Free Running

Not a particularly significant workout today, but I think that I learned something important.

Just an easy four miles today, and the target pace was 8:47. This is from my computer-generated workout plan from runnersworld.com and the pace is based on my last 10K, which was a pedestrian 44:49. Usually I run with my iPhone app RunKeeper tracking my run and giving me updates each mile on my pace. But since I always surpass the prescribed pace for these runs, I decided to see what I'd run without knowing my average pace at any given moment. So I ran with RunKeeper on, but without any updates; the app would only tell me when I'd finished four miles.

The results? I averaged 7:54 for four miles. That's so fast that my first move is to doubt the credibility of the app. But I do know the route I ran, and at the very least the app can keep track of time, so the results do seem accurate.

What does this tell me? That when I'm not worried about pace and just focus on running at whatever's a comfortable pace, I run faster? can't draw too much from one workout. But from now on I'll skip the per-mile updates and just run. It'll be particularly interesting to see how that works on the tempo runs, when you're really picking up the pace for those middle miles.