It's a Passion

The workout room called me. I woke up this morning a little sluggish, but that's only because I'm not a morning person. In my heart...I wanted to run.

I ate my cereal and started reading my book of training secrets. I flipped to the pages that talk about speed training. I know that interval speed workouts are important...I just needed more info. I had a ton of questions.

Why is it good?
When should I start interval training?
How long should each interval be?
How fast should I go?
How many should I do?
Which is better, treadmill or track?
How long do I rest inbetween intervals?

Luckily, all of my questions had answers.

I decided I would shoot for 3 intervals.

I went to the workout room where I could get an accurate reading of my distance. I warmed up at 5.5 mph for the first mile. Then I jumped to 7.5 for the 2 laps (800 meters or half mile). I slowed to 4.5 the next lap. Then back up to 7.0 the next 2 laps.
I rested for about 1.5 laps going a speed of 5.0mph. Then kicked it into high gear of 8.0 for one lap (400 mph). I tried to watch the clock as I forgot my watch at home, hoping I could do this in 90 seconds. That's what the book said most runners do for a typical speed interval...400 meters in 90 seconds.
I did.
However, in order to keep up- I found myself taking shorter steps...fast little steps with my knees high. It worked.
I turned down the speed to 4.5 and jogged. After a while I turned it up to 7.0 and did 2 laps. Back down to 5.0 and another round of jogging, I decided that was good. I had run almost 4 miles and done 4 intervals...that was fine.

But then a song came on that rocked me. I didn't want to stop...instead I wanted to run again!

So up went the speed...5.5, 6.0, 6.5...

Dance, Dance
We're falling apart to half time
Dance, Dance
And these are the lives you'd love to lead
Dance, this is the way they'd love
If they knew how misery loved me

When that song was over...I figured so was my fun...but then the next one rocked me even more!!!

7.0, 7.5, 8.0....8.5!

rhythm is a dancer,
it's a soul's companion,
you can feel it everywhere

Lift your hands and voices
free your mind and join us
you can feel it in the air

Ooh, it's a passion
Ooh, you can feel it in the air
Ooh, it's a passion
Ooh, ooh, ooh, oh

A far away light in the futuristic place we might be,
It's a tiny world just big enough to support the kingdom of one
knowledgeable,
throw away the loneliness and head back down,
I'm going too fast, I'm going too fast

I plunge right on through the office door,
and into the arms of the bottomless negro of love,
suddenly I can't remember,
how to stop, or turn around,

Do I have to get behind myself,
Do I have to turn around before I can point,
I flip 'til I can breathe


Finally I stopped after 5 intervals and 5 miles.

I came home and used my new yoga mat for nearly an hour.