At running club this week, I told the coach I wanted to do a practice run for my PT test, which is next week. For once, I’m not concerned about completing the distance, or even about my speed. But this year, I want to do really well, and score a 95 or better on the test. The trouble was, I hadn’t run that specific distance since my test last year, so I had no idea where to set the throttle to make it through.
So the coach agreed it was a good idea, and that he’d time me. I warmed up in the evening sun, already sweating from heat that would be more at home in July than May. After the rest of the group started their first set of intervals, I set out for six solid laps. The coach told me I needed 1:45 laps, and to just make sure I didn’t go out too hard. I set a medium cadence and tried to keep my stride in check a little, letting the pace come to me rather than trying to find it. The first few laps went well, and while I was breathing hard, I didn’t have that panic sensation I sometimes get when I dial in too much speed at the beginning.
After a mile, the heat and the aggressive pace started to wear on me, and I had to back off just a touch, but I kept moving as best I could. On the last lap, it was all I could do just to keep the pace I had, and I only managed to wick it up very slightly for the last hundred meters or so. I ended up turning in a 10:05, which for me is downright amazing. Even in the heat, I managed to run a full 1:20 faster than I’ve ever run that distance before! I was stoked! I’m still stoked. I just hope I can turn in that same kind of performance on Wednesday. Even better, I hope I can find 6 more seconds!