In a 34 year and still counting career there have been some memorable races,and I hope still more to come,but sometimes there's nothing more enjoyable that just lacing them up and heading out the door for a run,no medals,no titles,no records,just the pure joy of running,today was one of those days.
Why I don't know,I didn't feel particularly rammy after two days off,nor did I feel an impending sense of "what if I can't run when it snows again tomorrow/Wednesday" it was just one of those days,in spite of the 28.4 inches of snow Friday/Saturday I was able to get out on Cobbs Creek Parkway and run my out and back 6 miler.
Safety was the watch word today,conditions were a little slick under foot in places so I had to have my wits about me for the whole run,in spite of the glorious sunshine I couldn't risk my shades even though the glare off of the sun and the snow and ice was at times blinding I needed to have clear vision of the path ahead of me.
In fairness my pace wasn't overly brisk,the conditions were partly responsible but also the fact I'm racing Thursday meant a need to down shift a gear or two,although that said I still got home 50 mins after I left 4.35pm-5.25pm which is the time frame for all my 6 milers so maybe it just felt I was running slower.
Obviously the 600 pound gorilla in the room is the next bout of snow we're expecting,long term how will it effect the rest of the week?short term will it put a industrial size spanner in the works for Thursday and going to The Armory?I hope not on both counts.
Note to self,pack rosary beads in w/ my flats tomorrow to hit a hopefully Jobsworth free Franklin Field for a tempo run in the hope of getting into the 36-38 second per 200m zone b4 Thursday's 2 miler.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Snow Day
"I came from the hills w/ a tear in my eye the winter closed in and the crows filled the sky.
The houses were burning w/ flames gold and red the people were running w/ eyes full of dread"
The Storm Big Country
Well the snow the weather people were predicting came,and then some,it has at least stopped but not b4 dumping over two foot of the stuff on the region.
Short term at least I'd gotten my weekly mileage total in for the week yesterday,long term who knows how badly this is going to screw things up for next week.
Tomorrow is off the books to begin w/,and it's a case of wait and see on Monday,I'm tempted to put my miles in at Franklin Field untill things clear up enough to run out and back along Cobbs Creek Parkway,the fly in that ointment is that "Jobsworth"will be on duty on Monday,I'll have to see how the sidewalks look Monday for an out and back b4 hitting Franklin Field Tuesday for a tempo run.
The houses were burning w/ flames gold and red the people were running w/ eyes full of dread"
The Storm Big Country
Well the snow the weather people were predicting came,and then some,it has at least stopped but not b4 dumping over two foot of the stuff on the region.
Short term at least I'd gotten my weekly mileage total in for the week yesterday,long term who knows how badly this is going to screw things up for next week.
Tomorrow is off the books to begin w/,and it's a case of wait and see on Monday,I'm tempted to put my miles in at Franklin Field untill things clear up enough to run out and back along Cobbs Creek Parkway,the fly in that ointment is that "Jobsworth"will be on duty on Monday,I'll have to see how the sidewalks look Monday for an out and back b4 hitting Franklin Field Tuesday for a tempo run.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Welcome To The Whole Week
While the news of the day was the impending snow storm coming our way there was other news too.....yours truly putting in his first 5 day work week since the second to last week of July!!!!
Seriously if it weren't for the mass of snow potentially heading our way I think every news crew in Philly would've been camped out outside the loading dock to capture the historic event!!!!
All jokes aside it wasn't a big deal to work Monday to Friday for a change,having spent the last month getting back to basics w/ my training getting back to basics at work kind of brings it full circle now.
There was no escaping the coming snow,it's been the talk of the town since Wednesday,who knows how much of it we'll see,as I sit and write it's coming down and has been for a while which is why I tacked on a few extra miles this evening to round out my mileage to 30 miles tonite in case I don't get out there over the weekend.
