Training Log Archive: PG

At the Smith indoor track with Phil, good workout. A couple of miles warm-up (17:54), then 8 x 400 with about 45 seconds rest between (which seemed to go by way too quickly) -- 1:47.6, 1:44.9, 1:45.1, 1:44.7, 1:44.6, 1:43.1, 1:43.2, 1:41.9.

And then after a long rest, 5+ minutes, an 800 in 3:23.5, as good as I can do now.

All the 400s and the 800 were right about what was planned/expected/hoped for. :-)

And then a couple more miles cool-down (18:02).

Some entertainment provided by the only other runner there, local girl now at BU, way faster than I could imagine running, the 200 I inquired about was done in 29.

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And then there is the usual lament, or fiction, of old men, summed up in the quote "The older I get, the better I used to be." Just old folks losing their minds? And yet today I was twice reminded of times long ago, the "times" being running times and therefore not so much fiction.

The first was, watching the very leggy young women whipping around the track, was the realization that we used to be just about that fast, my best for 200 having been 30.x and Phil about the same. And I remember thinking, back when such a time was possible, how incredibly slow I was, that all the good runners were so much faster.

And the second was, thinking about doing quarters now in about 1:45, with a little rest, and eight being more than enough, that I used to be able to run 105 of them in a row, no rest at all, and actually a little bit faster.

How things have changed...

C • tsk tsk 3

A so-called "recovery" run. I always thought you could recover more by just taking the day off, but then I never knew much about training anyway.

Whatever, a relaxed pace and got up the one hill without undo distress.

Good run, best I've felt on a longer run in a long time, certainly could have kept going for a while longer and no problem getting up the hills.

Don't know why, but enjoy it when it happens.

C • 47.96 miles 12

Back to Forest Park, 5K this week. Also not really cold, low 30sF, but stiff NW wind, so the first day this "winter" that it has felt cold.

And certainly needed the alarm clock to rouse me this morning. Went to see Trumbo last night with Phil and Margi, then a late dinner at Osteria Vespa in Amherst, so to bed well after my usual bedtime. Fine flick, fine dinner.

About 20 seconds quicker than a couple of weeks ago, so that's OK. Though I certainly worked hard, pulse was at 166 for last bit. A couple of years ago I think my max was about 170. Now it must be the upper 160s. So not much room left there for gutting it out. The plan, actually, is to not run these things so hard, but easier said than done.

Anyway, good effort all the way around.

And I sure dodged a bullet today, the bullet the result of some first-class stupidity, and the dodging the result of some first-class good luck. The stupidity, well, it's starts a week ago, parked my car, put the $5 entry fee and the car key in my pocket, zipped it up, ran over to the place where you sign up, unzipped, paid, never rezipped. Finished the race, back to the car, reached for the key, still there but not zipped in, feeling pretty stupid, and lucky.

This week, same deal, except leaving the car I reminded myself to zip up after I paid. Warmed up, signed up, ran the race, happened to be hanging out near the organizers' table when a guy walked up holding a car key, saying he'd found it on the course and they might want to make an announcement.

And I just knew it was mine. Reached for my back pocket, unzipped, no key, yup. How stupid can you get, two weeks in a row, and then how lucky -- guy spotted it (lucky it was a road race), stopped his race to pick it up, how nice can you get. Just got his first name, Kevin, thank you.

And next week, if I go, I hope I will have learned something?

C • key 1

And then back to the car the reverse way of the 10K course, rather pleasant, no hills and the wind not so bad.

Early run with Dave, light rain and about 40F, but good to do it early as it was probably the best weather of the day. Legs a bit achy, but good company.

George said there was a 10-miler in Norfolk, CT, this Saturday and suggested I try it, not that far from Litchfield. Fine, except for the timing, went to Litchfield today. But, having looked up info on the race, and its route, it seemed like a reasonable idea to go run it this afternoon on my way home.

And it would have been a reasonable idea if I had just had a bit of energy in the legs. But they were dead as can be. Or so it seemed.

Croaked for real on the climb from 7 to 8 (which really isn't much of a climb), had to walk several times. Though it did offer the advantage of removing any need (for ego reasons) to run up the short steep hill at 9.5. Walked the steepest bit of it quite happily.

But still a good outing. Saw a bit of new territory. A beautiful day. A short visit to the library in town just to check it out. And a couple of good podcasts to listen to. Not so bad.

Except I seem to have Dave showing up at 8 in the morning to run. It will be slow.

C • Well done 3