getting slower wrote:
Built up to about 90 miles per week recently
current fitness is around high-16 for 5k
For the past 4 weeks I've noticed my easy runs have been getting progressively slower. It used to be at 7:40ish, started getting slower, and now this week it was consistently over 8:00. What's frustrating about it is that the pace feels "fast." Not fast as in hard, as breathing and heart rate are fine, but it feels like I have to turn my legs over quickly even for an 8:00-8:30 pace. It's as if my stride is stuck at a slow pace when doing easy runs. I've also noticed it's hard to get on pace right away in workouts. Same problem with the easy runs, it feels like my legs are moving much faster than they actually are like I have some serious lack of speed. I don't get it, I do strides twice a week, an interval session, tempo run, and long run each week. I would think my easy pace would get faster since starting workouts, but it is only getting slower and is discouraging. The start of easy runs are really slow, like 8:40 pace. I just go at what feels natural, so I don't try for any pace on easy days. What's weird is that when I was in about 18:00 5k shape, my easy pace was like 7:20. Can increasing mileage slow down your easy pace a lot? This is my first time building up to 90 miles. I noticed I was a little fatigued this week, so I'm guessing it could just be that I'm flat from the higher mileage, but I don't know. What would help to get easy pace back in the 7:30 range without forcing anything?