Following yesterdays 5x1,000m repeats I was on 21 miles for the week,I knew the out and back 6 miler along Cobbs Creek Parkway this evening would put me at 27 miles,tantalizingly close to my weekly target of 30.....but w/ the threat of snow on the way I thought why not make it a 9 miler,an extended extended out and back if you like.
Last year if needed I would tack on an extra mile to the traditional out and back by heading down to the old cinder track aka "The Top Cat Bowl" b4 hitting the out and back along the Parkway,on Sunday when I needed an 8 miler I carried on beyond the turnaround point to add an extra two miles to make it the 8 miles I needed,so tonite it was a case of combining all three to give me the 9 miles that would give me 30 miles in 5 days.
Given my slightly later start than usual{5pm}and my extra 3 miles I knew I'd finish in darkness but I wasn't phased by it,at the turnaround I felt the first tell tale flakes of snow beginning to fall,looks like my choice to get the extra miles in tonite was a prudent one.
Home safely,and now it's the waiting game,how much snow will we get?how badly will it effect my training?we'll have to wait and see.
Seriously if it weren't for the mass of snow potentially heading our way I think every news crew in Philly would've been camped out outside the loading dock to capture the historic event!!!!
All jokes aside it wasn't a big deal to work Monday to Friday for a change,having spent the last month getting back to basics w/ my training getting back to basics at work kind of brings it full circle now.
There was no escaping the coming snow,it's been the talk of the town since Wednesday,who knows how much of it we'll see,as I sit and write it's coming down and has been for a while which is why I tacked on a few extra miles this evening to round out my mileage to 30 miles tonite in case I don't get out there over the weekend.
Following yesterdays 5x1,000m repeats I was on 21 miles for the week,I knew the out and back 6 miler along Cobbs Creek Parkway this evening would put me at 27 miles,tantalizingly close to my weekly target of 30.....but w/ the threat of snow on the way I thought why not make it a 9 miler,an extended extended out and back if you like.
Last year if needed I would tack on an extra mile to the traditional out and back by heading down to the old cinder track aka "The Top Cat Bowl" b4 hitting the out and back along the Parkway,on Sunday when I needed an 8 miler I carried on beyond the turnaround point to add an extra two miles to make it the 8 miles I needed,so tonite it was a case of combining all three to give me the 9 miles that would give me 30 miles in 5 days.
Given my slightly later start than usual{5pm}and my extra 3 miles I knew I'd finish in darkness but I wasn't phased by it,at the turnaround I felt the first tell tale flakes of snow beginning to fall,looks like my choice to get the extra miles in tonite was a prudent one.
Home safely,and now it's the waiting game,how much snow will we get?how badly will it effect my training?we'll have to wait and see.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Oh It's On Like Donkey Kong Now
First of all mad love,big ups,and much respect to Nick D for the above photo of the victorious GPTC 4x4 Millrose relay teams,from left to right,me,Scott Landis,Dave Brown,Daryl Johnson,Ray Parker,Nick Berra,Nick Damalas,Bob McGinty.Moving on,I got good news today,I'm good for a ride to but more importantly from The Armory next Thursday which means my assault on Chuck's club record for the 2 Miles of 10.05.8. is a go now.
W/out a ride home afterwards would make it"squeeky bum"time trying to get from 168th St and The Armory to 34th St and Penn Station in time for the final connecting train back to Philly at 10.38pm and w/out this 2 miler I'm in no position to see if the 3,000m at Indoor Nationals is doable or not.
I have to say tonite's repeats were my best so far this year,I realize that's not saying alot so early on in the year period plus given it was Jan 12th b4 I could get back onto a track but of the eight repeats I've done this was the most satisfying
#1,1000m 1.22-1.25-39-3.26.18.A modest start to the evening,shades of my Jan 14th opener 1.19-1.27-40-3.26.54.,from there I went:3.26.93.-3.21.10.-3.21.83.-3.17.08.....and there the similarity ends!
