Masters Running

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Mark your calendars: on December 13, Sgt. Bain is going down (Read 499 times)

    In the National Guard, we have required fitness tests once or twice or three times a year, depending on the whim of our commander. The fitness test includes a 2 mile run. As some of you may remember, my nemesis in the 2 mile run is Sgt. Bain (formerly Specialist Bain). I think he is about 25 years old now. The last time we ran together, two years ago, he ran about 12:20 and I ran about 13:10. I can't remember our exact times, but he gave me a beating. On the very first lap, I saw his butt receding into the distance, and that was that. I resolved to beat him the next time, and told him so. He laughed and said with total cockiness, "You'll never beat me." He has since repeated his annoying words several times. Always with a laugh and a smirk. We were supposed to face off in Kosovo last fall, but a rainstorm led to the fitness test being cancelled. Since then, I have done the 2 mile run three times, but for one reason or another he was never around. My times were 13:00 (last fall); 18:29 (also last fall, dragging my bad left leg around the track); and 14:10 (this year, when I wasn't in shape). This December 13, I expect we will both be running together. My fitness is slowly returning, and I will bet any of you a drink that I beat him this time. In fact, I will bet you that I finish first in the squadron. But I won't lie to you: A New Threat Has Arisen. Last spring I was a timer for one of our fitness tests. A soldier I had never seen before ran the first mile in 5:58. "Sh**," I thought, "who is this guy?" Then, with no one to push him, he ran the second mile in about 6:25 and finished with a time of about 12:23. It turned out he was a new kid, just back from basic training, maybe not even 20 years old yet. And he is a marathoner who trains regularly--runs pretty good mileage. I don't even know his name, but I have to expect he will be running on December 13, too. These two runners pose different problems for me. I don't think I can out-kick Sgt. Bain. I have seen him run and he is too compact and muscular. I will have to beat him by wearing him down. The other guy, The Mysterious Private, maybe I can beat in a kick--but only if I am somewhere close to him during the last lap. And I don't know if I can out-kick him, I just hope I can out-kick him. Beating both these guys in the same race is a tall order. But "it could happen," as we say in my house when we are discussing a possibility which is very, very unlikely but not absolutely forbidden by the laws of space-time. All I know is, I plan to finish first on December 13. I will unleash the wrath of the Dark Horse on whoever shows up. Anyone want to bet a drink on this race? Of course, if I lose, I will simply continue to avoid all of you. If I win, it's party time. Dark Horse
    I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course.
    evanflein


      Hey, maybe the time to kick is before the race starts? Big grin As for your bet... I'm in..!


      Marathon Maniac #957

        Well, maybe what you need to do is not kick them, but trip them. Your legs are pretty long. You could do it. Big grin

        Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. We can hunker down and hope nothing hits us or we can stand tall, lean into the wind and say, "Bring it on, darlin', and don't be stingy with the jalapenos."

          .
          Quit being so damn serious! When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. "Ya just gotta let it go." OM
            ...you could try mailing him cartons of cigarettes.......

            ..nothing takes the place of persistence.....


            MM#209 / JapanJoyful#803

              Good luck but if you lose, you eat any item I buy for you from the restaurant we went to with Soudie. You win, vice versa

              "Enjoy yourself. Your younger days never come again." 100yo T. Igarashi to me in geta at top of Mt. Fuji (8/2/87)

              mustang sally


              Bad faerie

                You never call, you never write, and as a result, I think accepting that bet is a safe deal for me, Sgt Horse. What's the worst that can happen if I lose? You come out here and we go beer-swilling? Done.
                TammyinGP


                  I'm in on this bet. And I say IF you lose (which you won't right?!!), you have to wear the pink tutu at the next fitness test. If Bain goes down, he has the wear the tutu. Big grin

                  Tammy

                  HermosaBoy


                    I am thinking the new threat is named PFC Kurse. Wink I need more information before I take this bet -- what's your strategy, what's your true motivation? Depending on that, I might have to bet with the house and stake you... Big grin

