Pool Running is Fun

This was a tough day to run fast.  When the dew point creeps past 70 and it's 72 degrees at the same time at 7:00 am, it's really tough to run fast. Humidity was 97%. That's just a physiological fact. The sweat your body produces to cool itself simply does not evaporate and falls to the ground while your body cooks and your shoes are soaked.  I really couldn't believe my shoes were soaked on a mid-September morning, but indeed they were. It's really tough psychologically to accept this fact and still be ok with your time even though our coach told us not to worry about the time and just race. I didn't race too bad actually as I was 4th even with an Olympic Trials qualifier (O'Connor) and recent former NCAA D1 fast guys (Blake Taneff, and Daniel Samet.  Jordan Tropf came out of nowhere in this race though.

We started nice and relaxed according to the game plan, just like I did at Shamrock when I ran a PR. I continued to hold back as the lead pack went ahead of Greg and I. We caught the pack at 3 miles after they slowed down but they picked it up again and we let them go, thinking at least 2-3 guys would fall back with the humidity being a big factor. I was well prepared with Generation UCAN and UCAN Hydrate which are great products.

I remained calm, running with Greg while Kieran was slowing falling back (he is an OT qualifier but has not been training a lot as he just had a kid). He said "come catch me" at the turnaround and I started digging into my effort reserves at which point, quite surprisingly, I dropped Greg, which has never happened before. I think the humidity got to him.  Despite gunning it, I was actually slowing, just at a slower rate than those behind me. Taneff, although far ahead, was really dying and I was gaining as I myself began to die. Kept it together to see the clock which was frustratingly slow.  

Despite the slow time I can feel it inside that I'm in shape to PR. I don't say that lightly, but I feel that I can run at least 2 minutes faster in ideal conditions, which I hope to have in October 16 in Columbus.  Although I'm frustrated with the slow day, I'm headed in the right direction. Running is such an unforgiving sport whether you are a pro or an amatuer club guy like me and it still burns me that those young guys in 1-3 were able to beat me today.

Results

Article on the race

Interested to see how incredibly slow Rock and Roll Philadelphia was as well due to the heat. George was not wrong when he said we'd be 2-4 minutes off our PRs even though I didn't believe him at first. Even the Pros at philly were slow. Philly Results

soaked straight through and in pain at mile 12 or so

AM: 1.5 hr. pool run + foam rolling

PM: 8 easy

Legs were rather sore this morning and I'm tired, but nothing I can't handle. I've been at this a little while now. Time to keep truding through to that amazing Columbus half and Richmond full performances. I know they are going to be great races.

AM: 10 easy + standard core routine, stretch, foam rolling

PM: 5 easy

still very humid this week. Not so super hot anymore, as none of the days are cracking 90 degrees. Next week we are in store for a major cool down to the point where it will be in the 50s at night and 70s during the day. Actual fall stuff.

AM: 12 miles 

PM: 5 easy + 6x100m strides and drills

A little longer this morning because I've surprisingly recovered quite well after the half. No hard workouts for about a week from race day but easy mileage is fine. Having issues at the gym. The student health center finally caught the fact that I had gym access but that HR was not deducting the $40 a month charge for the gym from my paycheck. Shouldn't staff members get free access to the gym at a university regardless?

AM: 10 easy + standard core routine, stretch, foam rolling

PM: 6 easy

finally a low humidity day. It feels amazing, and the weather will be prime for heavy training this coming week.

AM: 3 WU 2x3200m 3 CD

PM: 5.5 easy + standard core routine, foam rolling

very nice this morning. took a lap or two to get the legs going but once they were I found it pretty easy to run fast.  10:28 (5:25,5:03), 10:12 (5:12, 5:00). It's supposed to be 87 today and there's an air quality alert. However, this is the final breath of summer and it will die a quick death next week. Beautiful weather ahead

AM: 12 easy alone. Nicer weather

PM: 1 hr. pool run. again alone. Kind of a lonely day

So that's 100 land miles this week plus 21 "miles" of pool running for a total volume of 121. Some big numbers there.