I now have a much better understanding of the physiology of running and the adaptations of the human body to training. I know that my training will take time and the key is patience because I don't have the years of aerobic conditioning that many fast runners have from high school and college. That being said I am confident that I can get there eventually. There are two great quotes that really have been sticking with me lately as something I have learned about not only training but life in general:
"The dictionary is the only place where success will come before work."
"And not one of them was prepared, truly prepared to believe that it had not so much to do with chemicals and zippy mental tricks as with that most unprofound and sometimes heart-rendering process of removing, molecule by molecule, the very tough rubber that comprised the bottoms of his training shoes. The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials. How could they be expected to understand that?"
This was my first real introduction to aerobic conditioning and base building; I find it humorous now when I hear people say that Lydiard training is all about long, slow distance as this period of training was the hardest I have done and yet the most rewarding.
The end result...with no speed or specific training I have taken my easy aerobic pace from 7:45 to 7:00 and I ran my first fast-finish long run where I was able to close in 6:58, 6:58, 6:50, 6:47, 6:38. I ran a freaking 6:38 for mile 20 and felt like I could have kept going.
