I have noticed that I am going faster without as much effort... ie... I ran 6.8 miles yesterday... and took it easy the first 3.4 and ran it in 32:06 minutes (9:27? pace)... was going slow to make sure I could complete the 6.8.. then I ran the second loop (3.4) in 28:42 (8:27). Again I wasn't pushing at all, I just wasn't telling myself to go slow this loop... About a month ago I did that 3.4 and had to really push to get 29:04... why was I able to beat that time with so little effort?
When I did it a month ago I spent the entire loop running pretty close to as fast as I could without getting winded... aerobic threshold? I was really breathing!
this time I was just cruising... about 1/2 the lap I could have held a conversation and spoke easily and wasn't really breathing or at least you couldn't hear me breathing hard... other times I was recovering from hills... but still didn't have to get my breathing quicker than a 3-3 pace...
So what has happened that running at a sub 9 minute mile pace is now a relaxed pace for me? I can't believe that my legs are using less oxygen to do the work... I don't feel like I am breathing heavy... is it just that my legs are stronger now... and it really is taking less effort to propell me... or are my lungs getting better at extracting oxygen? am I actually breathing more air than I think? Is my heart pumping more blood? I am sure it is a combination of factors...
When I did it a month ago I spent the entire loop running pretty close to as fast as I could without getting winded... aerobic threshold? I was really breathing!
this time I was just cruising... about 1/2 the lap I could have held a conversation and spoke easily and wasn't really breathing or at least you couldn't hear me breathing hard... other times I was recovering from hills... but still didn't have to get my breathing quicker than a 3-3 pace...
So what has happened that running at a sub 9 minute mile pace is now a relaxed pace for me? I can't believe that my legs are using less oxygen to do the work... I don't feel like I am breathing heavy... is it just that my legs are stronger now... and it really is taking less effort to propell me... or are my lungs getting better at extracting oxygen? am I actually breathing more air than I think? Is my heart pumping more blood? I am sure it is a combination of factors...