Monday, December 23, 2024

Toda 10k 2024 - Joy of running above "threshold"

 I probably should save energy for the following week's dreaded cross country race in the Seattle area. 

 
And I don't feel in PB shape.  And I am lazy.  And prefer not to be uncomfortable. 


So I decide to try and run this year's Toda 10k at my recent "threshhold workout" pace (3:55 to 4:00 per kilometer). 


I have struggled with pacing before, but Toda goes perfectly.  


The first 3 kilometers I am right on - just above 4 minutes.  Then at 4k I tuck in behind another old guy and stay at around 3:56 until my final surge. 









To test that I am actually at tempo pace, I do "talk test" at around 8k.   Idea being that if you are in zone 3 above threshold you can still talk, but in shorter, less complete sentences.  I comment on the lovely weather and the wind being less strong than last year's event,  I even switch into simple Japanese (which I don't even hardly use any time, let alone in middle of race).  The guy just grunted in reply.   



Remarkably my finishing time of 39:19 is faster than last year's painful, all-out effort.   I even move up to 5th on the all-time Toda 10k age-group list, and take 2nd in age group.  



As I lamented in my recent post about 5k time trials,  I have been fall off a CLIFF when I try to sustain pace much below 3:50.   It is interesting to see just how comfortable it was to sustain 3:55+ pace for 10k. 



1 comment:

  1. Nice. I always found Toda very conducive to good running.

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