Kenya is Fast

I received a call from Andrea with Practical Coaching, an old triathlon sponsor, and she said that they had a Kenyan showing up to their track group on Tuesdays. She said he was fast and looking for someone to train with. So, with all my base work, no speed, and a good butt whoopin' behind me, I decided it was time to incorporate some speed. I went out to run on the track with Joseph Keino. The workout, 200, 400, 800, 1200, 800, 400, 200. 200 recovery for the 2 and 4, and 400 recovery for the 8's and 12. As it turns out, Keino has been training for the mile and 800. Great decision for a first track day:) So, off we go. 32 first 200 and my hamstrings felt like they were going to cramp immediately after I stopped. I have not done speed since somewhere around college. Next the 400 in the same pace, 64. Then I realized that not doing speed, and not working on the anaerobic threshold is not a good thing when it comes to hard 800's. The first came by in 2:25 and it was miserable (mostly because we came through the 400 in 65). I could not even make the 1200 because I was in so much oxygen debt and ran another 800 in 2:30. Finally, the last 800 in 2:28, and it hurt. I never knew that 5:00 pace could be so painful, but when you hit that anaerobic system, it can go quick. I feel great at 5:20 pace for a long time, but then just under 5:00 and it gets ugly quick. Well, we finished it up with a 400 in 65 and then a 200 in 28. That last one was a sprint right now, but I am sure that will come down quickly. Keino was a few seconds ahead from about half way on. I think that if I can focus on a little anaerobic, it will come back fast. It does make me miss the mile a lot.

It is a small world. Keino went to a college that was in my college's conference. He came in the year that I graduated and proceeded to break any records that I set. It was great to meet up with a guy that I wish came to school a couple years earlier. He is a strong runner and it will be fun to see how training with him progresses. Another crazy part about the workout is that the pain in my achilles and knee completely disappeared. I am not confident that it is going to stay that way, but it has been two days with no pain, and that is a nice thing right now. Hopefully I can stay pain free, and get some speed in my legs. That would be nice!