It's all relative

Pretty in Pink 15k Race report

This race is pretty infamous for being a difficult course to navigate (easy to get lost), challenging to run (lots of turns, ups, downs, and a ridiculous 180 finish into the finish chute), and annoyingly late in the morning (they run it AFTER the 5k is completed and everyone is done with the first race).  

Fortunately, it was fun, and I hung out with a ton of friends, played with a bunch of dogs, high-fived tons of runners on the double loop and everyone was cheering one another on, and then finished with going to a party at my friend Dow's house where I almost adopted a rescue dog as well as discovered "candy bacon" which is now my new favorite food.  

The actual race went okay, but I could tell my head wasn't in it today.  I just didn't feel like pacing anything or focusing.  I think that I certainly could use a break from racing at the moment.  It's odd how it can be so easily overdone.5310

Splits- 5:33, 5:37, 5:33, 5:51, 5:34, 5:41, 5:49, 5:51, 5:51, (0.35mi) in 1:54

PM: slow, fun run on the trails/boardwalks solo.

AM: track practice in Safety Harbor. Workout: 1200, 800, 400, 400, 800, 1200. Tried pacing a bunch of different people through a ladder workout. Not the best for my legs, but I think everyone appreciated it. PM:

PM: 7 miles at safety harbor track.  This time another track workout, but the intention was to see my fitness level as well as Cory and Tyler's and then run a fun workout version of the game "Horse."  We did a warmup, then a mile for time, then I used that timed mile to handicap the game.  You got a letter for coming in last on the 400s, and didn't receive any if you came in first or second.  

Tyler- 5:54 mile, Cory- 5:04 mile, me- 4:42 mile.

This translated to a 18 second handicap for Tyler and a 5 second handicap for Cory and then I started my 400 after them to catch them.  Cory and I were trading letters until he fell off and he was sent packing when I had only two letters.  Then Tyler continued his sweep and never even earned one letter before shutting me out in second place.  I really thought if I could sprint up to him in the first 200 he would just let me take it, and then I'd have recovery time on my side (30 second recoveries).  Never got him though.  Next time, I'm capping the leads or changing it to an 800.  18 seconds for a lead on a 400 is just too much.

A LOT of fun.  Can't wait to integrate this with the morning runners or the St. Pete group.

PM: Slow warm up, then shoulders, tris (isolations), chest (free), lower pectorals (fly), dips (body weight)

AM: 3.80 Miles at the Safety Harbor track, alternating 7:35 & 8:00 minutes per mile for an athlete I'm coaching.  Trying to get him to realize it's not so hard (and feels good) to speed up later in a race as opposed to just hang on.  

PM: 4 Miles with the team.  Spent the majority of it running the opposite direction cheering them on.  Did not feel well again this afternoon, sore legs.

No running tonight

AM: 7 Miles

Rest of day... walking all day at "Food and Wine Festival" at EPCOT near Orlando.  I really had a great time, but holy crap does that require a lot of money to spend.  All I did was bleed money slowly throughout the day.  Between the ticket, hotel, parking, tips, food, wine/beer/drinks, and random purchases it's unreal what you spend there.  I suppose once a year is okay, and it was a ton of fun, but sometimes I think those situations have such a social obligation to spend money that it's incredible.