Big Sur is just around the corner and an essential workout sat on my training schedule for today: Yasso 800’s. There’s just something about the final set of Yasso’s that I cannot pass up — even if I’ve not done much track work for the season. It’s like the 20 mile long run. It must be done.
And so, at lunch time, I attempted to quickly satisfy my hunger (but not fill up) with a handful of dark chocolate covered espresso beans with hopes of being able to lasso a set of ten Yasso 800’s.
I wasn’t the only one at the community college track though. At the far end of the track, a PE class swarmed all but the outer-most lane. Hoping that I wouldn’t be asked to show my student ID, I forced down my frustration and made my way through the crowd of 20 somethings.
The teacher was calling out the instructions for a timed 1-mile run. They were off running, walking, and everything in between just as I finished off my 1st 800. I watched them go by during the walking portion of my recovery lap, then passed them as I jogged the lap’s remainder.
By the time I kicked off my 2nd 800, the majority of the class was walking. They looked on as I passed, making comments about my speed or the number of laps I’d run. But they kept walking. I guess it takes a whole lot more to inspire the young into action. I offered words of encouragement as I passed those who were running. I’m pretty sure I heard a few groans of gratitude.
But it wasn’t long before the track was empty again. I swear that most of the students skipped out on the final lap, making the two walkers who completed the entire workout look really slow. I wondered if the the teacher, who was a tad annoyed at having to wait for them, knew the difference or if she really didn’t care because she just wanted class to be over.
I completed a few more 800’s before realizing that my time was up too. By the time I left the track, I was 2 repeats short of the scheduled 10.
As for my target times, I can’t really tell you as my watch would not register the lap when I repeatedly hit the button. I can tell you that it felt like I lassoed my Yasso target. Now, I need only lasso my marathon finish.
Bart Yasso and Runners World swear by those Yassos. Whatever your Yasso split was in minutes and seconds there’s your marathon time in hours and minutes. Except I don’t think he knows about the Hills of Big Sur. Hmmm… Sounds like you are prepared, though!