• Running and talking do go together •
[1½ MIN READ]
With fall race season upon us, a few in the Growlers’ midst have been eager to work on speed. The question is how to manage the already different paces that various members run. Back in the day when I first started running with the group in the early 20-teens, the single-digit pacers might just get back to the store and crack open the suds sooner.
These days I see more socializing and waiting at random corners. That’s partly to make sure new folks can know where to go for the routes we’re doing that it takes a while to learn. It accommodates socializing, either way.
The need for speed has allowed us to begin incorporating a training strategy called fartlek running (Runners World). It’s a real word and a real technique that allows the runner to throw arbitrary distances and speeds into a standard run. Give credit to the Swedes for coining the term, which means “speed play.” The great thing about it is that runners can just use line of sight to call the landmarks for starting and stopping. In the last few weeks, I’ve already seen my speed increase during other runs.
As far as fun, it’s a lot like racing from even earlier days than the early 20-teens. Think of the days as kids when you just said, “Race you to the…” And who can resist saying fartlek? It doesn’t get much more fun that that.
As far as socializing, those doing them can just double back and still join those not doing them. It’s been working well for us as Growlers. The combination of speed training and socializing clearly occurred to the Runners World author, too, who mentions the idea of doubling back right in their title caption.
As far as the suds, it also means fair sharing for everyone who wants to partake. Good all around.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe), “Negative split or positive splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT
¶Text and photos (unless otherwise stated): Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-posted: (1) Facebook JRC Growlers Group Run (2023’09’20’W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun only with added caption.
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