i am having a lot of fun reading and answering your questions! keep them coming – i will post answers either this weekend or monday.
i find during my runs that i often am playing some sort of game when i am out there. whether it’s a number game with pace and mileage, a game with routes, or mental games to trick myself into making things easier… it’s always some sort of game.
the stoplight game
i sometimes use stoplights to determine my routes. i run (especially this time of year) on a lot of busy roads with stoplights. i have pretty much memorized the distance from one to the next, so to mix it up, sometimes i let the stoplights decide where i am going. whichever way is green is the way i go! it’s a fun way to find new routes and can help break up the monotony of the normal day to day runs.
the average pace game
i have the main screen on my garmin set to total time, distance, and average pace. it’s the average pace of your total run. some runs, like todays (see below), i don’t pay attention to the pace at all for the first half. i was running with my friends enjoying their company and not worrying about my pace. when i continue on my run on my own i check the average pace and set a goal of how low i want to get it down by the end of the run. this has always worked well for me on medium long runs. it’s good practice at holding myself back at the beginning and pushing myself towards the end, and it’s so fun to watch the average pace click down!
limbo
this phrase was created by nitmos long ago and is one of my favorite games. how low can you go? you start with a comfortable pace and increase your mile pace getting faster each mile… also known as negative splits. it’s a great way to push yourself and a fun way too!
those are just a few of my random games i play. it’s always fun to help the time go by and some days games are needed way more than others.
do you play games when you run? if so, what kind?
*****************************************
last night was track night! i was actually really excited to go this week, it’s nice to actually look forward to speed work and its SO MUCH BETTER with a group! chris and i got there early so we did some extra warm up. i think my total warm up came to around 2.2 miles. we did drills, stretched and got going!
workout:
2x 1 mile build to 10K pace
3X800 at 10K pace
all with 200m walk/ jog rest
the goal for the mile repeats was to start at a more comfortable pace (around half marathon) and build into 10k pace by the last lap. if done right, you should be running each lap faster than the next. i think mine got slightly faster (after i realized i was going way too fast both times at the start, someday i will learn), but i know the last lap was the faster one since i watched the lap pace decrease.
the first mile flew by, the second one felt a little longer, but i was able to keep them very consistent so i was happy with that.
mile 1 – 7:29, mile 2 – 7:30
then we started our set of 800s. i knew i averaged 3:37 last week so i was hoping to be around there again, and low and behold…
1 – 3:37.3, 2 – 3:37.9, 3 –3:33.1
i picked it up and finished the last one strong. 7:22 avg pace on the 2.5 miles of intervals – i will take it! we did a quick cool down and were done!
total with warm up and cool down: 6.5 miles/59:00/9:02 avg
this morning i met up with tara and maritza for my medium long run. they wanted to run 6 so i ran the first 6 with them and added 5 on after playing my average pace game. my legs were pretty tired from last night’s workout so i was glad to be taking it easy the first 6. they felt good after that and i was able to pick it up! i saw our avg pace was around 9:43 when i took off on my own, so my goal was to get it down into the low 9:20s by the end – goal accomplished!
first 6/58:17/9:43 avg, last 5.2/46:30/8:56 avg
total: 11.2/1:44:47/9:21 avg pace
that is a tough workout!!! way to go!!!! i have some new ideas for interval sets now
agree- games help the miles flyyy!
btw i was so totally first!! wahoooo! xoxo
Nice job playing your games. I do some of that stuff too!
and last night with speed work
Great run this morning with your friends
Nice workout! I like the average pace game too, although it's so hilly here it's very hard to accomplish because it's constantly up and down.
OOOH I LOVE that stoplight game! Knowing me though, I'll somehow get lost of my small neighborhood
Thanks for the games!
I like the idea of the stoplight game! I will have to try that once I get out there on the pavement again… right now it's only the treadmill … yuck.
That's an awesome workout, way to stick with it – whoohooo! I play mental games with my running all the time. I need to limbo game – that's my weakness, oy!
what a toughie workout! and i love the games idea. i tend to just plug away when i'm out there
what a toughie workout! and i love the games idea. i tend to just plug away when i'm out there
I totally played limbo this morning on my pace workout! LOL!
I always play limbo … never called it that though.
Awesome workout!
Great stuff, Aron!
I play the limbo game from time to time, although I tend to get carried away and run much faster than the intended pace of the run. It's a good idea though if you're using it to motivate for speedwork!
I love the idea of turning towards which ever light is green. Very Very fun!
Thanks for giving me some great ideas for distractions/games… I will definitely be using some of these!
Great job on your track workout & med-long run!
The stoplight game would be fun – of course, we only have two stoplights in my town, so it probably wouldn't work quite as well.
Nice track workout!
Love the traffic light game.That's such a fun idea.
Those are great ideas!! I'm definitely going to be doing those!!! THANKS!
Thanks for the ideas! I love having something to challenge me and make the run a little easier at the same time.
Sounds like a great track workout! I am in the midst of a horrible winter in Maryland, so my friends and I won't be seeing the track anytime soon–I envy your nice running weather.
I love the average pace game! I also play this game where I am not allowed to look at my Garmin and just run by how I feel…I usually do this when I am feeling tired and meh…but what typically happens is a good run! I get to zone out I feel very in tune with my body
Some days playing games is the best way to run. I just go with what I feel like. Start a run slow then build up faster for negative splits or I like to run to places like the store, etc!
these games have restored my interest in getting a garmin! just when I was getting over it!
Funny, I do the green light game too. I HATE waiting at red lights.
Interesting about the limbo game. Nitmos is pretty hard core, so it can't be ALL that bad. Just may have to try it!
What a great way to stay motivated and to challenge yourself! Your times rock
The stoplight game is the only way I can survive city running!
I love that you went from nerves to loving the group speed workouts. You have motivated me to finally join my local running club on the track!
Wow. Now those times are a measure of consistency. Way to go Aron!
Great ideas for motivating yourself on a run.
No stop lights. Lucky me!
i love these games! thanks for sharing the ideas
i don't have many stoplights either but i could do "whatever direction is clear" in terms of traffic i suppose.
way to go on that track work! you are going to be pr-ing all over the place this year.
I totally play games in my head when I'm running too! I like to count/play around with numbers and calculations (like, if I keep up x pace for x miles, how long will it take me). I actually find running-math really entertaining, oddly enough.
i think i need to give the "average pace" game a try…learning to finish strong is a goal of mine this year and i think that game might help.