For YEARS, I’ve been running to get faster, which I have. However, I’m not at the level where I want to be. I have obsessed over getting my all time NRC average pace down, my pace average for each individual run, negative splits, etc. Now, I’m trying lowHR training (maff). I guess it’s because I rarely ran actual organized races. This past year and half that changed, and I’m focusing on “competing”. I don’t really care for the medals. I’m more into personal improvement, PRs and my overall place. Preparation for races would mean adhering to actual training plans, scheduling a variety of different intensity runs, nutrition, etc.
With this training, I need let go of my running ego, and focusing on long term gains, race performance for PRs and BQing. Usually, when I’m running wherever I’m at (races, training runs on different terrain), I try to run pass the person in front me because it gets me going like a source of motivation. This time, I need to be okay with people passing me up and holding back, which is a big challenge for me right now in these earlier stages.
My all time average NRC pace is definitely going to take a hit, but I’m okay with that with BIG PICTURE in mind of running fast paces (6min/mi) for a long duration at a low HR.