Zombies, Run! 5K

I am currently on Week 7 of the Zombies, Run! 5K training program, which I started as a way to slow myself down and encourage myself not to overdo when starting back running after having peroneal tendonitis this winter.  I have been pretty consistently running 11-12 minute miles the last 6 months (mildly depressing remembering my under 7 minute PRs as a teen).  I was pleased to look over my run and see that I was keeping in the 9-10 minute mile range for the running portion of today's training.  I didn't feel like I was exerting significantly more effort, although the distance is still lower right now.  I don't know that I could keep the pace if, for example, I got a little lost on my run and ended up doing an extra 4 miles (it has only happened once... thank goodness I run with my iPhone these days and was able to pull up a map).

I did a Run Keeper 5k trainer last year when I started running again after a work and life induced many year hiatus.  I think I remember my first few runs being in the 13-14 minute mile range, i.e. it took me a while to be able to maintain a longer jog, but this feels like more of an improvement.  It makes me wonder if I should add some intervals other than occasionally turning on Zombie chases to my normal Zombies, Run! workouts to keep getting that improvement.  I haven't done much reading on the scientific data on training patterns and I have to guess that, like the data on nutrition and a lot of other areas, it isn't very cut and dried.  Fortunately my running performance is only important for my own satisfaction and health, so even if I don't optimize, I'm not causing harm, rather failing to make progress as quickly!

As an aside, I wonder if my better performance with the Zombies, Run rather than the Run Keeper is a function of the fact that my husband made me playlists so I finally have music as I run, or whether it is at least partially story motivation.  I think I have to chalk it up to both, because both aspects catch me just right at times during my workout and give me a ridiculously huge grin, an urge to pick up the pace just for fun, or even an out loud giggle!