Six Miles to Yackville

Today's workout was to run 6 miles at a 10 minute pace or better, preferably negative splits.  Negative splits are when you run the second half faster than the first half.

I try to run with the Hoboken Harriers on Tuesday nights, primarily because we drink beer afterwards. Tonight my personal life intervened and by the time I sorted it out, it was 10:15 pm.  My options were to run in the dark or to hit the treadmill in my gym.  I opted for the treadmill.  I'm not a huge fan of treadmill running but it does allow for better control of your pace.

I started out at a 10:06 for the first mile, figuring that I would ratchet it down to about an exact 10 min mile as time went on.  Running on a treadmill allows such great control of the timing of each split, you set it and forget it, Ron Popeil style.  It also seems to be easier on my legs.

So I'm running and sweating and go from a 10:06 to a 10:00, another 10:00 and yet another 10:00.  That speed is exact.  After four miles I had run a 40:06.  The extra 6 seconds is the time lag when you are starting to run at the very beginning.  But I like to be exact and decide to get faster to make up the six seconds.

Here comes the negative splits!  I increase the pace to 9:54 and that only gets me to a time of 50:02!  I speed up for that last mile giving it my all and push the pace to a 9:48.    I really want to be faster for the second part of the run and average at or less than 10 minutes per mile.  Then it happens.  I start to dry heave.  Oh no, I'm going to "yack" on the treadmill!

But I don't want to get off the treadmill. My workout's not done yet.  I swallow the lump in my throat and keep running.  It comes down to a game of "chicken".  I have about 3 minutes left and I am awash with nausea.  Will I throw up before I finish or finish before I throw up?

I watch the readout roll up to 6 miles, jump off the treadmill and stumble towards the  bathroom.  

I dry heave a little and then gain my composure.  As I'm getting it together I decide walk back to my apartment.

Get to my apartment and I think maybe I should have something to eat since I didn't eat dinner and I need to recover.  Experts say chocolate milk is great for recovery and as I picture a frothy glass of chocolate milk, I get nauseous and start to dry heave again.

I decide on lemonade, thinking that the lemon taste and the sugar may revive me.

It does.  Big score for lemonade!

Thank goodness no yacking on the treadmill.