Compression

Mile 1: I'm at the track, but I almost didn't make it out at all. I don't know why I'm so tired and so sore all the time. This, even though yesterday was fairly easy. Sunday's Hinckley hills and Saturday's long run must be what's doing it. As expected, I run slowly. I had been sort of thinking of doing mile intervals, or else a ladder workout (sets of say, 1600/1200/800). Now I know I will need at least a second mile to wake up.

Mile 2: Things are not getting better. I'll need a third mile. This is not typical of my last few track workouts, by the way. I'm usually getting started on the intervals by this time.

Mile 3: I'm only running marginally faster than I did for my first two. I will need still more time to wake up. I know. It's getting ridiculous.

Mile 4: Hey, I know. Maybe I will just do a tempo run. Maybe I will start that at mile 5.

Mile 5: I'm still not woke. Although my pace has continued to get marginally faster with each passing mile, I'm still not anywhere near tempo pace. Maybe I can still get down to tempo pace at mile 6. On the other hand, perhaps I won't do anything at all of substance today. We'll see what mile 6 brings.

Mile 6: We'll, mile 6 did not bring tempo pace. The pace that I am running has gotten better still, but it's not where it needs to be. Maybe I will just call this an Aerobic Threshold (AT) run and call it a day. But I still want to do ten, and who knows? Maybe I can still get down to tempo pace.

Mile 7: There's one more chance to be able to call this a tempo run. It will involve running each of the last three miles at eight-ish minute per mile pace. This is my best mile yet, but I'm still more than a half-minute too slow. I stop for water and collect myself. Okay, time to fly.

Mile 8: I fly. It's tough, but not quite as bad as anticipating. But can I do two more?

Mile 9: That's one more, and it's even a wee bit faster than the previous one.

Mile 10: The pace is better still, and I complete the tempo run with flying colors.

Mile 10+: I don't have time to cool down as much as I would have liked. I'm exhausted anyway. Not a great run today, but at least it was something of substance. One other thing. With each mile getting faster than the previous one, I can also call this a compression run.