#2,1,000m 1.20-1.19-39-3.18.06.Where I'd began flat footed again this time out I got up on my toes and what do you know an 8 second improvement,on my two previous 5x1,000s I closed in 3.17s,I was already closing in on my fastest 1,000m split of the year.
#3,1,000m 1.18-1.19-38-3.15.82.Yes,after three weeks going on four of speed work and base work I'm starting to see it come together....and it's only the first week of Febuary!
#4,1,000m 1.18-1.19-36-3.13.81.Unreal,each repeat had gotten faster but it was gonna be a bastard trying to top 3.13.but hell I'm always up for a challenge....
#5,1,000m 1.20-1.21-34-3.15.85.I knew when I came through in 1.20 that topping 3.13 was a tall order but I wasn't gonna roll over and play dead,I think the closing 200m in 34 seconds proves that....what I won't give for a final lap of 34 seconds next Thursday!!!
W/ the weather potentially going garrity over the weekend who knows what's in store over the next few days or how it'll effect the beginning of next week,we'll have to see how it plays out.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Marchin' On
In spite of the fact I woke up to a lite dusting of snow there were no worries about getting out for my out and back 6 miler along Cobbs Creek Parkway this evening.
However,word around the water cooler at lunch time was the potential nor'easter heading our way Friday,a possible 15 to 18 inches of snow{eek!}won't that bollocks up my weekend if it happens!!!
But w/ everything else I can't control in life I can't and won't worry about it,alot could happen between now and then so we'll just see what happens and deal w/it.
A slightly later start again this evening 4.50pm,but w/ sunset now at 5.22pm I can still more or less get my whole run in b4 dusk,it's a big plus in winter when the temps aren't great.
The reason for my later start?catching the end of Leeds Spurs game,a 3.1 win for Spurs.....c,mon you Lillywhites!!!we're now into the 5th round of the FA Cup,like the old song goes"you make me happy when skies are grey".
The run it's self was incident free,Friday will mark my 12th run along CCP since getting"back to basics"on Jan 8th,as each one goes by I feel myself getting stronger,hopefully next Thursday when I run the 2 mile race at The Armory I'll feel the benefit of these runs,my participation in the 3,000m at Indoor Nationals next month will be determined by this 2 miler,the first of 4 races in 4 weeks,an 800m and 1,500m in between b4 finishing off w/ a 3,000m,sadly the Mac C'ships 3,000m comes post entry deadline for Indoor Nationals ergo the importance of next Thursday's 2 miler.
Anywho there's a whole week between now and then,first things first tomorrow's 5x1,000m repeats.
However,word around the water cooler at lunch time was the potential nor'easter heading our way Friday,a possible 15 to 18 inches of snow{eek!}won't that bollocks up my weekend if it happens!!!
But w/ everything else I can't control in life I can't and won't worry about it,alot could happen between now and then so we'll just see what happens and deal w/it.
A slightly later start again this evening 4.50pm,but w/ sunset now at 5.22pm I can still more or less get my whole run in b4 dusk,it's a big plus in winter when the temps aren't great.
The reason for my later start?catching the end of Leeds Spurs game,a 3.1 win for Spurs.....c,mon you Lillywhites!!!we're now into the 5th round of the FA Cup,like the old song goes"you make me happy when skies are grey".
The run it's self was incident free,Friday will mark my 12th run along CCP since getting"back to basics"on Jan 8th,as each one goes by I feel myself getting stronger,hopefully next Thursday when I run the 2 mile race at The Armory I'll feel the benefit of these runs,my participation in the 3,000m at Indoor Nationals next month will be determined by this 2 miler,the first of 4 races in 4 weeks,an 800m and 1,500m in between b4 finishing off w/ a 3,000m,sadly the Mac C'ships 3,000m comes post entry deadline for Indoor Nationals ergo the importance of next Thursday's 2 miler.
