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It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster.
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 2009-08-25 12:04 AM |
Extreme Veteran  318  Lunenburg, Nova Scotia |  Subject: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster.Someone out there has this as their signature, and it was the first thing that came to mind when I got in the door after tonight's run. I didn't really feel like running tonight, but decided to get a quick 6.5km in. It definitely didn't feel easy, but I came in almost 1 minute faster than my previous PR for the distance! And while I'm stealing people's quotes... the whole way back (it was an out and back route), I kept thinking to myself that I needed to "negative split this b!t@h"... and I did. Edited by Wooden Bell 2009-08-25 12:12 AM |
| 2009-08-25 6:45 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
Master 1440  | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Wooden Bell - 2009-08-25 1:04 AM And while I'm stealing people's quotes... the whole way back (it was an out and back route), I kept thinking to myself that I needed to "negative split this b!t@h"... and I did. that is to funny that is exactly what I was thinking the other day when I did my first quarter century on the bike (and I did). |
| 2009-08-25 6:52 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
Champion 9600   Fountain Hills, AZ | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. I think that was a qoute from Greg LeMonde. It's also very true. |
| 2009-08-25 7:05 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
Champion 10154 Alabama | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. I understand the concept of pushing harder to get faster but, for the sake of beginners, there is no doubt it does get easier! This is especially true for beginners who are coming off the couch and not from an athletic/sports background. When I first started running every run hurt. Every run was a challange. Every run left me gasping for breath. There was no such thing as a 'slow easy run' or LSD. The very act of running was a challange. But after awhile, my legs and aerobic system caught up with my desire and things got easier....and enjoyable! I could run a few easy miles and feel great afterwards not totally wiped out and exhausted. I eventually got to where I was looking forward to running! Oh yeah, it does get easier! ~Mike |
| 2009-08-25 7:12 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
Veteran 318 Indianapolis | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. This is what goes through my mind on every bike ride. My loop I ride has some decent hills (for me anyway) I swear every ride, I think "Shouldn't this be getting easier?" At the top of a climb, I am out of breath and trying to keep my legs moving, I am getting faster though, so I completely agree with this. |
| 2009-08-25 7:36 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
Expert 1118 , North Carolina | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Oh, how funny. That very same quote stuck with me recently as well. On one hand it doesn't ever seem easy; but in truth, my heart rate is down and I'm never really breathing all that hard, so it must be getting easier to some extent. I also read the negetive split comment on whatever thread that came from! Funny how simple comments can help keep us moving forward... |
| 2009-08-25 7:43 AM in reply to: #2368425 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. bryancd - 2009-08-25 7:52 AM I think that was a qoute from Greg LeMonde. It's also very true. Actually it was Greg Lemond. Very famous cyclist back in his day. Maybe you've heard of him?  |
 2009-08-25 8:03 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
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| 2009-08-25 8:13 AM in reply to: #2368563 |
| Champion 10154 Alabama | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. PennState - 2009-08-25 8:03 AM I think of Lemond's quote whenever I see those "which Ironman course is the easiest" threads. They are all equally hard when you push yourself through them. As I get better, it gets harder for me.
I don't think they are equally hard if you aren't able to push thru them. I did my first IMKY and finished in 16 hrs but I don't think that fitness leve would have got me thru LP w/i the cut-off time of 17 hrs. So I'd say KY is easier than LP. BTW, my second IM was easier and I finished 1.5 hrs faster. Go figure. ~Mike |
| 2009-08-25 8:30 AM in reply to: #2368596 |
| Extreme Veteran 318 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Rogillio - 2009-08-25 10:13 AM PennState - 2009-08-25 8:03 AM I think of Lemond's quote whenever I see those "which Ironman course is the easiest" threads. They are all equally hard when you push yourself through them. As I get better, it gets harder for me.
