Chasing a Sub-6 Mile – Update #2

Time for another update, so here’s how my attempt at getting under a 6-minute mile is going . (See below for the links to the previous two posts.)

I had not given the sub-6 mile attempt much thought since the last time, as I was still hoping to increase my miles for the Big Hill Bonk Last Runner Standing ultra. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has killed that event and I will have to wait until April 2021 to give that one another go. I wasn’t that focused for some reason on keeping up with getting under sub-6 minutes until I was at a group ride and one of my Facebook friends (Hi, Angela!) who read my blog inquired about it. I mentioned the above and that I have also been dealing with the typical aches and pains that usual appear at this time of year after the work I have been doing, things like plantar fasciitis, piriformis butt pain, etc. All things that I typically just ignore and train through.

But I have done a couple of attempts, one of which was a total failure and the second one today that turned out to be consistent with what I think is going to be my best effort from here on. Here are the summaries:

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 – Attempt Number 3

TIME: DNF
WHERE: BEARSKIN TRAIL, MINOCQUA, WISCONSIN
WEATHER: Mid-50’s degrees, windy
LEAD-UP: A bike ride with Kari the day before
COMMENTS: This was just going to be a quick and easy 4-mile run before heading back out of town and a six hour ride home. But seeing the day was pretty cool and I was feeling pretty good, I decided that I would warm up with two miles of light pace and then turn around and hammer it. Well, I did that and totally threw out the pacing strategy that I had learned from previous efforts, mainly starting a little slower and pushing for negative splits. No, I went out like a shot and burned out very quickly. By the time I hit the half mile mark I was near hyperventilation and had to pull the plug on it. My watch showed 3:22 for that effort, well off the pace I needed. I blew it. It was a little bit of a surprise, but I quickly realized my dumb mistake. I jogged it back to the car and enjoyed the Northwoods scenery as I went.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 – Attempt Number 4

TIME: 6:24.8
WHERE: MOKENA JR. HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
WEATHER: 72 degrees, light wind, low humidity – a perfect day
LEAD-UP: A bike ride the day prior and an easy-paced 3-mile warm-up
COMMENTS: As I started the 2.75-mile jog to get to the track I could tell this was probably going to be a wasted effort. The upper leg soreness from the bike ride the day before was pretty evident, but once I got there I decided to see where I stand. This time I made sure that I held back at the start and the first two laps were pretty good. I felt smooth and wasn’t really feeling terribly taxed. I pushed harder for the third and fourth laps and surprised myself when my watch showed 6:24 at the mile mark. I think I need some more speed work training and a cooler day to get this time a little lower. I think I might be capable of sub-6:20, but I’m thinking maybe my goal should have been to get under 6:30! I’d have done it by now!

Stay tuned, I plan on doing my last effort or two in October.