Doug's Running Thingy

Too much fun yesterday with the new dog and Travis and then lots of yardwork so I blew off the 4 mile prediction run.

Gorgeous morning today - probably the last one for several months.  Went to the track for some block starts and then 300, 500, 500, 300 - all at a bit less than 5:20 mile pace.  We'll see how that works out in about 5 weeks when I race the mile.

Three mile run/walk with the new doggie.  Two miles was running - mostly around 8-8:15 pace - the beast is a beast!  He actually seems to prefer a bit faster pace.  Even showed no real stress at probably 6:30 pace for about a quarter mile.

Tweaked my right hip a bit doing block starts on Sunday, so taking it easy a couple days before the 100 meter race on Thurs - Summer Track is back! 

Surprisingly lovely run about an hour after a serious rainstorm.  High humidity, but temps in the low 70s - gonna miss that soon enough.  Ran comfortably at 8 flat pace with no hip pain at all.

Easy 3 mile warmup then easy 2X300 and 2x200 on the track followed by barefoot striders and cool down on the infield.  And just finished an easy mile run/walk with Cassidy - the new doggie.

Pretty satisfying first week of the Summer Track Series.  Grand Prix event was the 100 meter and, based on limited track work and very limited sprinting so far this year I was hoping to just sneak under 14.  Ran 13.61 battling the whole way with a 26-yr old who ran 13.60 - big fun.  Jumped into the 400 and cruised a 35/31 for a 1:06, and then immediately toed the line for the 1600.  Toyed with trying to hit 6 flat, but when I went through 800 at a way too painful 3:06 I bagged that plan and shut it down for a 6:36.  All-in-all, a great evening on the track - tons of "kids" of all ages having fun running.

Travis hadnt gotten his training run in yet for the day (he's a junior counselor at the day camp at his school), so he spent the first part of the meet doing about 4 miles on the trails.  When the 1600 rolled around, he paced a couple buds through 1200 at 5:20 pace and then proceeded to drop a 61 to win the race in 5:01.  The 5K was started at same time as the 1600, so he cruised two more miles with a couple of those racers - ah to be young again.

A little track work this morning before the rain sets in again.  A bit over two miles warmup, then 2X500 at 5:20 mile pace, and planned 2X200 at 30 seconds.  Hit the first one at 30 and felt a little tightness in the left quad, so bagged the next one.  Probably a combo of lingering soreness from Thurs track and the fact that I havent run a 30 second 200 in a few months.  Will be fine and dandy for Tues workout.

A bit over three miles on the trails on Paris Mountain - yes, Rob, THAT Paris Mountain. Travis and I are in Travelers Rest, SC tonight after tourning Western Carolina today and in anticipation of touring Furman and UNC Asheville tomorrow. Been a crazy couple weeks leading up to this trip and I never got the chance to bend your ear about Furman and whether you know the coaches there. Trav has been contacted by UNCA coach, and I suggested we pop into Western Carolina and Furman while we're up here.  Fun trip so far.  Trav enjoyed hearing about us riding up Paris Mountain and me falling over at the top... was that Paris Mt or... I dont know, its been 25 years!

Four miles on the treadmill at the hotel before heading to Furman for a campus tour, then up to Asheville for a tour of UNC Asheville - should be a fun day.

Never should have let Travis tour Furman - oh my!  Looks like I better get another job or two.  UNC Asheville was nice too, but after the Furman country club...

Left Asheville at 5 and got to my sister's just south of Raleigh a bit before 10 - not too bad.

Ran four this morning in 56 degrees on the country roads by her place - very nice run this morning.

Couple miles with the dog after driving 10 hrs home from NC.  Im thinking the beast could run for hours at 8 min pace.  Trav did 5 while Cassidy and I ran and then played fetch at the school.

Good trip, but good to be home too. 

Mile warmup and cooldown bracketing a little track work.  Ran 4x200 at goal mile pace (41, 40, 40, 38) and then 2x200 at goal 400 pace (31, 30).  Not looking forward to racing the 400 on Thursday, but we'll give it a whirl.

Three miles warmup, including the north loop trail apace.  Then 2x300 at 5:20 mile pace and 2x200 at 30 seconds.  Barefoot striders and two laps on the infield to finish up.

Back to the track for the 400 this evening - missed the 200 last week while touring colleges with T - bummer.  Did about a mile and a half warmup and some striders and flexibility before toeing the line.  Kinda expected a mid 62 effort so was satisfied with the 61.29 I ran.  The last 50 was quite uncomfortable.  Cooled down for a mile-ish with the dog afterward.  Another fun evening at the track.

Overstreet loop plus new trail.

Ran/walked a bit over 4 miles with the dog this evening after a nice rainstorm.  Running portions totalled to 3.3 with his best pace being a full mile at 7:43 - not bad.

Three mile warmup on the ravine trail and then a little track work in prep for Thursday's 800 - ugh.  4x200 at 36, 37, 35, 35 with about 30 seconds rest between, then after about 5 minutes, did one 400 at 72.  Looking for around 2:26 in the 800 - 72/74 - we'll see.

After Debby cleared out, humidity is down a wee bit, and there were moments of coolish breeze during my evening run.  Not really meaning to, I actually average under 8 min pace for the entire run - thats something - I guess maybe its time to start getting serious about prepping for some XC races in the fall.

Surprised myself a wee bit with a 2:24.9 in this evening's summer track 800.  The planned 200 meter splits of 36, 36, 37, 37 for 2:26 became 36.9, 35.9, 36.6, 35.6.  Trav jogged a 2:11 in trainers in the fast heat taking a teammate through 400 in 62, then backing off - teamie got a PR 2:05 - nice!  I got second in the old guy heat with a "young" old guy just ahead of me the whole way - not sure I would have hit my time without his help.  Man, the last 200 of an 800 is just not comfy at all.  Mile and a half warm up and only a half mile cool down - couldn't muster more than that.

As I type this I realize that dropping 10 lbs and getting serious again about the whole running thing would easily get me 10-12 seconds faster in the 800 - just might have to start working now to be ready for the 50-54 age group masters track circuit!

One mile with the doggie and a couple more on my own - ridiculously warm steamy evening on the neighborhood roads.