy warm up...
and stalled a bit..
before running a set of intervals.

Intervals. Oh, how I have missed you!
The lung-burning, leg thrusting, arm pumping kind of workout that leaves you with no doubt that you are ALIVE.

The usual drama was there:

• the need to unlayer, to strip off all the extra clutter- water bottles, the shirt tied around my waist.
• the watch that beeps "low battery" , causing you to reconsider if any of the workout will go into the log
• the bathroom stop(s).
• the cars passing by with students going to school.
• short, but really slow recoveries
• the BIG feeling of satisfaction, knowing I still have "it" even if "it" is not the same pace "it" was during my 5k training a year ago. Practice will change that.
• the feeling of being spent, but not over-spent.

Something to start with, anyway :)

All things considered, it was a good first session back.
I rat at my pace goal, but my heart rate was lower than it should be for 3k-5k paced running. That leaves me thinking I need a few things:

• another max test and resting heart rate check, and 
• to get familiar with being uncomfortable again. (shorten and speed up the recovery jogs)

I have a race calendar somewhere. I just need to print it out and make a plan. 

I forgot how much I love this stuff!


Intervals: Love 'em or hate 'em?
Do you have interval drama too? If so, tell me about it!