"There are no compromises." -Once a runner

I finally did well in a trail race. I probably could have done better but I was worried about staying on trail so I stayed behind this one guy for most of the race and only passed him when I was fed up with how much he was dieing. Fell twice, once into watery mud, second rolled in dirt, neither were bad falls. The trail was very runnable compared to the last 2 trail races we did. There was one hill on the way out that was extremely steep and long. Not even the winner ran that one. Then it was rolling but pretty technical the whole way. Ran through a stream for 1/2 mile and the leader, who had gotten lost, repassed me going ridiculously fast given the terrain. I really enjoyed the course. On the way back there was a hill that probably gained the same elevation that the big one on the way out did, but it was longer and so not as steep and I only walked a small portion of that. At this rate of improvement, I'll be beating bedoukian in trail races in no time (I know he is gonna read this, and either fake confidence or admit that he is scared). He also got much more beat up by this race, which was all part of my plan so that he won't gain fitness on me. The competition was great at this race. I had people around me the whole time pushing me and I caught one guy in the last mile who had been way ahead. But then a different guy passed me in the last half mile. This is my favorite trail race so far.

Did a 3.3 mile recovery jog. Felt surprisingly good except for carrying the large dinner I ate prior to the run.

Recovery.  Felt better than I expected.  Back is a little sore, calves tight, and right shin/knee not perfect, but nothing is really sore.  Also ankles hurt a bit from rolling them so many times on the trails, but they are like iron and will get over it.  Hopefully I will be ready to race the mile on wednesday.

running in the rain is great when it isn't too cold.  Mile tomorrow unless the weather doesn't cooperate.  Im a bit nervous.  I like that matt doesn't have any dreams of beating me.  He probably should though.  I think we have very close fitness--close enough that if one has a bad day it could make the difference.

Sweet. It started raining and gusting wind to 40mph about 30 minutes before the race, but luckily it let up just before the start and although we were wet, it didn't slow us down much. I was not properly tapered though, so I think I am currently capable of 4:49. With a 14.4 mile trail race 3 days ago I can't be fully cardiovascularly recovered and I can still feel some soreness in my calves and my left quad. And I might have been a bit faster if I had someone pushing me in the last lap. My splits were pretty much straight 73's with the first 73 counting the extra 9 meters. The first lap I was boxed in and bedoukian was leading. But that was good because the first lap is always easy and if it isn't then you are in serious trouble. Then in the second lap the guy in lane 2 boxing me in fell off and as the pace was steady 73 I kept my position behind bedoukian. Then in the first half of the 3rd lap the pace started lagging and because bedoukian always accuses me of kicking him out in races, I made my move in the front straight with over 600 meters to go. I had to really sprint a bit to pass him because he tried to edge me out for lane one a bit. That might have helped my time, but it also might have hurt it as I started to really feel the lactic acid at that point which is a bit too early. Then in the back straight I really started to feel the lactic acid all over but I managed a 73 as my 'kick' lol. But I guess if pace is even and effort goes up throughout its just about perfect.

The turnout was a little pathetic. I was the only one wearing spikes although many people were at least wearing racing flats or track racing flats. This was the first race I have worn track spikes, and they felt good. Im not sure if they helped, but perhaps 1 second difference. They made the turns and changing speeds slightly easier. And I think that in the rain they gave me more of an advantage than they ever will again. I think they would help more in a more tactical race. But will I ever do a tactical mile race? I am not good enough to run on a school team. But I am starting to think. If I could get good enough to train with the brown cross country team next fall (so unlikely) it would be a dream come true. The thing is, if I could get my weight under control. I bet I could. If I got down to 140 or 135 (160+ now) then I would be fast enough at least to train with them.

Bedoukian came in second in 4:57, breaking 5 for the first time. He claims that he will never run the mile again, but I think he will. If he continues to gain fitness how can he resist racing when a PR is assured.

Trails easy.  Practiced holding in the poop a bit from mile 7-10, lol.  I shouldn't run directly after lunch.  Tomorrow the plan is the same so I should probably have a large brunch.

Trails are deceiving.  I spent 1:50 doing 10.8 miles at what would be definitely sub 8 minute pace on the road.  It would have been more like 14.5 on the road.  Oh well.  Better to save my legs the punishment of the asphalt and not feel quite as good about my mileage.  Despite my 2.5 mile day for the mile race my mileage is still gonna be fine for the week.

9.1 "easy" miles averaged around 22 min/mile only because of running down ski slopes for the last 2 miles.  We summited 5 4000ft+ mountains starting around 1500ft elevation.  It actually would have been much faster except for the 2-3ft of snow after 3000ft which made it nearly impossible to run even on the relatively flat parts.  But it was a good time.  Basically a 3hr hill workout w/full recovery between hills.