I don't think they are equally hard if you aren't able to push thru them. I did my first IMKY and finished in 16 hrs but I don't think that fitness leve would have got me thru LP w/i the cut-off time of 17 hrs. So I'd say KY is easier than LP. BTW, my second IM was easier and I finished 1.5 hrs faster. Go figure. ~Mike I think the main idea behind this quote is that if you continue to push yourself, it will always be difficult, but you will see improvement. Of course, you could argue that running 5km would be difficult for someone with little athletic experience and that the same person would find the distance "easier" after adequate training. The question is, if it feels "easier", are you pushing yourself hard enough? |
| 2009-08-25 8:35 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
| Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Frank Shorter has been known to have asked someone how they did in a marathon and the person said they just broke 4 hours which is slow (the person said). Frank said something to effect of "Wow, you ran 4 hours straight???? I've never run that long in my life! That's amazing!" In other words, Frank's 2:10 - 2:20 marathon runs were the same level of effort as the person who did the 4:00 one, just the latter was doing it for a much longer duration. I.E. - it doesn't get easier, you just get faster. |
| 2009-08-25 8:37 AM in reply to: #2368638 |
| Champion 10154 Alabama | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Wooden Bell - 2009-08-25 8:30 AM Rogillio - 2009-08-25 10:13 AM PennState - 2009-08-25 8:03 AM I think of Lemond's quote whenever I see those "which Ironman course is the easiest" threads. They are all equally hard when you push yourself through them. As I get better, it gets harder for me.
I don't think they are equally hard if you aren't able to push thru them. I did my first IMKY and finished in 16 hrs but I don't think that fitness leve would have got me thru LP w/i the cut-off time of 17 hrs. So I'd say KY is easier than LP. BTW, my second IM was easier and I finished 1.5 hrs faster. Go figure. ~Mike I think the main idea behind this quote is that if you continue to push yourself, it will always be difficult, but you will see improvement. Of course, you could argue that running 5km would be difficult for someone with little athletic experience and that the same person would find the distance "easier" after adequate training. The question is, if it feels "easier", are you pushing yourself hard enough?
Hard enough for what? :-) That was rhetorical of course. I've run 10 min miles for 12 years. Don't want to run any faster either....I just want to keep running 10 min miles till I die. I can tell you that 10 minute miles are easier now than they were years ago. I also enjoy running more than I did years ago. And for me, enjoyment is more important than performance! **GASP** Then again, maybe I'm just lazy. ;-) ~Mike |
| 2009-08-25 8:38 AM in reply to: #2368440 |
| New user 476 | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Rogillio - 2009-08-25 8:05 AM I understand the concept of pushing harder to get faster but, for the sake of beginners, there is no doubt it does get easier! This is especially true for beginners who are coming off the couch and not from an athletic/sports background. When I first started running every run hurt. Every run was a challange. Every run left me gasping for breath. There was no such thing as a 'slow easy run' or LSD. The very act of running was a challange. But after awhile, my legs and aerobic system caught up with my desire and things got easier....and enjoyable! I could run a few easy miles and feel great afterwards not totally wiped out and exhausted. I eventually got to where I was looking forward to running! Oh yeah, it does get easier! ~Mike I am a new runner and I am so living the "no such thing as a slow easy run". Today I must say I had a few moments of feeling pretty good. Got into a comfortable grove and in the zone for a while. I didn't hate every single step. I also agree that it doesn't get easier. At least it shouldn't. By the end of the workout if you don't feel as bad as you did a couple months ago, then you're not pushing yourself hard enough. (minus recovery/light days) Maybe easier can be interpreted in different ways. I wouldn't say it gets easier, maybe "better"? |
| 2009-08-25 8:59 AM in reply to: #2368650 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Daremo - 2009-08-25 8:35 AM Frank Shorter has been known to have asked someone how they did in a marathon and the person said they just broke 4 hours which is slow (the person said). Frank said something to effect of "Wow, you ran 4 hours straight???? I've never run that long in my life! That's amazing!" In other words, Frank's 2:10 - 2:20 marathon runs were the same level of effort as the person who did the 4:00 one, just the latter was doing it for a much longer duration. I.E. - it doesn't get easier, you just get faster. John "The Penguin" Bingham turned this quote upside down, the way he put it is, "You only ran 2-1/2 hours for your marathon? You suck!" |
| 2009-08-25 9:05 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
Master 4118 Toronto Bronze member | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. I definitely started running as a BOP-er and didn't give a hoot - it was hard alot but it was often more mentally challenging. Today, I can actually find an easy running pace but i've gotten more aggressive with my goals and choose to keep pursuing speed improvements. So, it doesn't get easier if you don't want it to. I could go down to my local running store and go out for practice runs that are basically social session where we run too. I love that - it has a time and place but instead I was out doing a tempo run this morning. I was still out with a friend but pushing. One thing i have noticed that the MOP where I seem to fall now is much quieter (less chatty and festive) and I know why. It's the sheer physical effort required. |
| 2009-08-25 9:09 AM in reply to: #2368794 |
| Champion 10154 Alabama | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. juniperjen - 2009-08-25 9:05 AM One thing i have noticed that the MOP where I seem to fall now is much quieter (less chatty and festive) and I know why. It's the sheer physical effort required.