Anywho there's a whole week between now and then,first things first tomorrow's 5x1,000m repeats.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Normal Service Has {Almost} Been Resumed
And yea,there was much rejoicing at Franklin Field,not a Jobsworth in sight,and how the runners did rejoice,for it is their choice to endure the self inflicted, gut wrenching,mind bending agony that is 6x600m repeats aka "The Death Zone".
After the eleventh hour change of rotation yesterday I arrived at Franklin Field at the slightly later time of 4.40pm....just in case Jobsworth was on duty again,no such worries,Kim was back on duty and the Penn athletes were already done so it was warm up and and have at it time and back into my 6x600m repeats.
#1,600m 68-37-1.45.65.I kind of knew I'd bitten off more than I could chew w/ a 68-37 opener,long term not a good thing as I'm a ways from opening at that pace and holding onto it,short term it's good to know I can pop a 1.45.65. 600m a seasons best.
#2,600m 1.13-35-1.48.19.even though I knew it couldn't last it was refreshing to be rippin' off sub 1.50s,time and hard work will see me getting back to 6 sub 1.50s.
#3,600m 1.12-37-1.49.24.While I was aware tonite lacked the consistency of my Jan 18th 6x6 1.50.44,1.51,93,1.51,21,1.50.01,1.55.20,1.51.84. I was at least faster,but I knew I was about to pay the price for my opening split.....don't do the crime if you can't do the time!
#4,600m 1.16-38-1.54.30.The cheque had been in the mail since the opener,once the genie is out of the bottle that's it so it was no surprise to see my split balloon upto 1.54.30.
#5,600m 1.17-41-1.58.35.No it's not pretty by any stretch however on Jan 12th after a three week absence of repeats I could only muster a pair of 2.00 repeats on 600s #4  off of slower previous 600s so I'm at least moving in the right direction.
#6,600m 1.14-36-1.50.42.I knew I needed to attack it from the start and aim for a 1.14/1.15 opening 400m,a closing 200m in 35 seconds would've been nice,34 is a tad to rich for my blood...for now but it's coming.
In a week where my schedule allows me three repeats I'm constantly checking the 5 day and 7 day forecast to see what the weather has in store,hopefully I can get my 6 miler in tomorrow.
After the eleventh hour change of rotation yesterday I arrived at Franklin Field at the slightly later time of 4.40pm....just in case Jobsworth was on duty again,no such worries,Kim was back on duty and the Penn athletes were already done so it was warm up and and have at it time and back into my 6x600m repeats.
#1,600m 68-37-1.45.65.I kind of knew I'd bitten off more than I could chew w/ a 68-37 opener,long term not a good thing as I'm a ways from opening at that pace and holding onto it,short term it's good to know I can pop a 1.45.65. 600m a seasons best.
#2,600m 1.13-35-1.48.19.even though I knew it couldn't last it was refreshing to be rippin' off sub 1.50s,time and hard work will see me getting back to 6 sub 1.50s.
#3,600m 1.12-37-1.49.24.While I was aware tonite lacked the consistency of my Jan 18th 6x6 1.50.44,1.51,93,1.51,21,1.50.01,1.55.20,1.51.84. I was at least faster,but I knew I was about to pay the price for my opening split.....don't do the crime if you can't do the time!
#4,600m 1.16-38-1.54.30.The cheque had been in the mail since the opener,once the genie is out of the bottle that's it so it was no surprise to see my split balloon upto 1.54.30.
#5,600m 1.17-41-1.58.35.No it's not pretty by any stretch however on Jan 12th after a three week absence of repeats I could only muster a pair of 2.00 repeats on 600s #4  off of slower previous 600s so I'm at least moving in the right direction.
#6,600m 1.14-36-1.50.42.I knew I needed to attack it from the start and aim for a 1.14/1.15 opening 400m,a closing 200m in 35 seconds would've been nice,34 is a tad to rich for my blood...for now but it's coming.
