Monday, August 11, 2014

Three-A-Days

Before you think I've gone crazy and working out/ running has taken over my life, let me preface this by saying that although I did do three separate workouts yesterday, none of them were too long, so it wasn't too bad.

I think I have mentioned it here before, but just in case I haven't - Ryan is currently training for the Avenger's Half Marathon (at Disneyland in November). He is using the Jeff Galloway "Improving Your Time" training plan (since he has already run two half marathons and wants to get a bit faster). 

I try to do his weekend workouts with him - to keep him accountable, as well as to keep him motivated and chugging along (running has never been his passion, but has started enjoying it since I have come to fall in-love with it). This weekend he had speed work on his schedule - 4 x 800 (meaning 4 half mile runs). Since that is technically only 2 miles I decided I would do an easy pace 4 miles before we went over to the track.

Running at 4pm is HOT, HOT, HOT!

After I was done with my 4 miles, I came back to the house, grabbed some water (because even at an "easy pace" it was HOT AND SWEATY out), and we made our way over to a nearby track. On the way over I told him since his normal pace is between 10 and 12 minute miles (depending on the distance we are running), we could shoot for 8:30-9:00 minute mile pace for our 800s. 

We decided we would walk a lap (400 meters), run two laps (800 meters), walk a lap for recovery (400 meters), and so on until we finished the workout. 

This is my "I'm so happy to run with my hubby" face.
This is Ryan's "I'm DONE" face.

When I looked down at my watch (and also heard Ryan's breathing) I knew we were going a bit faster than I had mentioned our pace would be. The first half mile was in the 7:50 minute mile pace range. When Ryan asked me how fast we were going I said "fast". I asked him if he would be able to take each 800 faster than the one before and he said that he would try.

And try he did... WE GOT FASTER EVERY SET!! 

3:55
3:44
3:37
3:29

I have to say, I am pretty darn proud of us. The last half mile we were running UNDER 7 MINUTE MILE PACE! Ryan really gave it his all and he was surprised what he could do when he pushed himself (although I know he is capable of anything he sets his mind to).

During our cool down I had Ryan run a little extra for a self timer-ed photo :)

After we did a cool down lap around the track we decided to head home to get our stretch and strength on by popping in the PiYo DVD. Ryan has done yoga before and wanted to try PiYo with me. We did both the Define: Lower Body and the Define: Upper Body workouts (since each session is about 20 minutes). Thankfully (for you) we didn't take any photos of this portion of our workout. Ryan wants to keep trying PiYo, which is saying something, but did say it was a bit harder and filled with much more cardio than the yoga he is used to. 

To say we earned our showers is quite an UNDERSTATEMENT!! 

Do you ever do more than one workout in a day? 

4 comments:

EB said...

Great job by the hubby on rocking his speedwork!

The Silent Assassin said...

Dayuuummm! great for you guys! great for the hubby! and I'm 3 weeks short of ending my PiYO...love it!

mamacheetah said...

Wow! Nice work! Makes me feel better about the days I work a little harder.

Kelly said...

Be happy he is running! My boyfriend of 4 years absolutely hates running. I did get him to run the VA is for Lovers 14k in VA Beach with me but I'm pretty sure he murmured "I hate you" to me at mile 6... :) He felt better after eating a bread bowl and beer after the race.