Ran a 1600m time trial with some of our top guys on the Richland High track. We've had super-calm weather for the last month or two and today was the first day we've had any wind. Go figure. My goal was to pace them 3 laps at 67 and let them do whatever they could the final lap. The wind was coming up the homestretch and was just brutal, especially since my singlet wasn't enough to keep my arms warm. Splits went 66, 69, 70, and 71. I just got tighter and tighter. Anthony kicked in a 68 for 4:33, I was 4:36, Justin went 4:40, Austin 4:45 and Phil 4:50. The effort was equal to my indoor race two weeks ago and so I figure the times were about 10 seconds slow. Which means these guys are going to have a monster season when they start doing some mile- and two-mile-specific workouts. Afterwards I drove out to Jump Off Joe and ran it. It won't matter how many times I run it, it's always going to surprise me how steep it is. I don't know how percentages work on inclines, but I've run down 10% inclines and this is much steeper. The wind was in my face on the way up too; it was just a brutal run. After the steepest part the road leveled a bit and I was able to stretch out my stride some and it finally hit me how much lactic acid had built up in my legs. I've never felt anything like it, it was like my legs had become encased in wood. I loved it. 11:59 to the top, close to my fastest run up it. I had played with the idea of tempoing the 3.7 back to my car but felt the 16:30 I'd spent at VO2 max should just about do it for the day. Took it easy and enjoyed the feeling of running my first 80 mile week. | 