Pool Running is Fun

This course is long so that sucks. Damn Bolas and Ethiopian just sat on the leader and after a 5:05 mile I took the pace and with the overall downhill second mile ran 4:51. I figured if I wanted to run an even half way decent time I had to make it an honest race. I knew those guys were after the money ($300,200,100) and I knew those guys were just dicking around with me. Reed got me too. Finished a spot out the money. Improving though. I like my GAP pace. Per Strava splits: 5:05,4:51,5:03,XX. I think the course was a bit long during the last 0.1.

PM: 1 hr. Pool run

Results

Attempting to keep the pace honest right at the start of the second mile. Wish I were in the kind of shape that I could race for the win for once.

AM: 8 miles

PM:  5 miles + standard core routine

love the calm and crisp mornings this time of year

AM: 3 WU 1600,1200,3x800 2.5 CD

PM: off. Went to The National concert

5:04,3:40,2:24,2:24,2:23. Short and quick cut-down before clubs this weekend. I'm not in tip-top shape for a race but I'm not in terrible shape either. It will be much better than last year regardless

Noon: 10 miles + standard core routine

AM: 6.5 miles

PM: 4 miles with 4x20sec strides

getting cold. Winter is coming

PM: 4 miles easy on tomorrow's course. It's VERY cold

Last August a couple of guys were trying to put together a team to run Club Nats this year. At first we had a lot of interest and then it fizzled as one guy after the other couldn’t make it. Unfortunately we bought our plane tickets so we ended up going without a full team and half of us beat up and recovering from fall marathons. As always, it was fun at any rate. Unfortunately, this will probably be the last time we run clubs. Just not worth the internal club strife.

The race started in the 20s with windchills in the teens. It was also snowing. A legit CC course, rolling hills, elbows, and surges filled my legs with led. I ran like shit. The course was tough but I think I ran like ass mostly because it was freezing, I wasn’t used to CC terrain at all, and I ingested about two months worth of alcohol Tuesday at a concert and Thursday at the club party. I was rather bloated and unprepared to race. I thought I could get away with it but damn, I’m not 22 anymore. You can’t run fast on shoddy sleep and garbage. You just can’t.

I did my best but ran like 34:18. I’ve run 33:03 in 2014 and 33:06 in 2016. We had an amazing time afterwards at the party and this event served as a stark reminder that you’ve got to take care of yourself and respect your body as it gets older, or suffer the consequences. Considering how many beers I can put down in one night, I really need to stay away from the stuff.

Time to focus on getting strong, putting in the miles, and focusing on next spring. It’s going to be a long and very cold winter.

Results