In a week where my schedule allows me three repeats I'm constantly checking the 5 day and 7 day forecast to see what the weather has in store,hopefully I can get my 6 miler in tomorrow.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Return Of The Jobsworths
Nothing like crashin' back down to earth,I know I want to put the glory of Friday behind me but I would have liked to kick off my week as planned w/ a 6x600m repeat.....
Over the past three years whenever Kim the regular security guard at Franklin Field isn't on duty I have a problem getting onto the track,they always stick these "jobsworths"there in her place who have and I'm not being cruel here no frickin clue as to what's what at Franklin Field....today was no different!
Cliff notes version,I arrive at 4.15pm,show "Jobsworth"my id and tell him I know I have to wait till Penn's athletes are done.......no,no no "Jobsworth" tells me w/ an air of authority that he has no right to dispense since he's never worked a day in his life here!!!"they're on the track till 6pm and the track closes at 6pm.....REALLY cos they've been getting done at 4.50pm for the past three weeks....I should know I've been here twice a week in that time!!!
Rather than get into it w/ the "Jobsworth's"of this world I said feck it and headed home,a I was already dressed to run so it was straight out the door for my 6 miler,fingers crossed Kim will be on duty tomorrow and b since I wanted to do 4x1 mile repeats on Saturday anyway I figured a Tue,Thur,Sat repeat rotation wasn't the worst thing in the world....providing it's Kim and not "Jobsworth" on duty tomorrow.
As for my 6 miler it was great,the fact sunset was at 5.19pm and I was almost all the way home b4 daylite had faded helped,the fact it's been a while since my week kicked off w/ a 6 miler and not a 6x600m might've helped to shake things up also.
Since my back to back 6 milers on Jan 8th and 9th when I huffed,puffed and cut tangents like it was going out of style to get through them after a 7 month hiatus from them I've come on like gangbusters w/ them,tonite I had to "pull on the reins" a little to remind myself that this was afterall my easy run as I got a little carried away w/ visulizing my upcoming 2 miles and 3,000m races at The Armory,all in good time grasshopper,all in good time.
Let's hope for a "Jobsworth" free zone at Franklin Field tomorrow!
Over the past three years whenever Kim the regular security guard at Franklin Field isn't on duty I have a problem getting onto the track,they always stick these "jobsworths"there in her place who have and I'm not being cruel here no frickin clue as to what's what at Franklin Field....today was no different!
Cliff notes version,I arrive at 4.15pm,show "Jobsworth"my id and tell him I know I have to wait till Penn's athletes are done.......no,no no "Jobsworth" tells me w/ an air of authority that he has no right to dispense since he's never worked a day in his life here!!!"they're on the track till 6pm and the track closes at 6pm.....REALLY cos they've been getting done at 4.50pm for the past three weeks....I should know I've been here twice a week in that time!!!
Rather than get into it w/ the "Jobsworth's"of this world I said feck it and headed home,a I was already dressed to run so it was straight out the door for my 6 miler,fingers crossed Kim will be on duty tomorrow and b since I wanted to do 4x1 mile repeats on Saturday anyway I figured a Tue,Thur,Sat repeat rotation wasn't the worst thing in the world....providing it's Kim and not "Jobsworth" on duty tomorrow.
As for my 6 miler it was great,the fact sunset was at 5.19pm and I was almost all the way home b4 daylite had faded helped,the fact it's been a while since my week kicked off w/ a 6 miler and not a 6x600m might've helped to shake things up also.
Since my back to back 6 milers on Jan 8th and 9th when I huffed,puffed and cut tangents like it was going out of style to get through them after a 7 month hiatus from them I've come on like gangbusters w/ them,tonite I had to "pull on the reins" a little to remind myself that this was afterall my easy run as I got a little carried away w/ visulizing my upcoming 2 miles and 3,000m races at The Armory,all in good time grasshopper,all in good time.
Let's hope for a "Jobsworth" free zone at Franklin Field tomorrow!
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