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2015 NOS Run Thread - Week 1

And so it begins! I found a quote that pretty much sums up my thoughts on the OS as a whole - "Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later."  So as we begin the NOS, know that all the hard work you put in these next 14 weeks will show up in spades next racing season.

Doug beat me to the punch and posted a number of good links in the bike thread so I won't put them up here. (Thanks to Doug, now I don't have to cut and paste all that!)  This is my third OS and I still review the Advice for Noobs thread to get my mind right going in, so check it out.

This week we test and get the ball rolling.  I will address three topics quickly here - Overachieving, Rest, and (a brief note on) Nutrition.

This week in particular it can be VERY tempting to overachieve since we are all fired up to get something new started and with testing the workload is not too onerous.  Plus most if not all of us are totally type A and will at least think about "needing" to do something on off days or over lunches, etc.  Don't give in to that little devil on your shoulder.  You are right that it won't impact you this week, but a couple more weeks from now, you will wonder why you are sluggish and need to go to bed before the sun goes down!

And rest.  Rest days are a manna from heaven around these parts, not something to fight against.  The work we are about to do is tough and your body will need to rest to absorb it.

Finally nutrition.  I may say more on this throughout the OS, but I just want to mention fueling your workouts right now.  Many have mentioned body comp as a goal for the OS.  To get the most out of the OS, you MUST fuel your workouts correctly.  Body comp is a concern for the rest of the day.

I am fired up to get on the running shoes and hear all the great things we are all about to do!  Let's bring the pain!

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Comments

  • I'm hacking the start of the OS because I'm doing the Indy Half Marathon on Saturday as a A- race. That will also serve as my run test. Oooh it's going to hurt! Tapering leading up to Saturday so some shorter/easier runs, but looking forward to seeing what folks throw down this week!
  • Ran a 5 mile road race this morning as my run test. Was hilly and probably underestimated the 'ups' . Overall happy with my result and a good way to start the NOS. http://www.strava.com/activities/211996753

  • Don't forget to check out the accompanying videos/podcasts, even if you have been in the OS before. They explain the changes etc...
  • I ran a couple of Half Mary's over the last 2 weeks - one being yesterday, so considering my legs are a bit beat up, I'm going with the VDOT from these races rather than test again this week. After a day or two of recovery, I'll hop on the trainer for the dreaded bike test. Anyhow, I hit the two races fairly hard, so I'm confident with the results. Starting point is a VDOT of 48 for me and would love to get to the elusive 50 this time. Happy testing to all!!!

    Here are my race results (the 2nd one was very hilly with a wall strategically placed at mile 11 image
    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/610189779
    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/620470320
  • Tested a couple weeks ago so not repeating this week.

    5km in 20:47, vDot = 47.6

    Goal for OS = 50 based on 5km (plus - sub 42' 10km)

    http://www.strava.com/activities/198614287

  • Rich's Week 1 Run Post:

    • Monday -- 5th, Sawpit, Grand Loop. I've been doing this over the last few weeks every Monday, targeting a specific 1.9mi hilly segment and setting a goal for it for the end of the OS. Today was 16:05 vs a PR of 14:51 and goal of 14:45. 
    • Wednesday -- 5k test at the Rose Bowl
    • Fri -- some flavor of run in NYC, traveling with Joanne for her NYC marathon
    • Sat -- same
    • Sun -- race day
  • Run test done today - fresh legs so I don't get to blame the bike test for any fatigue!

    Today - Vdot = 37.62
    Goal Vdot for OS = 43

    Better than last year at the start of the OS, so that is a great positive note to start!
  • Using my 1/2 marathon on October 19 for my run test. My vdot from that race was 49. I agree with you Joe, my run level is way better than last year. However, it did come at the cost of some bike watts for me. I am doing the run durability program. I am very interested to see how my bike legs respond during the OS while following that program.

    @Brad, I ran pretty hard at my 1/2 marathon on the 19th. My legs are still cooked. I tried the bike test on Thursday and almost quit at 8 minutes. I pushed through for the worst results in years. I tried again today and had a little better test, but still not great.

  • So for those who are using recent races, what is the plan for Wednesday? I ask because I know the basic protocol for what workout to put in for a bike test if testing isn't needed, but have never seen an idea for what to do with the run. I bring it up for a few reasons, but mostly because I ran a half mary last week that put my vDot at 49 but thought I would use the shorter distance to see if I could do better, end up worse, or make my eyes pop out of my head (the feeling I often have after the run tests).
  • @Scott, Wednesday will be a GRP run for me. If you just completed a 1/2 marathon, I imagine your legs have more fatigue than you realize. You may be negatively surprised by the results of a 5k test.

  • @scott- since I raced a half marathon yesterday, and i figure I need a couple of days recovery, I'll swap in my bike test tomorrow or Wed depending on how my legs feel....that's my plan. I don't have the desire to run a 5k test this week too, and I'm pretty locked in to where my current VDOT is at this point.
  • @ Scott - I'm not expert but I'd consider three options 1) I'm fried - take the day off 2) I feel okay but not great - do a 30 minute run like the Saturday run out z2, return z3 or 3) I'm pretty much recovered from the previous race - look at week 2's z4 runs and get some flavor of that in the intermediate calls for 2X1.5 I believe.

  • Did my run test this past Saturday for location convenience.  5km in 25:22 for a 37.7 VDOT.  

