Hello! Are you running and eating today? I am.
Today I decided to start marathon training for real so I made myself do some speed work. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any kind of repeats or whatev so I started with a short session = 1 mile warm up, 4x .5 mile (at 7 on the effort scale) with .5 mile recovery in between.
Ahhh! It wasn’t so bad and I felt good after 
Before my run this morning I was hungry stalling doing my speed work because it’s not my favorite and I ate my last two pieces of toast. So, when I got back I had my usual eggs with green beans to bulk up the meal.
I would rather run 15 miles than do 5 x .5 miles fast. So, when I was running this morning I thought, “This is my least favorite part of training…”
But I was wrong.
Two of my middle toes have been hurting me so I had to ice them after my run. I put them in a big bowl of ice water and was like, “Nope, this might be the worst part of marathon training…”
Question: What is your FAVORITE part of working out?
What’s your least favorite part?
Ugh I did a speed workout this morning too. I actually like speed workouts when I’m in speed shape, but getting back into it is rough!
speed work in general is my least favorite, and I’ve never done speed work before!
My favorite part is how I feel afterwards (ie. when it’s done). My least favorite part is when I have to wash my hair and do the full toilette afterwards haha
I’m so glad you wrote this post, because I’ve been wanting to ask you a very important question: do YOU think that speed work is important? I’m a long time reader, and I’ve just started training for my first half-marathon (eeeeiii! Exciting and scary!). Every wednesday my training plan alternates either a tempo run for thirty minutes or speed work on a track. I’ve been doing it, but hate, hate, haaaaate it. How important do you think it is to do it? My goal in the half is to finish, so is it THAT important that I get faster? Thank you so much for your awesome and hillarious blog and everything you do to inspire us new runners!
My favorite part of running is doing speed work. I like to sprint the straightaways on a track and jog or even walk in between, What I dislike the most about running is how tight my hip flexors get after doing sprints.
That reminds me to spend some QT stretching today – I’ve been super tight.
Can I say “savasana” during yoga?
Yes 🙂
do you have new shoes? If not, get fit again for shoes…maybe your arches are falling
Thanks for the tip – I’m going to check into that.
I love the high I get after a workout, nothing beats it!
This is disgusting but I hate showering. I mean I do it cause I don’t want to be disgusting and stinky, but I hate getting in the shower, especially in the winter time. And when you work out, sometimes two showers a day is necessary. Blah.
I love speedwork. I think the endorphins from a good speed session are unequalled to any other workout. My least favorite ones are long runs (15+ miles) by myself. I like running by myself but I get googly eyed after about 2 hours.
Gold medal for you today…you did two of the three hardest training things (not necessarily running only)…interval training and icing the feet. The third is when it’s cold/dark/humid/whatever and you go out and do it anyway. (Although this last thing simultaneously makes you feel like Rocky.)
I dont mind speed work but hills, yeah, um, NO!
My favorite part about working out is how it makes me feel awesome!
My least favorite would probably be the same as yours – speedwork and ice baths. ew.
My least favorite part is when you go to the gym and the person next to you makes that weird clearing their throat noise over and over again. Drink some water or blow your nose!
My favourite part of working out is knowing that by 6:30am (on weekdays at least), I’ve already done something awesome for myself, and that I can have a huge healthy breakfast to ‘recover’.
My least favourite part of working out is probably chafing 😛
I was on the cross country team in college and I was the ONLY one that loved the post workout ice bath. Everyone else was in the hot tub… Probably from going up in Maine 🙂
Brrrrr! You are hardcore 🙂
I really enjoy the fun of group fitness, which is why I teach it. My least favorite part of working out is the warm-up, because it’s so hard to get your body in the zone to sweat! 🙂 Hope your toesies heal up soon!
I have a love hate relationship with speed work. Also, long runs. It’s fun but there’s always those days I just do not want to be out running for 3 hours.
Being sore afterwards and sweating a lot during are my favorite parts.
Being sore and sweating are my least favorite parts. Not really, but they can be inconvenient. I don’t like always having to get new shoes bc mine break down.
Favorite part of a workout is the feeling of accomplishment after it’s done. Least favorite is the very beginning; I’m usually pretty miserable the first 5-10 minutes of any workout.
I actually like speedwork, its quick and dirty. Though I do love my long runs for just zoning out. I probably hate mid distance runs the most.
The worst part about working out is all the showering! I so wish I was a guy so could just shower and head out the door.
I have a love/hate relationship with speed work. Mentally I have a hard time getting ready for it but once I”m actually doing it it’s not so bad.
I don’t enjoy it as much as I do my long distance runs.
What I don’t like right now that I’m training for the LA Marathon is that during the week I have to do my runs at night. I start them around 9pm so that is an almost daily challenge for me. I always look forward to my Saturday morning long runs!
Good Luck on your marathon training!
Which marathon are you training for? Glad to see you are doing speed work again! I have a love/hate relationship with speed work!
All of them 🙂 I don’t have a goal race yet.
I registered for a distance medley (5k, 10k, and half) spread out over the year – have never run more than 10K so that half is going to be a killer! I love the way working out helps to clear my mind of all the noise and junk. My least favorite part is definitely having to stay on top of my laundry to win the fight against stinky gear – I feel like I’m constantly washing socks.
Awesome! Good luck Colleen 🙂
i love the feeling of accomplishment at the end of a workout. my least favorite part is stretching and foam rolling- so important but so boring (and painful).
Speed work is a lot of runner’s least favourite parts of training but it’s well needed!
My least favorite part of running is hills and of exercise in general is strength training.
My favorite part is long distances…..15 miles along the ocean! AHHHH!!!! I get such an endorphin high and feel so accomplished afterward.
Me too! 15 miles at the ocean is my favorite 🙂
I totally feel the same way about speedwork. I’d definitely rather do a long run than get uncomfortable with a fast pace.
My favorite part of the work out is generally the near the very end when I can go all out and know that I am going to be done with that workout.
I’m excited to follow your real marathon training. I’m not sure what your goals are for training, but I definitely think you are capable of qualifying for Boston!
Thank you 🙂
My favorite part of working out is the cool down because it means I’m done! and vice versa
My favorite part of working out is getting to eat more…. Least favorite part is the ‘work’. hahaha
Same 🙂