Tempo runs are hard.
There I said it. I admit it…of late when I look at my training plan and see a tempo run I take a deep breath …I might even shudder a little because I know what’s coming. While I look forward to my most of my runs, especially my long runs, tempo runs have not been high on my list lately.
The key to a tempo run is the ability to maintain a specific and constant pace for a number of miles. How many miles of course depends on what you’re training for — for me, most of my runs are between 4 – 6 miles, plus warm up and cool down. Of late I have found it really hard to lock into the target pace. More often, I’ve been going out too fast and then fading – not a pattern I want to carry into my fall races.
But every run can teach you something if you let it – and these runs are clearly showing me I still have work to do on dialing in on my pacing.
Tempo runs are hard…and necessary.
Do you include tempo runs in your training? Can you lock in your pacing?
