The Long Run

Day off running.  Did some walking around camp trying to figure out where I'm going to do my runs.  Could leave camp but would have to sign in and out, easier just to stay on the grounds, need to have run finished by 7:30 each morning before Jess starts her shift.

Enjoying the slightly cooler weather vs FL

5.02@10:31   HR 125 bpm

Camp loop is about 1.2 miles, did 4 loops then a little back n forth to get 5 miles.  About 500 feet of climbing, nothing too serious but definitely not Florida.  Camp road is packed gravel.

5.73@9:37

Day two at the camp.  Did not want to go the whole week without some sort of workout,  baesd on what I could find, there was a nice stretch of mostly flat and good shape packed gravel.  It was less than 1/4 mile so decided on 1 minute fartleks.  Paces ranged from 6:30 to as fast as 5:57.  One way was a little faster than the other way.

Felt like I got something done.

6.31@9:57

Back to easy running.  5 camp loops, 659 feet of climbing.  Last full day here and tomorrow don't have to start first thing in the morning because Jessica is not working.

6.07@9:18

Sleeping in this morning!  8:30 start time for the run.  Drizzly rain this morning.  Started the run during a break in the rain.  Did less loops as I ran out farther on a spur down one of the roads that went past the warrior course to what looked like a water treatment (maybe reclaimed water ponds) to a gate that marked camp property.

Rain got heavier and then lighter again a few times.  Finished up with 10x100m strides.

Big drive home.  Barely room for everyone's stuff including an extra duffle from the people giving Jacob a ride home.  We drove via Athens so Sophia could tour UGA.  I drove over to and stopped at the old site of the Navy Supply Corps School (now part of UGA) and took a picture outside of the old Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ) where I lived for about a month before getting an apartment.  It was about 33 years ago that I graduated from that school before heading to the Kitty Hawk.

Rain picked up on the way home and it was dark and rainy about two hours of driving until we reached the edge of the front, then it was light out for a little until the sun went down, but the rides were dry and was smooth driving the rest of the way home.

3.13@9:56   HR 129 bpm

Thought this might be a rough run after the long day of travel, but it wasn't so bad.  One loop inside Westlake Village.

Tomorrow is the Freakin' Hot 5K which I tried to do last year but overslept.

Freakin' Hot 5K   Race Report

Chip time 21:06.7, 2nd place age group

Weather: 77 degrees, 92 percent humidity, actually not quite "freakin' hot" but not cool either

I signed up for this race last year but overslept.  This year, woke up in plenty of time, arrived over 45 minutes early and had enough time for check in and a warmup of about 1.8 miles, mostly easy jogging with 4 strides at the end.  I was able to accelerate to 5k pace and faster which was a good sign.

Race starts and after a little bit I look at my watch, showing that I'm too slow I'm also in some tall trees so for now just look ahead and try and pass the people who started out too fast until I can settle in to a faster pace I can hold.  First mile goes pretty quickly and I manage sub 6:40 pace, first time I've done that in a while.  Still feeling pretty strong into the second mile, keeping it together in the 6:40's, but I slowly slip a little then get some back, finishing the second mile in 6:48.

Now I've got two good miles under my belt.  I'm more in a hanging on mentality but I'm also thinking about cadence and trying to concentrate on that.  But, no matter what I'm going to hang onto sub 7:00 and not blow it like I did on July 4th.  Finally the home stretch.  Clock is still in the 20:50's when I see it but I'm too far to sneek under.  

Splits: 6:36, 6:48, 6:56 0.12@6:33

Gotta work on finishing the last mile strong, sub 6:50 and I could've broken 21:00.

However, just broke the slowing down streak since the Hippie Dash.  Deseret News Half did not give me confidence to predict a good marathon, but it did tell me that maybe if you have some luck and really dig, you can still get it.

Today's race showed some progress at least.  Fall 5k's could get faster, I've seen jumps as much as 1 minute between hot summer 5k's and a cooler fall 5k.

Got to see Joe, Renee, the old Wednesday night group (minus Daisy who had to split early), Jenny, Sean, and Maria.  Also chatted with 1st AG guy Brian who beat me by a good 30 seconds and he's 59 years old so can't use age excuse.