Hi guys,
I've been running for about 2 months now, on average 12-20 mpw and had a question about my performance or paces.
When I started 2 months ago, I could run a mile in about 6:58-7:02 and a 5k in about 25 flat.
I did a time trial 5 to 7 days ago and I was down to 6:08 and I think I could have hit a 5:59 if I pushed my hardest that day. The day after I had a pretty good track workout too, ran 10X400 average pace right at or just below 1:30 with 1 minute 30 second rest (half jog half walk).
The only trouble is I've noticed a deterioration in the paces I can sustain now. The VDOT calculators I see online prescribe around 8:36-9:00 for my easy paces and about 7:05 - 7:20 for threshold given my mile time but I feel it to be a bit too arduous right now to keep up the easy pace for my normal 3-6 mile easy runs and I haven't tried the tempo paces yet but I feel those are gonna be pretty difficult too. It has been pretty hot the past few days and before I would run in the evening when it was cooler whereas now I'm running in the afternoons so I'm figuring heat is a factor but is there anything else that can explain this?
I only mention this because before my mile trial I was running 5k and 8k easy runs at around the 8:36 - 9:00 pace with more ease than I am now and would be running 2 1/2 mile tempos at 7:20 pace with more ease than I feel like could sustain now (I know, I was training at too strenuous a pace, but I've learned since then.)
I apologize for any stupidity or naivety that shows up in my question and I promise I'm not trolling lol
Thanks for any help