                    And you can quote me as saying I was mis-quoted. Groucho Marx

                     

                    Rob

                      I need more information before I take this bet -- what's your strategy, what's your true motivation?
                      hermosaboy, I will tell you my strategy, on condition you don't tell anyone else. First of all, I am hoping we race on a track. The commander has said he wants us to run on a track, not in the street as we have been doing. My strategy partly depends on our racing on a track. My plan, which depends on knowing my pace, is to run 1:30 per lap for the first seven laps. This of course is 6:00 mile pace, or 12:00 two mile pace. As far as I know, Sgt. Bain has never run this fast. (Of course, neither have I, since high school.) If I can hold this pace without suffering cardiac arrest, I may be able to leave Bain far enough behind that he will not be a factor on the last lap. I think The New Threat is probably in good enough physical shape to hang with a 1:30 lap pace. But will he be mentally prepared to do it? And on the last lap, will he be physically or mentally prepared to outkick me? I really don't know how long I can hold a 1:30 lap pace. But if I am right there when the gun lap starts, I might be able to throw a 1:15 last lap at him. This plan is not likely to succeed. But it could happen. Dark Horse
                      I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course.
                        yeah, Always have a Plan........ then have a Plan-B.

                        ..nothing takes the place of persistence.....

                        HermosaBoy


                          hermosaboy, I will tell you my strategy, on condition you don't tell anyone else. I really don't know how long I can hold a 1:30 lap pace. But if I am right there when the gun lap starts, I might be able to throw a 1:15 last lap at him. This plan is not likely to succeed. But it could happen. Dark Horse
                          Play into their egos -- they are young pups that are going to go out too fast -- so let them. I suggest 1:35ish for the first 3 - 4 laps. Nice and relaxed. Then start going with 1:25s until the gun lap -- then as Maximus said, wait for the signal (the gun) and unless Hell! You let them think that you are not going to be a factor for the first few laps, but you conserve strength. Then you close like a freight train and they won't be able to respond. Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. Put me down for two drinks on Dark Horse for the win...

                          And you can quote me as saying I was mis-quoted. Groucho Marx

                           

                          Rob

                            Play into their egos -- they are young pups that are going to go out too fast -- so let them. I suggest 1:35ish for the first 3 - 4 laps. Nice and relaxed. Then start going with 1:25s until the gun lap -- then as Maximus said, wait for the signal (the gun) and unless Hell! You let them think that you are not going to be a factor for the first few laps, but you conserve strength. Then you close like a freight train and they won't be able to respond.
                            hermosaboy, you are a very fast and experienced racer, and I appreciate the advice. Your idea may be better than mine. This 2 mile race is the only goal race I have on the horizon, so I will have plenty of time to ponder strategy. I just hope I can avoid injury between now and then. Dark Horse
                            I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course.
                            HermosaBoy


                              hermosaboy, you are a very fast and experienced racer, and I appreciate the advice. Your idea may be better than mine. This 2 mile race is the only goal race I have on the horizon, so I will have plenty of time to ponder strategy. I just hope I can avoid injury between now and then. Dark Horse
                              As Lil Engine would say, I think I can, I think I can...

                              And you can quote me as saying I was mis-quoted. Groucho Marx

                               

                              Rob


                              MM#209 / JapanJoyful#803

                                .not that I want to make sure I win the bet or anything like that but is this week's weekly going to pretty much be your training focus for the next two months? Big grinBig grinBig grinBig grin
                                Monday: 8 miles on the treadmill Tuesday: 100 pushups, 100 situps, 30 barbell curls, 30 lat pulldowns, 30 squats Wednesday: 8 miles on the treadmill, 30 leg curls, 30 leg extensions, 50 wrist barbell curls, 1 mile on the elliptical Thursday: 100 situps, 30 squats, 30 leg curls, 30 leg extensions, 1 mile on the elliptical

                                "Enjoy yourself. Your younger days never come again." 100yo T. Igarashi to me in geta at top of Mt. Fuji (8/2/87)

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