Tuesday, July 16, 2024 – Learning through running (Pearce Fallis)

Hi Everyone!

Not sure if anyone raced the TTF triathlon or 10K this past weekend? Please remember to send in results if you raced – I don’t have to post times – I just want to acknowledge those who are doing it! This weekend Pearce ran the Limberlost trail race – and came in first despite, true to its name, getting lost. And I closed out my track season with a 1500 in a seasonal best of 5:00:33. (the .33 is important because last year I finished with a 5:00:8)

This week we have a guest post by Pearce – thank-you Pearce!

Learning through running

To start I just want to say that I love running with the LES crew! I hold everyone responsible for getting me so into running with the positive energy and support. But I also do love the days I run alone.

One part of that is just the actual alone time, a rare (greater than 15 min) break from consistently being connected in life. Some people think in the shower, on cruisy runs I really enjoy the time to just think to myself about whatever might be on my mind. I particularly like the 6 am runs because there is zero else I “should” be doing, and that time is mine and mine alone to choose what I do with it. The busier we get those times can feel rare.

But the reasons we do things can and do change over time, and running alone has changed for me as well. Right now, running in general has provided me with a way to challenge myself, that is completely in my control on where and how far I take it. There are very few ways we can truly isolate ourselves, and challenge our bodies and minds, without impacting those around us, often in a negative way. Family, work, friends, and most areas of life we are constantly making decisions based on how those decisions will impact others, and (hopefully), adjusting them to ensure we bluntly, aren’t being selfish. Running allows us to be selfish, without actually being selfish, particularly when done at 6 am.

I have been fascinated these days reading/watching/talking about pushing ourselves to our perceived limits and how important the mind is in determining that level. What interests me the most is not necessarily how that translates into results, but putting yourself into those situations and seeing how you react. While our experiences won’t find their way into books and Netflix documentaries, it doesn’t diminish their importance. I think the mental benefits in life of running and training are hugely under rated. Being able to put yourself into uncomfortable situations and managing that adversity (whether it be sticking to a training plan, or pushing through a hard workout or race) is a very important skill as we all get older. Even more so as we all get more particular in our ways! The most common way to create our challenges is setting goals. The loftier the goal, the more you are laying bare your challenge to push yourself. And those you don’t achieve (and there will be many) will make the ones you do achieve feel all that more special. The old saying goes you learn more from losing than you do winning. I like to try to keep that in mind.

So I love the LES and other track workouts in groups to help pull me along to get stronger and faster. You need others to do that. But I also love the solo workouts where it’s just you out there and there is no one else to motivate you other than yourself to get it done. No one cares or knows if you dog that last 400 m set, or add 30 seconds rest in between reps except you. And while a race can provide the environment to test this, the Sunday evening workout you had to squeeze in because of scheduling conflicts with your wife’s photography and kids soccer is fantastic brain training for racing, and for life.

Or at least that is what I’m telling myself these days to keep me motivated!

On to tomorrow’s workout! Lakeshore and Leslie – 6:05 Drills, 6:15 GO

This will likely be another steamy one. I will just say, at this point in most peoples’ training, we are going for the training effect vs. the actual pace and time (that matters more as we get closer to our events). So accept the pace deficit that comes with training in the heat and we will benefit from the physiological effects that come with it.

The workout: Straight up 800’s. Let’s take 1:30 rest. 6-8 of them. This is a good indicator workout to start off many peoples’ fall marathon training builds. We can do it again closer to the end with hopefully cooler weather and a little more fitness. So we are not trying to set a high bar here. We are just laying down our “where we’re starting from” position with room to grow.

If doing this on your own by time, 6-8 x 3 min at around 10K pace w 1:30 rest.

That is all – see you in the am!

Seanna