That's a wonderul observation! Thanks for posting this. Think I'll stay in the BOP. :-)
~Mike |
| 2009-08-25 9:14 AM in reply to: #2368813 |
| Master 2404 Redlands, CA | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. That's one of my favorite quotes ever, I don't care how much Greg LeMond buries himself in the press he's still the man! |
| 2009-08-25 9:22 AM in reply to: #2368794 |
| Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. juniperjen - 2009-08-25 9:05 AM I definitely started running as a BOP-er and didn't give a hoot - it was hard alot but it was often more mentally challenging. Today, I can actually find an easy running pace but i've gotten more aggressive with my goals and choose to keep pursuing speed improvements. So, it doesn't get easier if you don't want it to. I could go down to my local running store and go out for practice runs that are basically social session where we run too. I love that - it has a time and place but instead I was out doing a tempo run this morning. I was still out with a friend but pushing. One thing i have noticed that the MOP where I seem to fall now is much quieter (less chatty and festive) and I know why. It's the sheer physical effort required. Isn't that the truth! At my last two sprints, I was pretty far up in the group (due to being placed high for the swim and holding my place pretty good on the bike)... and when we hit that run there was little to no talking. Then again, there really weren't people around me. HA! I understand though why there is little to no talking... you are doing all your can to keep your pace and when I'm breathing that hard, I can't talk! I can barely keep my pace! HA! While tri's have gotten easier for me over the years... meaning: I know I can do a sprint and I have the confidence in myself to complete the various distances... they have gotten harder as well. For the first time ever I'm actually getting close to placing in my AG and I want to do it! Which I never thought was a possibility! To do that, I have to be quick... on the swim/bike/run! No messing around. No hanging out in transition. Focus-focus-focus. It's hard. |
| 2009-08-25 9:25 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
| Expert 2555 Colorado Springs, Colorado | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Good quote! I can't say I ever recall a point when I considered a training run/bike/swim to be a PR. |
| 2009-08-25 9:42 AM in reply to: #2368338 |
| Master 1472 | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Been using it as my signature for a couple of years now. When I first read I was struck by it. It is very, very true.It only feels easier because we are able to do it faster.It is still the same mile (or 5k, 10 mile ride, 500m swim... whatever) that we all struggled with at one point, but now we do it faster. |
| 2009-08-25 9:43 AM in reply to: #2368878 |
| Extreme Veteran 318 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Donskiman - 2009-08-25 11:25 AM Good quote! I can't say I ever recall a point when I considered a training run/bike/swim to be a PR. I consider it a PR anytime I achieve a better time than I have before, at a given distance. When you improve in training, should that not count? I'd much rather have 365 days each year to reach a PR than only the days where someone has organized a time for a group of people to compete together. That being said, I have yet to complete a race with anything less than a PR. I'd be interested to hear what other people think about this... if you break a PR in training, does it "count"? |
| 2009-08-25 9:48 AM in reply to: #2368937 |
| Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Wooden Bell - 2009-08-25 9:43 AM Donskiman - 2009-08-25 11:25 AM Good quote! I can't say I ever recall a point when I considered a training run/bike/swim to be a PR. I consider it a PR anytime I achieve a better time than I have before, at a given distance. When you improve in training, should that not count? I'd much rather have 365 days each year to reach a PR than only the days where someone has organized a time for a group of people to compete together. That being said, I have yet to complete a race with anything less than a PR. I'd be interested to hear what other people think about this... if you break a PR in training, does it "count"? For me, it's not a matter of "counting," but rather, what are you doing going at it balls-to-the-wall in a PR-worthy effort in training? Save those efforts for race day, train with efforts from which you can readily recover. Edited by the bear 2009-08-25 9:48 AM |
