iTrain kicked my butt

Last week i mentioned iTrain. Shortely after, I downloaded iTread Set 25 Top 40 workout. The work out is 40 minutes long and its an interval training workout on the treadmill. and it.kicked.my.butt. iTrain labels it as "Beginner/Not too Hard", but clearly thats all up for our own personal interpretation. I mean, if you think setting your treadmill at a pace of 5.0 is "Beginner/Not too Hard" then we should be labeling this workout as "HARD, VERY HARD".

I mean, I was all ok and stuff with starting the short run out at a 5.6 and going along for a few minutes. Heck, I was even ok with the 3% grade hill at a 5.4 for 3 minutes, or whatever. And to be honest, I was pretty ok at setting an 8% grade hill at a 5.0 for however long (no more than 2 or 3 minutes i dont think). I'm even ok with the coaching and gentle guidance given to you by the Grace (the voice over the earbuds). You know what i'm not ok with? The sprint (but not all-out sprint, mind you) for the final four minutes. Grace says, pick a number you can run at steadily for the final 4 minutes. I pick a nice, easy 5.4. Grace says, joggers, your number should between a 6.4 and 6.8. OH YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. my legs are JELLO. J-E-L-L-O. I've been running harder than I think I've ever run before for the last THIRTY SIX MINUTES on STEEP hills. and now you want me to run the final four minutes at LEAST a 6.4 PACE?! you've got to be kidding me.

but

i'm not a wuss. and i'm not going to be running up there on the treadmill at my little leisurly 5.4 when good ole Gracey says I need to be at a 6.4. So people, I pushed that speed up. I pushed it up to a 6.6 and I ran the last four minutes home.

it kicked my butt, i was exhausted, my legs were jello, and i ran faster for 40 minutes than I ever have before.

and i bought two more iTrain workouts today. must not have been so bad afterall.