Fall is here!
Races and whatnot!
"I want you to pray as if everything depends on it, but I want you to prepare yourself as if everything depends on you."
-- Dick LeBeau
Clive,
congrats on a strong run, PR at Lungstrong. I hear that is a hilly course so that is a great effort. Did you plan to run the first mile that easy and then go hard after that (I thought only elites and Kenyans could negative split?)?
Rob
I usually go out somewhat fast, burning off nervous energy, then settle into race pace. But I've found it's hard to slow down the right amount -- I either don't slow down at all or I overdo it, sag, and have to press to find that race pace. So this time, I decided I'd go out easier, then pick it up slightly and lock onto target velocity. But not +13sec/km easy!
I was still over budget at 2km, so I brought the pace down another notch. Didn't think I was over the line, so I just raced by feel from there. I was fairly surprised the few times I glanced down and saw "4:08" or the like (Garmin set for min/km), but I felt right and rolled with it.
Rob, are you running Big South?
I decided not to. I consulted the psychics who are working that case of the missing teens in SC (fr around here) and they recommended I should skip racing this weekend (they do web readings if anyone is interested?).
I ran a very hard 4 mi time trial on Sat. And yesterday I ran a very hard workout (and have a workout scheduled for Thu) so in the name of injury prevention will skip hard running this weekend (as a fyi, one of the reasons when I posted last week that the course was a "PR in the box" was last year's course was considerably short according to various feedback). I may run the Runway 5k next Sat though since I need to run some races to get in "race shape".
Lynwood -- you ran Runway 5k last year -- did they delay the start 20 min as in prior years (because of the throngs of people who were delayed parking)?
Clive -- Lynwood pointed out tonite on our Wed nite run that the guy that you latched onto over the last 2 miles of Lungstrong (Eric G) runs our Wed nite run...and I believe he may have been there when you ran the Wed nite run about 6 weeks ago or so. He remembered you because he said "the guy with the short shorts and gaudy compression sleeves on his legs".
Last year it started right on time. I got there an hour or more early to make sure I didn't have a problem, but I think they opened up extra lots. I don't remember any issues. Good race. I would like to do it again. You will be smelling a good bit of jet fuel and fumes along the runway, but it's worth it.
I ran Runway in '09 and '10 but both years the start was delayed (30 min in '09 and 20 min in '10) and at the last minute which was a pain as everyone was warmed up, shivering at the start, standing, standing, and then delay. Its good that they did not delay last year.
Cliff, were you looking for a race to run this weekend btw? Are you running the Richmond marathon (reason I ask is that you training resembles that of a 5k focus as you've been running classic VO2Max/5k intervals each week for the past 2 or 3 weeks, not being critical of training of course)?
Anyone racing this weekend? Did Shashi get injured (or did the Panda get their revenge)?
Rob: no, I just remember you asking about it last week, so I wanted to make sure I caught everyone's racing for the thread.
I think the time target is about 10-15sec too slow for my 800 sessions to be VO2Max level. -- it's more like cruise intervals for a 19:45 5k guy (based on McMillan and my in-rep HR being well under my max) with slightly too-long recoveries.
Honestly, I suspect it's partly LT work and partly the coach working me up to a Modified Yasso of 10x800 @ target pace, but with a recovery of 2min instead of equal-time. I've heard Yassos are optimistic by maybe 5-10min, so hopefully this modification corrects for that.
Kind of burned out. Once I decided not to run the marathon I was planning (training suffered due to sickness and travel for work), all motivation left me. Ran a bit last week and this week, but not logging them.
Happyfeet, does this mean you're not running Monkey?
Yes, this is the big RA year and I am not running it. Also I'll still be travelling for work until Nov 17 and taking off the weekend to go run may mean domestic disharmony.