My Coach is a Grandpa!

If you follow this blog, you know I think the world of my coach. 

Well, for the last 9months, he has been expecting. Ehem ...correction, his daughter has been expecting. Coach has been so excited and it's been rather enjoyable getting to know this side of him.

See, training sessions usually go like this:

Coach: Nooo! (Scowl) I said two times around the track. 800meters. That's1:40 at 400meters and 3:20 at 800meters. C'mon Let's go. (Ugh. When will this girl process two times around the track = 800meters?)
Me (Totally brain glucose deficit): Duuuuh, what pace?

Coach scribbled these paces down for me, about 2years ago.
I'm still trying to learn them. 

Coach is straight forward when it comes to training. There's no room for any sissy-crap. It's a tough workout every Wednesday, at the track. I often feel like a race horse, with snot and spit hanging out of every facial orifice, huffing, puffing and staying focussed in Lane #1.

BUT...

When track work is done, there's time for small talk and we catch up on the week. During this time, I love to ask Coach about his daughter and how her pregnancy is going. The man's face totally lights up. He goes from 'Stern Track Coach' to a 'Softy' in seconds flat .... 'Oh, she's doing great. We heard the baby's heart beat. My daughter gained another pound' and my all-time favorite response of his 'You know I'm buying my Grandbaby her first Nike sneakers! Little pink Nike running sneakers!'

Well today, at 9:32AM, Ellie Grace was born!

Congratulations Coach!

All of God's blessings to Ellie Grace, you and your family!

I hope to get a picture soon, so I can share here on my blog!

Until then ...

TRAIN SMART TODAY!

Thursday at the track: 3mile test

I guess my last few runs prompted my Coach to see where I stood, so today, after a slow 2mile warm-up, and six 21second 100meter strides, I ran 3miles on the track.

My goal pace: 7:20.

Talk about self-talking: 

Yes, I can!

Yes, I will!

I am doing this!

I repeated the first two "Yes, I can and Yes, I will" about a gazillion times, after the first mile. Then, about 2.75mile mark, I added the "I am doing this." 

I had to force myself to repeat, "I am doing this". Like when you have a cavity or need a tooth pulled and have to make a dental appointment. You really don't want to go, but somehow you convince yourself that everything will be fine and it will all work out. You may even envision yourself going through some pain, but then the moments afterward are all types of sugar and bliss and you say to yourself: "I am doing this!" Next thing you know, you're making the dental appointment ...in total denial of what what is really going to go down!

That's pretty much how it was when I was looking down at my beloved Garmin, seeing the 7:30minute pace, but saying, "I am doing this" - ignoring the aching hamstring, gluteus, IT band and heel pain, but hey, on a scale of 1-5, it was only a 2.5, which had no time to register because I was already thinking:

Yes, I can!

and

Yes, I will!

Then, only 800 meters left and "I am doing this" was the only thing my feeble brain could focus on!

Overall, my 3mile test resulted in a 7:22pace.

Not bad. 

Still room for improvement! 

My cool down was 2more slow miles (~8:50pace), which was really enjoyable after all that pushing!

Love the positive self-talking. It's a great way to 

Train Smart Today!