| 2009-08-25 9:48 AM in reply to: #2368937 |
| Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Wooden Bell - 2009-08-25 9:43 AM Donskiman - 2009-08-25 11:25 AM Good quote! I can't say I ever recall a point when I considered a training run/bike/swim to be a PR. I consider it a PR anytime I achieve a better time than I have before, at a given distance. When you improve in training, should that not count? I'd much rather have 365 days each year to reach a PR than only the days where someone has organized a time for a group of people to compete together. That being said, I have yet to complete a race with anything less than a PR. I'd be interested to hear what other people think about this... if you break a PR in training, does it "count"? To me, a PR sets a standard.... it tells me how fast I can go. So it doesn't matter if it's in a race or in training. If I run a 8:30 minute mile in training, and it's a PR, it tells me I can do it in a race. It sets the bar for me. |
| 2009-08-25 10:04 AM in reply to: #2368952 |
| Extreme Veteran 318 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. the bear - 2009-08-25 11:48 AM Wooden Bell - 2009-08-25 9:43 AM Donskiman - 2009-08-25 11:25 AM Good quote! I can't say I ever recall a point when I considered a training run/bike/swim to be a PR. I consider it a PR anytime I achieve a better time than I have before, at a given distance. When you improve in training, should that not count? I'd much rather have 365 days each year to reach a PR than only the days where someone has organized a time for a group of people to compete together. That being said, I have yet to complete a race with anything less than a PR. I'd be interested to hear what other people think about this... if you break a PR in training, does it "count"? For me, it's not a matter of "counting," but rather, what are you doing going at it balls-to-the-wall in a PR-worthy effort in training? Save those efforts for race day, train with efforts from which you can readily recover. The race I'm getting ready for is a Marathon, so I use my shorter runs as speed workouts. Still not going as fast as I think I can go, just faster than I've gone before. I haven't had any problems recovering from a 6.5km run yet. Like KSH said, I use these runs to set a benchmark for myself. If I've never pushed myself hard in training, how will I know my limits on race day? |
| 2009-08-25 10:23 AM in reply to: #2369021 |
| Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: It Doesn't Get Easier. It Just Gets Faster. Wooden Bell - 2009-08-25 10:04 AM The race I'm getting ready for is a Marathon, so I use my shorter runs as speed workouts. Still not going as fast as I think I can go, just faster than I've gone before. I haven't had any problems recovering from a 6.5km run yet. Like KSH said, I use these runs to set a benchmark for myself. If I've never pushed myself hard in training, how will I know my limits on race day? 1. "I haven't had any problems recovering from a 6.5km run yet." Key word in that statement could be the one I bolded. 2. Speed workouts should be structured, not at PR efforts but a percentage thereof, not as fast as you have gone for a given distance, and with warm-ups and possibly recoveries within the shorter given distances. 3. You learn what your limits are on race day by racing. You can get a bit of a feel for it in training, but your race efforts should always exceed your training. Achieving proper pacing takes racing experience, it's not something you're going to nail down in training. You yourself admit that you're "not going as fast as I think I can go." So how does that teach you race pace? I can tell you I never try for or achieve a PR in training. If I go race pace, it will be for a much shorter distance than I'm capable, such as "five repeats of 600M at 5K pace with 2-minute recoveries," NOT "5K at 5K pace." I've never seen a training plan that called for you to do a 6.5K run at PR pace. Just curious, what marathon plan are you following that does? Edited by the bear 2009-08-25 10:24 AM |
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