It Just Got Real

Today was what I consider my first tough, Jack Daniel's-esque type of workout. The threshold work itself wasn't so bad, but the sheer volume of his workouts can certainly get intimidating. Earlier in the day I was paging through the workouts to come in the remaining weeks and I shudder to think that today's workout was one of the easier ones!! Ahh well, baby steps, right?!
So, I woke up this morning for my morning run, looked at my evening workout and decided against doing a double due to the length of the latter workout. Tonight's workout was my first foray in to running at my T-pace (5:59 mile). The workout itself was to go like this: 2 miles easy, 5 x (5-6minutes @ T-pace w/1minute recovery), 1hr easy. Since the T-pace was to be 5-6 minutes, I figured that I would just try to get in miles on the marked Highline Canal Trail. The trail is a rolling gravel path with markers every 1/2 mile.
I'm happy to say that the workout went great. I was aiming to just run steady and go as close as I could to 5:59s for the miles. I ended up going:
Mile 1: 5:54
Mile 2: 5:50
Mile 3: 5:50
Mile 4: 5:52
Mile 5: 5:53
I was legitimately trying to hit 5:59's for the repeats. I consciously tried to focus on slowing down throughout them but I felt like I was going easy and each time I came thru a bit fast. While it's not ideal, I am happy that I ran consistent and that I felt relaxed at this type of pace. I am trying to follow the J.D. plan as close as possible and according to him, the paces are set for a reason. If you're running faster than your designated paces than you are not doing yourself a favor but rather are hurting yourself for the week's later workouts.
I think that tonight's workout shows me one of two things; Either I'm working too hard and thus missing the point of the workout OR I'm in better shape than I think and should be moving my VDOT intensities up 1- to 2-levels from 59 to 60 or 61. All of my paces would be increased if I did this. The VDOT intensity is supposed to be based on most recent race results. Initially I thought that I should have been at 62, but I backed it way off due to the altitude that I'm training at. Since I'll be racing on Monday, I think I'll wait to see the result of that and then reevaluate whether I should increase the intensities or remain where I am.
All told, tonight's run was a lonely 14.5 miles with 5 of it at (or rather, below) T-pace. A solid workout for sure. Luckily tomorrow is an easy day before Wednesday's bout of 1,000m repeats. Happy Training!