ceelebs

Relearning speed My reintroduction to speed development   In my recent comeback to high level training, I set out to do something special. Make a comeback to running PRs, no matter what. I started at a flabby 217 with my 6’1 frame, running 4x6 min tempos at 6:49 with 168 heart rate. I knew I had an aerobic engine buried under there, I just had to pull it out. But there was one thing I had neglected, speed. In college our motto was moderate-hard, nothing easy. Lifting was dangerous because if you didn’t hit your 6:50s pace the next day, you would be chastised. A runner couldn’t do truly heavy lifts and fit into the program unless they were given some grace, something I didn’t feel. Speedwork was also only given to runners who could “handle it.” There was a major lack of belief in me, coming out of HS with a proficiency in speedwork and lifting. As a junior my L5 disc had extruded and I was left slightly paralyzed, living on the floor, and abandoned by my coach. I made my first comeb...