    It is what it is. Going to shoot for a 42.2 for end of OS.

  • @Mike - looks like we have the same hill to climb! Nice to see someone out there with less than a Vdot of 40 knocking this out with me!
  • @Joe let's go get it. 14 weeks. Anything is possible (or at least so the IM marketing literature says)
  • 1st run of the week is done and it was a 2 round fight(2 X 1 mile intervals). Yesterday's bike test was throwing body shots making it tough to breath and the leg kicks were equally hard. Round 1 was touch and go. felt like throwing in the towel at 3/4 of a mile. Finished the round bloody. Instead of the usual jog between the intervals, today was 100% walk. Felt stronger in round 2 and even got a few shots in on the Gorilla. Glad to be done. I wish all of you doing a 5K test tomorrow great success.

  • Hi Everyone! Coming off from indulging in some off time after completing IMChoo 4 weeks ago. Decided not to test this week, feeling like I need to ease back into it and also going through some tests to diagnose a foot issue that reoccurred during Choo. Went for a 30' run with the dog today in z2 & z3. Felt good. Current Vdot is 34. Goal Vdot is 37 by end of OS.
  • I pushed testing today - it was a rare day in October here in Western New York, where we had a high of 77 and lots of sun, so I hit the open road (which probably won't set up well for retest, but I would have gotten my bike taken away if I didn't go out and ride). I was pleasantly surprised at how well I rode considering how little I've ridden since the end of my season. I don't have a powermeter, but do have cadence and a garmin. I clocked 16.4 until I hit the hills and a wall of wind. Final results, were 16.1. Super excited about that. I am doing a lot of cross training as I can only run 2x a week and nothing zippier than Z1 until I am cleared by my doc to run at a higher intensity.
  • Good work everyone. I'm not doing the run test this week due to a lingering injury that's almost healed. I have been dealing with it since the spring so I don't want to re-injure it with adding speed just yet. I've been doing short fartlek intervals and those feel fine but there was a little twinge in my ankle last night after the FTP test. So I guess I'll stick with Z1 and Z2 with strides and 30" fartlek sprints for a little longer.
  • Run test done and nailed it! Very Very shocked at how it went. Haven't tested in over a year. the last 1/2 mile was very painful, ended up with a 22:33, only 15 seconds slower than my last test. sometime in late summer 2013. Vdot of 43. Very Very Happy! Good luck everyone
  •   Run test done-ouch! About 40" slower than last test. Plan to make it back +.
  • @ Chris - sounds like a good test, nailing the pacing isn't easy.

    @ Mark - Sounds like you are in the right place to get those seconds back!

    I passed on testing today because of the halfs I have done recently. I instead did 2x1 and it went fine. That second one was a bit tough and it feels like my legs are still carrying a bit of fatigue, but all in all I will take it.

    Good luck to all testing today!
  • Run Test Done!!! Kinda stupid to do on vacation but day after arrived in Cancun after 4 long island iced teas last night and up at 5am. Probably not too accurate but squeaked under 19 in 18:57. Dot of 53

    Flooded streets from storms last night and the crazy traffic not expected at 6am (workers all headed to resorts I guess) but caused too many starts and stops so may do test at home again next week but we'll see

    Goal by end of OS is to get to vdot of around 57 or under 18 min. 5k

  • Ugh - Run Test. But about where I'd expected - vDot of 40. Just 2 yrs ago was at 47. Lots of work to do. But more importantly, during the test, I felt my glutes & hammys firing and left hip never got to tight. I warm up on a high knee eliptical thingy before every TM run to wake them up. So legs felt good, cardio not so much.
  • Did my first ever test on the treadmill, so I look at this simply as a baseline to start from. Finished 5km in 21:01 - similar to last years start time. Heart rate was 168 and vDot is 47. Ready to get faster. Good luck out there today!
  • I've been on the Bike Focus Plan for the past few weeks so I expected my run to be a little off given my low run mileage. I wanted to maintain the VDOT I've had since August, but could only muster a 20:16 dropping me from a 50 to a 49. I'd planned my miles to go 6:3X, 6:2X, 6:0X, but ended up with 6:45, 6:30, 6:18. I'm still pleased and hope that at the end of this OS I can get another point or two?

    Great work everyone! These tests are NOT FUN!
  • Ist test done.  Started conservatively for change and did just fine.  Should be a 49 or 50.  I haven't been able to plug it into the internets yet so not sure of the exact Vdot.  After a year off,  I'll take.  Also, It was an absolutely great sunrise to see.    Forgot to mention, For the first time in a long time, I ran with a HR monitor.  165 avg.  Not sure if that is good or bad, but it a number. 
  • 1st run test of Nov OS:  5k 23:11, HR avg 144, vDOT 41, predicted 1/2 mary 1:48:40.

    [Last OS my 1st 5k was 24:28, HR 146, vDOT 39, and 1/2 mary 1:53:24, so I'm really stoked. ]

  • No run test for me - instead I increased my last run interval to 6 minutes, and had no foot pain. Looking forward to seeing my chiro tomorrow to see if I can increase my runs from 5 run / 3 walk. That would be sweet!

  • Hate the run test! Had the treadmill set at 1.5% grade which is the grade I train at. 21:35 for me today Ave HR 157. Vdot 45. Seem to bounce back and forth between 45 and 46. Would live to get to 47 but don't look forward to the pain of that test!image
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